Review/squee-fest: Takarazuka Dream Kingdom
How can I explain how much I love this revue??? I watched it after breakfast and immediately had to watch it again ^__^ Below is a combination of review and squee since I was writing this during the my second viewing. So I guess it's also part running commentary too ^^;
Prologue : Visions
Hey there Teru and Kitarou! Love Komu’s dramatic entrance. And you *know* it’s going to be a good revue when they pull out the brass XD. One of the biggest things I loved about this whole revue is the music. It’s so rich and different from the usual revue fanfare. The whole revue has a “darker” tone and the prologue really shared that vision.
Act 1 : The Beginning of a Dream
Act 2 : The Dream Kingdom A
More great vocals from Kashige! I don’t know what to make of her wig here, though ^^;
The rose dress that Maa-chan has is pretty amazing. Kimu, Tonami, and Eritan get solos in this “lighter” section; I say that only because it’s not as angst-ridden as the rest of the revue. But there’s elements of that minor key every now and then, which keeps the theme of the revue present even in this section.
Act 3 : The Dream Kingdom B
After Kashige’s solo, Tom appears! And just in case we wouldn’t be able to spot her, they dressed her in gold to contrast with the red and pink everyone else is wearing. Hamako and Ami sing a wonderful duet. Their voices are quite amazing, which is another reason why I love this revue: the vocals are super awesome!
Act 4 : The Rose Collector
The obligatory Tom solo. In the background, Teru and Kitarou do some dramatic posing. Tom’s presence, as always, is amazing. She has such command of the stage <3
Act 5・6 : Rose A・B
The first part of Komu’s solo dance unfortunately has no sound. But it’s still wonderful to watch because her lines are *amazing.* When she’s back on the main stage, the music comes back on where she does at least 20+ spins. The woman’s extension and emotion leaves me breathless just watching.
So they cut the music of Maa-chan’s entrance? Weird. It was only like, 15 seconds or so. But here’s Maa-chan with Keiko’s haunting voice and then a very sensual performance by the musumeyaku and Komu & Maa-chan. I approve of the chairs: chairs are always a good prop for sultry scenes XD.
Maa-chan has such a great presence in this sequence. She doesn’t say a thing nor does she sing a note, but in her body language, her dancing, her gaze (plus, the wig’s really nice), she’s able to perfectly convey this mature woman who knows exactly what she wants and how she’s going to get it.
Act 7 : Rose C
*That* dance, heh. The music and the choreography is great, as most of you probably already know, but it’s definitely Tom and Komu’s chemistry that really make this scene so memorable. It’s the little things: how they look at each other, the smile Komu has when she’s doing that split with Tom behind her, then contrast that with that mischievous grin she has later when she’s on the couch with Maa-chan, and Tom’s confused, desperate, heartbroken display … Then that ending, which gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I watch it …
Act 8 : A Crimson Dream
Komu’s solo. I love that knowing, mischievous smile she gives throughout. It's a very powerful tool for every otokoyaku. (And for the record, she didn’t seem very melancholic or dissatisfied; I thought it was a more triumphant tone, actually.)
Act 9 : A Pseudo Dream
Kittens! Wait, they’re supposed to be wolves? More like, baby wolves… ^^; I really like the shiny thing that’s on Kashige’s right hand. The music is very haunting here, what with the shadow chorus and the strings … and the random howling *LOL*
Act 10 A : At the End of the World A
Another “light” section - oh, and it’s all in white. Poor Komu and Maa-chan are being kept apart by the wolf-kittens. Tom’s also there with his white wig that makes me think of a combination of Sephiroth from FFVII and Kunzite from Sailormoon ^^;
Act 10 B : At the End of the World B
I really love the formations in this section! I got a lot of inspiration for my exhibition drill for JROTC from watching dances and I couldn’t help but think things like, “Oh, it’s a ripple line!” or “Hey, that’d be cool in a routine…” ^^; Drill dork, I know. But anyway, this line dance was really fun, with lots of little tricks and waves and great energy.
Act 11 A : White Streets
And suddenly we’re in the city! At first I was wondering if we were in an insane asylum, LOL. Then I’m completely blown away by Hamako, Keiko and Komu singing. (Oh, and Komu has blue streaks in her hair, have no idea why. But that’s okay, the wig’s rather nice.)
Act 11 B : White Streets -Man and Woman-
Eritan solo! With fun dancing and poor Eritan gets slapped and then: “Karma Chameleon”!! XDD So much fun in this section! Kimu joins Eritan and wait - those are otokoyaku also with them on the ginkyo! *wonders desperately who they were*
Act 11 C : White Streets -Stray-
Maa-chan needs to sing more <3 I think this is only the second time she’s sung - oh wait, no she sang in Act 10, but with Komu. I absolutely love how the stage rotates as Maa-chan is lowered down the trap door. It’s such a great visual effect.
