2016.08.17 HakuMyu (Hakuouki Musical) Live 2 LV Review!
I'm sorry I've fallen behind YET again on reviews! I have this one, and at least a Nikoniko Live report left and then on Sunday I'm at another play so that makes it 3 reviews and hopefully I'll get them ALL done before I go on holiday next Monday! ^_^ So here we go; HAKUMYU LIVE 2!
The Basics
So if you don't know what Hakuouki is; fix that straigh away! The anime is only 26 episodes long and I've heard the games are pretty easy to get through but they are Otome games so they might not be your cup of team. If you don't wanna waste that time the basics are; A girl joins the Shinsengumi in hopes of finding her father and depending on which stage or game you're watching/playing the Shinsengumi guy who ends up with her in the end changes and the story is tweaked and changed a little each version too. HakuMyu Live 2 is the second live from the musical series (it's like the... 9th installment?) and it's essentially a two hour concert where they sing their songs from the musical and have some fun and games in between too. This is the first live to first the Second and Third (4th Gen Hijikata too) gens of the actors/characters.
The Live Viewing Experience
Now I went and watched this as an LV which means Live Viewing. This is essentially, paying for a ticket half the price to watch it live from a theatre rather than going and seeing it in person. I had NO chance of getting tickets for this so I ended up doing the LV instead and it was my first LV.
Long story short: I wouldn't recommend doing LV but I think maybe I got a bad crowd. Before the LV began, we got a lovely message from the cinema which was like 'please have fun, it's okay to clap, make sure you have your pen light on and act like you're really there' so I was raring to go, thinking 'yeah everyone's gunna be so on board!' I was WRONG! There were only like three people will lights, it was completely silence unless someone was crying, or something comical happened on stage, or something funny was said by the actors, and hardly anyone clapped during the curtain call which personally I think is fucking rude as hell cos I even clap when I'm watching the freaking DVD! Have some respect for the actor busting their ass on there! What the hell?! Other bad things I wanna cover:
1. Doesn't feel real. Feels like you're just watching a DVD.
2. There's the fear (and warning that they put up) that the connection might be lost in parts.
3. I think you lose some emotion and tenseness by not being there actually in person because (as I said) just feels like you're watching a DVD.
4. You have no control over who you can watch cos the camera will choose the focus and close ups for you which sucks cos it meant my MakiChan stalking time was completely shot down.
5. I hated the crowd I was with and kinda ruined MY enjoyment of it - already explained.
6. The performance will be the same as the one on the DVD which is a shame so I'll only have seen one version rather than two different ones...
7. The sound quality at my cinema sucked! Could hardly hear Hashimoto and MakiChan at some points, especially when they were singing! I know they have delicate and soft voices but come on! -_-
But I will say some good things:
1. Half the price of a normal ticket so you're saving money there
2. No bad seating
3. Camera close ups so you don't need glasses and you'll be able to see everything better than if you went in person
4. If you seriously do wanna see a play badly and you don't wanna wait for the DVD. Then it's worth it.
So it does have good points but overall either just get the DVD or see it live in person.
Now onto the actual live!
What Shenanigans Went On?!
Luckily I managed to find someone who wrote up the entire set list so I'll put that here first ^_^
Let me know if you want the English list! Though it might take me sometime to 'translate' it depending on the kanji and if I can remember the performance xD
Now the cast list:
Hijikata - Matsuda Gaku
Okita - Aramaki Yoshihiko [usually referred to as MakiChan]
Saito - Hashimoto Shohei
Chizuru - Fujikoso Yumi
Heisuke - Kizu Tsubasa*
Harada - Higashi Keisuke [usually referred to as TonChan]
Shinpachi - Fukuyama Shouta*
Yamazaki - Takasaki Shouta [usually referred to as TakaChan]
Kondou - Imata Taira
Ibuki - Shiramata Atsushi [sometimes referred to as MataChan]
Serizawa - Kubodera Akira
Shiranui - Kashiwagi Yusuke
Yukimura - Edogawa Manji
Kazama - Suzuki Shougo/Shogo
*These were the two new guys to the cast for this so now we're on 3rd Gen Heisuke and Shinpachi
This is (possibly) gunna be a very all about type of review (and as usual I'll switch between actor name and character name) because I don't actually remember a lot and it's probably because I felt like I was watching a DVD so I didn't pay as much attention as I would've been if I'd been in person. But I'll try and go down the list. I'll mark my paragraphs and sections matching the Set List numbers.
