I Love Einstein (Flower / Senka 2016)
Interesting chirashi and plot blurb aside, I was really looking forward to this show because it featured my favorite Hanagumisei. There were a lot of scientific words and katakana being thrown around in addition to plot facilitation through narration and several flashbacks. A lot of people asked if I understood it and said it was okay if I didn't because many [Japanese] people didn't either. [Plot from what I understand:]
(Don't quote me on this - still unsure about some things)
Albert (Seto Kazuya) is a renowned scientist who leads a secluded life with his android servants. He is occasionally visited by his brother-in-law, Thomas (Minami Maito), also a scientist. One day, Thomas brings with him an android named Elsa (Shiroki Mirei) who shares the same appearance of his late wife, Mileva (Ousaki Ayaka). Being an android, she is imperfect and cannot "feel." Albert and Thomas begin to research how to grant androids emotions. When Elsa asks Albert what love is, he tries to explain through recounting the story of his late wife, but strangely he cannot remember much from that time.
Meanwhile, there is a human movement against androids led by the Kokka Ningen Shugi Roudoushatou (National Humanist Labor Party) who believe the androids are taking all of their jobs. This party is headed by its president, Ferdinand (Saezuki Runa), and executives Hermann (Kazumi Shou) and Martin (Haryuu Mitsuki). But the party's main face is Wolff (Aren Touma), a handsome officer and lapdog of the real brains behind the movement, Josef (Ema Naoki). Ironically, Wolff is secretly an android but is kept human-presenting by Josef's manipulation. He does however have his moments when he relapses back into his android form, usually whenever a special keyword is mentioned (I think it was "soul") or if Mileva's ghost is on stage (we later learn that as an android, he was Mileva's and Albert's son).
There is a demonstration one day in the town plaza in which the anti-android party decides to make an example of Johann (Asazuki Kiwa), an android boy who apparently injured another citizen. Knowing he did nothing wrong, Elsa speaks up for Johann on his behalf and reveals herself to be an android. Josef and his party turn their attention to Albert and his work. He has his executives infiltrate his study and the two confront each other. Josef demands that Albert provide him his research papers in exchange for Elsa's well-being (she had malfunctioned earlier on and somehow wound up in the party's clutches). Suddenly Thomas reveals the blue orb he had kept hidden inside of his eye socket. It is the perfected android soul (?). He gives it to Elsa and she reanimates. Josef shoots Albert but Elsa intercepts the bullet. Having also become one with Mileva's soul, Elsa dies (or faints), remarking that she is glad to have protected Albert and promises that they will meet again some day, some how. At this point, Thomas reveals that Albert is also an android. It turns out that after Mileva died, Albert had commit suicide. Feeling Albert ought to live with himself, having been responsible for the death of Mileva, his beloved older sister, Thomas had ressurected him as an android. This is why Albert's memory about his life with Mileva was so foggy. End of Act One.
Act Two begins with a flashback to when Albert meets Mileva, another scientist at college. They become friends and work together on developing androids. They manage to create some, beginning with Albert's butler, Hans (Tenma Michiru), followed by a bunch of other servants. They even create an android son, Eduard (Aren Touma). While Albert's experiments are going well, he hasn't yet perfected his androids. They are a bit unstable and cannot exactly "feel." Something goes wrong, the androids go out of control, and Mileva dies.
Fast forward to the present time and the tension between humans and androids is reaching fever pitch. There is a showdown between the anti-android party and androids themselves but the androids demonstrate their peaceful ways by lowering their weapons and refusing to fight, explaining that they simply want to learn to feel and coexist with humans. Wolff has another regression and it is revealed that he is an android. Feeling confused and betrayed, the party begins to crumble in itself. Albert, joined by Elsa (who at some point was recovered), steps in for an heartwarming speech, calling for everyone to get along. It turns out that all Josef ever wanted was a son (?) and Wolff, who is presently Eduard, explains that he understands who his true parents are but also would like to live as Josef's son. Albert and Elsa leave the plaza and Thomas narrates that the two eventually passed away but were destined to meet each other again. The curtain opens and the two are dressed differently. They seem to have been reincarnated and meet again "for the first time." Albert asks if Elsa is human or android but she points out that it doesn't matter and they carry on. The end.