Act 12 A・B : White Club -White Wolf A・B-
Heh, the first time I watched this, I was like, “Kill Bill, Vegas Style”?? ^^; Ami sings here as Tom displays her sword skills. I’ve quite a weakness for well-choreographed fight scenes and Tom’s quite handy with her katana.
Tonami! Her voice is one that I’ve become really interested in - hers and Asuka’s have an interesting tone. And Keiko! Keiko needs to have more time to just go crazy with her voice XD
Act 13 : White Station A
Kashige’s supposed to be a poet? She looks more like a kitchen boy ^^; (overalls and an apron and a denim-ish jacket…??) And I have no idea what to make of her wig. I like this pairing, though, Kashige and Tonami. Tonami gets put under a spell though, which I thought was cool choreography-wise.
Act 14 A : White Station B
Act 14 B : White Station C
Here comes that trap door while rotating bit again! I love the energy of this section, with everyone moving and flowing~ Yes, random electronica section with hey, electric guitars! Yes. Unfortunately, Kashige’s still in her kitchen boy outfit. But the choreography is awesome ~ I only wish there were alternate angles so I could look at the whole stage more.
Komu and Maa-chan sing, then Maa-chan runs off-stage while Komu gets to disappear down the trap door.
Act 15 A : The Pitch-Black Sun -Black Sunrise- A
Act 15 B : The Pitch-Black Sun -Black Sunrise-B
Dark organ and piano is much win. Couple that with the opening vocals (Kashige, Tonami, Eritan, Kimu, Hijiri) and you’ve got an incredible section. Though, Maa-chan only got like, a couple seconds of singing ^^; The black and gold make this scene visually really cool.
Act 16 : At the End of the World -A Pseudo Dream-
Then suddenly Tom appears in white and so does Komu, and suddenly, they’re in love with each other??? Oh, Takarazuka. Amidst falling confetti, the two dance. I love the lingering violin and how it leads into the next scene.
Act 17 : A Dream Castle
In this whole revue, I love how this one opens the best. The strings and Kashige’s solitary form lit up from above in that blue light - goosebumps every time. Also, Kimu’s cute as Kashige’s bird. Oh! And Kashige’s costume? Complete and utter awesome <3
Act 18 : A Sleeping Town
As much as I love looking at Kashige, I kept muttering, “Pan out, pan out!” because I wanted to see the dancing on the main stage! (Btw, why is everyone covered in lemons? To symbolize that they’re dead? O_o) Oh Hamako <333 This scene is a great highlight of her voice. Kashige sings with her, and with these two voices it’s just an amazing treat for everyone’s ears.
Act 19 : A Dream Hall
Komu’s outfit… It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just super different from what everyone else is wearing :P Tom and Komu sing, Eritan looks deliciously evil, Kashige poses on the stairs, Kimu angsts, Tom poses by the wall and I’m again enthralled by all the choreography.
Tom, I guess, promised Komu women? Because there’s Tonami and harem-type clothed musumeyaku. Because that’s every guy’s dream, according to Tom XD
Act 20 : A Hall of Mirrors
Puppet!Maa-chan. The wedding dress she has is quite beautiful - the details on it are amazing. But you know things are going to turn bad when that organ comes in and Keiko sings in her haunting voice. (I was a bit amused by the sound of the cuckoo clock ^_^) Maa-chan has changed out of her wedding dress and looks kind of like a mistress of Dracula. Tom laughs evilly, Kashige wanders blind and sings with Kimu on the ginkyo while everyone dances fervently. The end lift is very striking. (I was also a bit amused at the techno-ish turn the music had during Tom’s solo ^_^)
Act 21 : Ending
Definitely one of my favorite stair dances ever. I love the red of the stairs and how that contrasts with the black and blue of the otokoyaku’s suits. The biggest thing I like? Kashige’s voice. I love how it just rises above the music (which is already amazing; I should count how many times I used that word throughout this thing ^^; [ETA: 7. Not bad, actually ^^;]).
Act 22・23 : Finale A・B
Act 24 A・B : Finale C・D
Tom gets a slower version to sing while Komu, Maa-chan and Kashige dance. Then they go up on the ginkyo.
Ami’s etoile is full of win. Actually, the whole parade is full of win. The music is dark and driving with much brass love and I’ve been a broken record, but I love everyone’s vocals <3
Such a great revue <3 I think it's my favorite now.