2. Made me so happy that MakiChan was second on stage after Hijikata for the opening <3 I really like his voice <3
3.5 Chi-kama talk: So apparently cos it was Suzuki Shougo's 100th Performance as Kazama during this stage of the series. On the 100th day the audience and everyone decided to call him Chi-sama and it stuck for the rest of the run and so on this day, especially being the last day, the audience and everyone one stage were shouting 'Chi-sama! Chi-sama!' and then Shougo goes 'wait a minute... which of you guys said it? I heard you! You called me... Chi-kama!' and we all started laughing and then one guy (I don't remember who, I think it was Kondo) came forward and was like,'I'm sorry'. I got this for you' and pulled out an actual Chikama (see pic below) xD to which Shougo looked SO puzzled which was hilarious but took it anyway and then EVERYONE else pulled out Chikamas and gave them to him and he took them all and the Shiranui was the last to give him a chikama (okay now this sounds dirty) but he tried to undo it with his finger and couldn't so he used his teeth to open it, and obviously the crowd starts squealing, and he fed it to Shougo xD it was so funny! And he just walks off stage still half chewing it >.<
4. Then we finally got to hear MakiChan sing properly and of course he was beautiful <3 I cannot wait to get the files/CD of him singing!! I really enjoyed... well everyone's performance! And I loved ALL the songs in the live!
8. Harada has a song with Chizuru here which straight away everyone was like 'we haven't done Harada-hen (Harada's version) yet!' and as the song continued I was like 'If they don't announce Harada-hen as the next one then why the hell he dancing with her here and swinging her around and everything?!' There was so much chemistry between them! It was SUCH a good song! I was convinced (not even 20 mins in) that Harada-hen was going to be the next stage!
10 and 11. They did the comedic eating songs (songs about eating duh) which were good fun to watch BUT MakiChan was (Okita's actor has always has been) to the far left of the stage so even when the camera was dead straight, he was out of the shot ='[
13. I was really impressed with Shiramata's singing in his solos. I've never properly listened to him sing before (or properly listened) and he has a really beaitiful voice. Unfortunately his face isn't the more handsomenest so it was a little weird when the camera was right up in his face BUT that voice? I could listen to him sing all day most likely ^_^
14. Now this is the song that when this stage first started (which was the previous week in Kyoto) I was like 'YES KINNIKU LOVE IS BACK!!' because it's THE staple song of the musical. It's only even not been in ONE of the stages and it's the best song cos it's just them bouncing around stage talking about muscles and being half naked <3
But then I saw the Press Picture:
WHERE IS MY SHIRTLESS MAKICHAN?!!??!?!! WHY IS MY OKITA NOT IN THIS?!?!?!? WHY IS EVERYONE ELSE HAPPILY HALF NAKED ON STAGE AND THERE'S NO MAKICHAN?!?! I HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!
As you can tell I was not happy that I wouldn't be able to see my MakiChan partially naked... which is silly of me cos I already have enough pictures of him with less clothing:
Hope y'all enjoyed that like I did <3 ^_^ But remember: Back off he's mine! xP ;)
BUT anyway this song started and it is a song a really love so I was enjoying it and then to my surprised THERE he is shirtless! I was like YESS!!!! AND!!! The best part? He's grown out his armpit hair!! I was in heaven! I was like 'THIS IS WHAT I WANTED!!!! YESSS!!!' I was so happy. It made my night! I'm even smiling widely now remembering it <3 I assume for most people he doesn't have a desirable body but I've never been a muscle person and he's slim with leg muscles and some arm muscles and I don't mind that his front is just flat and maybe a little squishy <3 one of my ideal body types actually (along with Tomo's VERY desirable body xD) <3 so yes one of my MANY reasons why I'm so in love with him these days! ^_^ But I'll stop my inappropriate talk... BUT YES! I was a VERY happy bunny when he showed up!