The show is followed by the typical five minute add-on revue. Maitii did not hide the fact that she recognized me from the other day（ */∇＼*） and Akira was handsome as ever. There was a small kuroenbi dance followed by a lovely pair(s) dance with Mirei and Beichan.
I was really glad Akira had this opportunity. I've admired here for a while now -- she's just always been a part of the joukyusei crew I'd been paying attention to. And she's SO good-looking. The thing about Akira is that she's got the look, she's got the presence -- she can be sometimes be a little over the top with her acting -- but her weak point has always been her singing. But this time, her voice improved and I think she really stepped up her game for this Bow Hall opportunity. She is believable as an actress and I was a little bit bummed she got stuck with this quirky show as her one and only lead role. Not that it was bad, but I think science fiction wasn't the best genre to showcase her talents.
When it came to intermission, I was worried that Beichan would be getting minimal stage time. Her character in the first act was pretty much just used to show how closely Elsa resembled her. Luckily the flashbacks in the second act gave her the time to shine and sing and be the sparkly sweetheart that Beichan is. Even when she was just wistfully looking into the distance during the first act -- it was perfect. She can emote so well, even just with her eyes -- making them glisten and gleam and the way her lips quivered -- I felt so sorry for her [ghost].
Mirei was really cute but she wasn't really special. She is my bet for the next top musumeyaku of Hanagumi but I'm starting to have doubts now. Or if she is chosen, I don't think the combi will be much different from Kano/Mirio. I like Alex's phrase "perfectly serviceable, but nothing special." That is what Mirei is in my opinion. She can sing well but the delivery is flat and I don't detect any personality, which is key to being a successful Takarasienne. I don't care if your personality is fake -- because we all know the siennes' "off style," whether on SkyStage, in GRAPH, or among fan club members, is an extension of their on-stage persona -- just let me see some kind of 'tude!
Taso and Ibu played the two main servant androids. They were hilarious and dorky but I felt bad for Taso because this was like her third time in a butler role. But even so, you can tell she still gave this role a lot of thought with each jerky, robotic movement.
I was delighted Maitii had a nibante role and was separated from Yuzuka Rei, who's obviously won out among the two. Thomas was an interesting role because he starts off as a sweet bro-ish character but then winds up being more complex, bearing the burden of many secrets and likely suffering from depression and maybe even PTSD having lost his sister and essentially having witnessed his brother-in-law's suicide. He has belty, emotional moments which she nails every time and her singing is oh so lovely.♡
It was nice to see Junko play the main villain, even though she didn't get to sing. Her talent wasn't wasted, which was a relief having come from the masterpiece that was Don Juan.
Someone who I didn't realize would have such a prominent role was Allen. I guess because I forgot that cast lists are published in order of seniority -- not by how prominent a character may or may not be. Wolff was simply described as being "a leader of the National Humanist Labor Party" like many of the other roles were. But he wound up being one of, if not the main face of the group: this tall, ikemen officer always motivating the public during the rallies. Unfortunately, this ikemen officer looked very much like a Nazi, which made me a little uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with presenting Nazis or groups that draw parallels to them on stage, but Takarazuka has this bad habit of making them appealing and desireable. Like, her uniform was covered in sparkles and she flaunted red lips. That being said, Allen had a lot of stage time and solos which is so great for someone as young as she is (a 99th, I believe). She just formed a club and clearly going places so I'm looking forward to seeing her future roles. She's still got a babyface but I think she was the tallest one on stage, which was amusing.
People on Tumblr have been begging for a DVD release date but Bow Hall performances don't get DVDs. I'm not sure if I liked this show -- music wasn't so memorable but I love the people so I will most definitely have someone record this for me once it's broadcasted on SkyStage next year.