[edit: I seem to remember reading a review of "In Quest of the Bluebird" somewhere, but I don't remember where I read it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have no idea what's going on at the end and I'd like to know WTH Komu's angsting and getting slapped around O_O]
Prologue : Visions
Hey there Teru and Kitarou! Love Komu’s dramatic entrance. And you *know* it’s going to be a good revue when they pull out the brass XD. One of the biggest things I loved about this whole revue is the music. It’s so rich and different from the usual revue fanfare. The whole revue has a “darker” tone and the prologue really shared that vision.
Act 1 : The Beginning of a Dream
Act 2 : The Dream Kingdom A
More great vocals from Kashige! I don’t know what to make of her wig here, though ^^;
The rose dress that Maa-chan has is pretty amazing. Kimu, Tonami, and Eritan get solos in this “lighter” section; I say that only because it’s not as angst-ridden as the rest of the revue. But there’s elements of that minor key every now and then, which keeps the theme of the revue present even in this section.
Act 3 : The Dream Kingdom B
After Kashige’s solo, Tom appears! And just in case we wouldn’t be able to spot her, they dressed her in gold to contrast with the red and pink everyone else is wearing. Hamako and Ami sing a wonderful duet. Their voices are quite amazing, which is another reason why I love this revue: the vocals are super awesome!
Act 4 : The Rose Collector
The obligatory Tom solo. In the background, Teru and Kitarou do some dramatic posing. Tom’s presence, as always, is amazing. She has such command of the stage <3
Act 5・6 : Rose A・B
The first part of Komu’s solo dance unfortunately has no sound. But it’s still wonderful to watch because her lines are *amazing.* When she’s back on the main stage, the music comes back on where she does at least 20+ spins. The woman’s extension and emotion leaves me breathless just watching.
So they cut the music of Maa-chan’s entrance? Weird. It was only like, 15 seconds or so. But here’s Maa-chan with Keiko’s haunting voice and then a very sensual performance by the musumeyaku and Komu & Maa-chan. I approve of the chairs: chairs are always a good prop for sultry scenes XD.
Maa-chan has such a great presence in this sequence. She doesn’t say a thing nor does she sing a note, but in her body language, her dancing, her gaze (plus, the wig’s really nice), she’s able to perfectly convey this mature woman who knows exactly what she wants and how she’s going to get it.
Act 7 : Rose C
*That* dance, heh. The music and the choreography is great, as most of you probably already know, but it’s definitely Tom and Komu’s chemistry that really make this scene so memorable. It’s the little things: how they look at each other, the smile Komu has when she’s doing that split with Tom behind her, then contrast that with that mischievous grin she has later when she’s on the couch with Maa-chan, and Tom’s confused, desperate, heartbroken display … Then that ending, which gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I watch it …
Act 8 : A Crimson Dream
Komu’s solo. I love that knowing, mischievous smile she gives throughout. It's a very powerful tool for every otokoyaku. (And for the record, she didn’t seem very melancholic or dissatisfied; I thought it was a more triumphant tone, actually.)
Act 9 : A Pseudo Dream
Kittens! Wait, they’re supposed to be wolves? More like, baby wolves… ^^; I really like the shiny thing that’s on Kashige’s right hand. The music is very haunting here, what with the shadow chorus and the strings … and the random howling *LOL*
Act 10 A : At the End of the World A
Another “light” section - oh, and it’s all in white. Poor Komu and Maa-chan are being kept apart by the wolf-kittens. Tom’s also there with his white wig that makes me think of a combination of Sephiroth from FFVII and Kunzite from Sailormoon ^^;
Act 10 B : At the End of the World B
I really love the formations in this section! I got a lot of inspiration for my exhibition drill for JROTC from watching dances and I couldn’t help but think things like, “Oh, it’s a ripple line!” or “Hey, that’d be cool in a routine…” ^^; Drill dork, I know. But anyway, this line dance was really fun, with lots of little tricks and waves and great energy.
Act 11 A : White Streets
And suddenly we’re in the city! At first I was wondering if we were in an insane asylum, LOL. Then I’m completely blown away by Hamako, Keiko and Komu singing. (Oh, and Komu has blue streaks in her hair, have no idea why. But that’s okay, the wig’s rather nice.)
Act 11 B : White Streets -Man and Woman-
Eritan solo! With fun dancing and poor Eritan gets slapped and then: “Karma Chameleon”!! XDD So much fun in this section! Kimu joins Eritan and wait - those are otokoyaku also with them on the ginkyo! *wonders desperately who they were*
Act 11 C : White Streets -Stray-
Maa-chan needs to sing more <3 I think this is only the second time she’s sung - oh wait, no she sang in Act 10, but with Komu. I absolutely love how the stage rotates as Maa-chan is lowered down the trap door. It’s such a great visual effect.