14.5. This was so cute! It was between Kazama and Shiranui and it started off with Kazama going 'Where's Amagiri? What happened to Amagiri? Shiranui! What... happened... to Amagiri?' and Shiranui was like 'he had... other plans' xD
And then Shiranui suggests they go to the beach and that they should have a beach volleyball match! So they did it... three times and the audience counted how many times the ball went back and forth and poor Shougo didn't have good luck and me being in DVD mood, was like squealing as the ball would drop and one would lose xD They Kazama says he has to prepare 'because apparently I have a melody' and all the girls screamed as he walked off.
15 ~ 21. Between this talk part and the next talk part which was the Guest Corner when the old men corner and holy moly, it was wonderful! The best! These old men shot those attractive young guys DOWN. They were fabulous! I can't even explain! Yukimura came out on stage with this super serious song but he was doing all these actions and being totally pompous and it was so hilarious we couldn't stop laughing and during his instrumental he went back stage and when he came back out he was dressed like this: xD
He was SO funny and at the end he gave Chizuru a crown too >.< as she joined him towards the end and it was hilarious!
And then Serizawa! Well everyone LOATHES him but omg he was dancing around the stay all happy and his face said 'Festival' on one side and 'Serizawa' on the other and it was SO funny! I freaking loved BOTH their performances so much!!
Of course Kondou had his moment during Kinniku Love where he showed off his wonderful body and did a great performance <3
21.5 This was Yazaki Hiroshi's talk as he was the guest and oh my god this crowd. You could tell that each and everyone one of us loves him and his Hijikata <3 they showed a small VTR of him as Hijikata (see below).
And it ended really fast and he was stunted a little and was like 'I as expecting more! Continue!' xD and then he spoke about how appreciative of the Hijikata role and he even said 'I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't done this role.' and just the way he spoke, it kinda sounded like he dislikes that he's no longer doing the role but at the same time he had nothing but praise and love for the character. He also said 'After me, Izawa brought a different type of Hijikata, and then Sasaki also came and did something different. I think Gaku has taken all of our Hijikata's and yet again made a new Hijikata.'
And then Gaku (new Hijikata) came on stage and they had a small talk but shortly after Okita (bloody MakiChan swear to god xD) came on stage and he's like 'WHO'RE YOU?!' to Gaku and Gaku is like 'I'm Hijikata!' and MakiChan is like 'no you're not. This (goes to Yazaki's side)! This is Hijikata! You're an imposter!' to which Kondou comes on stage and is like 'Okita what are you doing?! Who's this?!' and then Okita is like 'there's only one way to figure out who the real Hijikata is,' and the beach volleyball came back and it was Yazaki vs Gaku xD For the first round MakiChan was like 'the winner is Kondou!!' but really Gaku had won xD and then the second time Yazaki won and then for the third one Yazaki took of his shoes and pulled his Yukata up a little (showing how serious he was about this) and MakiChan said to Gaku 'why don't you take your shoes off' and he's like 'I'm wearing boots! It'll take too long!' xD and Yazaki won that too and obvious the entire crowd was happy!!
Then Gaku was half way through his line when MakiChan accidently started saying his line too fast and he got super embarassed and was like 'no no please start again' and Gaku was like 'I'm not saying my line again. I'm not saying it twice. I won't say it twice!' xD and so MakiChan redid his line and walked off in shame a little as he pulled Kondou away by the wrist >.<
Then Yazaki finally turned to Gaku and said 'I leave Hijikata to you' and there was this cute moment between them <3
Credit to whoever drew this!
22. I think this was Hijikata's solo but to be honest, while I accept Gaku's Hijikata, I'm still too in love with Yazaki's and my bar for Hijikata is super high now. BUT he does a good job of playing Hijikata as he should be - does that make sense?
