Oh internet, thanks for introducing me to new and unplumbed depths of awesome!
How did I not know about this before?!? While reading an article about the Japanese first lady, who claims to have both been abducted by aliens and to have known Tom Cruise in a previous life (suddenly our politicians seem so drab and dull) when I saw that she'd been part of 'Japan's legendary all-female Takarazuka theatrical troupe'. Hm... think I A theatre troupe made up only of women? Sounds kinda dull. It wasn't until I read about the kind of plays that they put on that my interest stirred.
Gone With the Wind? Phantom of the Opera? Casablanca? Me and My Gal? But... there aren't any men! How do they do this thing? I must see it! Youtube, I choose you!
Seeing as I don't speak much (read: any) Japanese and most of the videos are unsubtitled, I decided to start with a musical I'm more than a little familiar with. Singing in the Rain. And as for how they do the male parts? Well...
Click to viewOk... so far so cool. But... love stories?
Heeee! I went and looked at the wikipedia page and I found out that about 90% of the Takarazuka's (many, many) fans are female. In the 40s, the Takarazuka were banned from having anything to do with their fans because of all the les yay being spouted in love letters sent to them, especially to the otokoyaku (the ladies that play the dudes).
If genderbending subversive feministy by-women-for-women sexuality isn't your thing (weirdo!) then you may be won over by Phoenix Wright: The Opera!
Holy dancing Edgeworth pimp-clones!