Act 12 A・B : White Club -White Wolf A・B-
Heh, the first time I watched this, I was like, “Kill Bill, Vegas Style”?? ^^; Ami sings here as Tom displays her sword skills. I’ve quite a weakness for well-choreographed fight scenes and Tom’s quite handy with her katana.
Tonami! Her voice is one that I’ve become really interested in - hers and Asuka’s have an interesting tone. And Keiko! Keiko needs to have more time to just go crazy with her voice XD
Act 13 : White Station A
Kashige’s supposed to be a poet? She looks more like a kitchen boy ^^; (overalls and an apron and a denim-ish jacket…??) And I have no idea what to make of her wig. I like this pairing, though, Kashige and Tonami. Tonami gets put under a spell though, which I thought was cool choreography-wise.
Act 14 A : White Station B
Act 14 B : White Station C
Here comes that trap door while rotating bit again! I love the energy of this section, with everyone moving and flowing~ Yes, random electronica section with hey, electric guitars! Yes. Unfortunately, Kashige’s still in her kitchen boy outfit. But the choreography is awesome ~ I only wish there were alternate angles so I could look at the whole stage more.
Komu and Maa-chan sing, then Maa-chan runs off-stage while Komu gets to disappear down the trap door.
Act 15 A : The Pitch-Black Sun -Black Sunrise- A
Act 15 B : The Pitch-Black Sun -Black Sunrise-B
Dark organ and piano is much win. Couple that with the opening vocals (Kashige, Tonami, Eritan, Kimu, Hijiri) and you’ve got an incredible section. Though, Maa-chan only got like, a couple seconds of singing ^^; The black and gold make this scene visually really cool.
Act 16 : At the End of the World -A Pseudo Dream-
Then suddenly Tom appears in white and so does Komu, and suddenly, they’re in love with each other??? Oh, Takarazuka. Amidst falling confetti, the two dance. I love the lingering violin and how it leads into the next scene.
Act 17 : A Dream Castle
In this whole revue, I love how this one opens the best. The strings and Kashige’s solitary form lit up from above in that blue light - goosebumps every time. Also, Kimu’s cute as Kashige’s bird. Oh! And Kashige’s costume? Complete and utter awesome <3
Act 18 : A Sleeping Town
As much as I love looking at Kashige, I kept muttering, “Pan out, pan out!” because I wanted to see the dancing on the main stage! (Btw, why is everyone covered in lemons? To symbolize that they’re dead? O_o) Oh Hamako <333 This scene is a great highlight of her voice. Kashige sings with her, and with these two voices it’s just an amazing treat for everyone’s ears.
Act 19 : A Dream Hall
Komu’s outfit… It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just super different from what everyone else is wearing :P Tom and Komu sing, Eritan looks deliciously evil, Kashige poses on the stairs, Kimu angsts, Tom poses by the wall and I’m again enthralled by all the choreography.
Tom, I guess, promised Komu women? Because there’s Tonami and harem-type clothed musumeyaku. Because that’s every guy’s dream, according to Tom XD
Act 20 : A Hall of Mirrors
Puppet!Maa-chan. The wedding dress she has is quite beautiful - the details on it are amazing. But you know things are going to turn bad when that organ comes in and Keiko sings in her haunting voice. (I was a bit amused by the sound of the cuckoo clock ^_^) Maa-chan has changed out of her wedding dress and looks kind of like a mistress of Dracula. Tom laughs evilly, Kashige wanders blind and sings with Kimu on the ginkyo while everyone dances fervently. The end lift is very striking. (I was also a bit amused at the techno-ish turn the music had during Tom’s solo ^_^)
Act 21 : Ending
Definitely one of my favorite stair dances ever. I love the red of the stairs and how that contrasts with the black and blue of the otokoyaku’s suits. The biggest thing I like? Kashige’s voice. I love how it just rises above the music (which is already amazing; I should count how many times I used that word throughout this thing ^^; [ETA: 7. Not bad, actually ^^;]).
Act 22・23 : Finale A・B
Act 24 A・B : Finale C・D
Tom gets a slower version to sing while Komu, Maa-chan and Kashige dance. Then they go up on the ginkyo.
Ami’s etoile is full of win. Actually, the whole parade is full of win. The music is dark and driving with much brass love and I’ve been a broken record, but I love everyone’s vocals <3
Such a great revue <3 I think it's my favorite now.
[edit: I seem to remember reading a review of "In Quest of the Bluebird" somewhere, but I don't remember where I read it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have no idea what's going on at the end and I'd like to know WTH Komu's angsting and getting slapped around O_O]