23. I freaked out SO hard when this song started! I freaking love this song! (Seriously Paint in Blood by Okita Souji!) and I was fangirling SO hard that MakiChan FINALLY got to sing it. I was bouncing! I cried so hard when the song started and then when he started singing. Seriously, this song I absolutely adore and now that MakiChan's finally done his version of it?! Omg I was and am so happy!
24. And then beautiful Hashimoto came along and did his version of Kawaranai Mono for the very first time too! Oh my god!!!!
25. Then Tonchan came on (as Harada) and did ANOTHER new song (again I was convinced we were getting Harada-hen next) but I felt sorry for him during this song. He swings his.... I want to call it a spear... one moment *checks* it is a spear! So yes he swings his spear around a lot and while he was singing perfectly it did kinda sound like he was a tad out of breath which worried me a little but I enjoyed the song! ^_^
26. And then the moment we had ALL be waiting for. The EPIC Kazama Melody. Omg it was so beautiful and so good. BUT about half way through the song when we got a close up of Shogo, I was taken aback. He really looked like he wanted to cry and so for the rest of the melody I was totally worried and searching his eyes to see if he was crying or welling up even more. He sang the entire melody (It must've been like 8 plus minutes long) perfectly and he voice didn't even waver which made me at ease a little but I was really shocked to see his eyes wanting to cry so hard. But seriously, Kazama is god <3 at least in HakuMyu he is!
27 and 28. We start to get to the climax as they start singing the end songs* and obviously Gaku is on stage because obviously Hijikata is a very big character no matter who the lead is or what version of the play.
*There was also a moment in the second half of the stage (I think it was song 27) where Shiramata and Takasaki did their duo and once again we saw Yamazaki get pulverised and killed. Can we PLEASE stop killing Yamazaki for jesus christ?!?! Every FREAKING stage he gets killed and NOW you put it AGAIN in the live!??!?! CAN YOU NOT! Every single time I see Yamazaki get killed my heart gets ripped out! I was freaking balling my eyes out! STOP IT! Btw if you want to know my character and actor ranking then let me know!
For those that don't know Hakuouki!! It is NOT a happy story at all. It's heartbreaking and serious and just rips both the characters and the audience apart.
29 and 30. And this is when shit really starts to hit the fan; final song; Hijikata vs Kazama. This was SO intense. I've never heard or seen such a strong final song performance in HakuMyu before. And about half way through we get a close up and Shogo is balling his heart out as he's singing. And Gaku is using SO much energy in the song (this is like a 10 minute sequence or something so obviously both are going to be knackered by the end) that when Hijikata falls down at one point, when he gets back up, he's almost knocked his wig off completely (I've never see a wig mishap on stage before btw! not to this extent) but he keeps going. And so they're doing this amazing performace; one who's emotionally unstable and one who's physically unstable and oh my god, the end when both of them drop and Chizuru is holding Hijikata and you can see and hear how HARD he's breathing. I was balling so hard, especially cos Shogo was absolutely shredding a million tears by the second. It made me so worried and it's that moment when you get see him cry and you all begin to realise 'oh crap is this his last every performance as Kazama?!' so you could feel the tension rise even more!
Curtain Call
Because it was Daisenshuuraku (essential means Final Performance) everyone in the cast got to do a small speech at the end of the play during the curtain call, starting with the Ensemble cast. And during the entire time I was completely fixated on Shogo who was stood just behind Gaku who (being the main) would get close ups as he was announcing names and calling people forward to speak and Shogo was still crying and his eyes just got redder and redder and the curtain call went on - it was like a 30 minute curtain call and he did not stop shedding tears, so we all got even more worried that this was his last HakuMyu.
And one of the ensemble cast said he wanted to do the 千 shape/pose because he too has do 100 performances along side Shiranui and Shogo and he got Shogo up on his shoulders and did the 千 with them. Shogo cheered up a little at the point but went back to crying as soon as it was over =[
And so we went through all the members greetings, of course I only fully paid attention to MakiChan's, Hashimoto's, Shiranui's and Shogo's. Normally the curtain calls go Ensemble and then least appeared cast member to main character and/or least appear cast to those leaving to main character. So towards the end of the speeches, it ended up going Hashimoto Shohei, MakiChan, Shogo and finally Gaku. And obviously this sparked people thinking MakiChan was leaving but he IS the second/third lead after Hijikata/Gaku so it makes sense.
But Hashimoto was crying also but we all know he's a cry baby so normally we wouldn't think anything of it. However, he said some things that sounded like he WAS leaving so we fangirls (who had continued or just started to cry) were feeling even more worried and awful. MakiChan's speech was really nice and proper as usual; beautiful keigo (formal Japanese) and talking about how he enjoyed doing this and hopes to do it again.
Then Shogo came... and he started talking about how he's been doing this role for 4 or 5 years and that he's just celebrated his 100th performane as Kazama and that he loves the musical and the character and of course we were balling and we're all definitely convinced he's leaving at this point.
And finally Gaku said his speech and they all said thank you and left. The last two to bow an leave the stage were Gaku and Shogo and the hugged before going their seperate ways.
They did another two rounds of coming on stage and bowing before it finally finished.
But even when it finished; the lights didn't go back up, to which everyone went 'what?' and BAM somehting comes up on the screen that previously showed us Yazaki's VTR:
Coming Next Spring!!
HARADAHEN!!!
*everyone screams like crazy at this point*
With the lead!
HIGASHI KEISUKE!
*everyone freaking loses it!*
I've heard stories of how they've been putting off Harada-hen because it's the sexiest and the riskiest because it's the ONLY version that has an actual sex scene and the only version where Chizuru actually has a baby. So we'll see how much they show on stage next spring.
And finally as an LV audience the cast members one by one say 'thank you for coming' to the camera and we ended on Gaku and Shogo's eyes were SO red and he was still going strong on the tears falling.
Of course naturally as soon as it was over everyone is on twitter like 'IS SHOGO LEAVING?! WAS THAT HIS LAST! I THINK HASHIMOTO AND MAKICHAN ARE LEAVING TOO! WHY IS SHOGO LEAVING?! HE CAN'T LEAVE' there was absolute mayhem on twitter. And inbetween these it was people freaking out about Harada-hen.
Look at those sad and teary eyes!
And that's Hakuouki Musical Live 2!
The New Guys
I was VERY happy with the new Heisuke! I think he brings out and shows Heisuke's happiness and bounciness so easily and I think he potrayes Heisuke the way he should be and is very similar to how Junya used to portay him <3 But unfortunately I am not impressed with Shinapchi's new actor BUT I'll give him Harada-hen (if he continues as Shinpachi) to make a proper opinion of his performance. But seriously, Shuuto was an amazing Shinpachi <3
The Goods!
I stood out for like 7 HOURS trying to get Makichans entire set. Seriously he AND Okita Souji are popular as *** but it paid off and I even managed to get some of his older ones too! <3
He's so beautiful <3
Also I purchased the DVD there and then cos A. Free clearfiles! B. possible possiblity of going to the DVD release event! and C. I don't have to pay for it til it's released xD
AND This is why I love twitter...
^^^ What ARE you doing TakaChan xD
ALSO! Shiramata had taken Kabe Don (when you slam your hand against he wall so you stop the person you love from escaping) picture with almost every cast member and he posted one everyday for like 10 days after the Live completely finished.
Thank you very much Shiramata cos MakiChan's profile and expression here is gorgeous! <3 *heart is currenly racing way too fast* xD
*Credits to the owners of the pictures!
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Holy moly i finally wrote it!!
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Overall: This was SO good! I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with all the songs and I'm SO happy that I got to finally see MakiChan sing Paint It Blood because it's my favourite song! I'm very happy with the new Heisuke too but not too sure on new Shinpachi. I am excited for the next installment but very worried about whether Suzuki Shogo will be continuing as Kazama or not =S
Rating: 9/10
I'm done! Now let me eat!! This took me like 4 hours to write!