Endless Shock Review (Japanese & English assignment)
I promised a review of Endless SHOCK I saw in Fukuoka September last year. I then went to see Endless SHOCK and Eternal in Tokyo this April. This sadly not either of those promised reviews. (I took notes, but I am a perfectionist... I try not to be, but anyway...) Actually this is a good reminder to finally write something up... even if I only share it privately. I feel a bit... hmm... uncomfortable about public displays, or rather I think carefully about what I put out there for public versus private consumption. I'm a rather calm fangirl in public and IRL.
What I am sharing however, is an assignment I wrote as part of some Japanese lessons I've been doing recently. We were asked to write a review like in a newspaper for a book or movie. I decided to write about Endless SHOCK. It's not my greatest work (I did it quickly the night before it was due), and honestly if I had more time I would have said *much* more... but anyway, in case anyone is interested I am sharing it. It is in Japanese, however I provided an English translation below as well. (Sorry, it is a bit cheesy... that's the style right? I also had to follow a format as dictated by the assignment...and of course it's simplistic... sorry!)
「Show Must Go On」
それはニューヨークのオフ・ブロードウェイで若い劇団がブロードウェイの成功を夢見ている「Endless SHOCK」という舞台のテーマだ。劇団の人間関係や葛藤を中心とするストーリーだ。
この舞台の魅力は、主人公演じる堂本光一が演じるフライングと、殺陣と、階段落ちの離れ業だ。フライングは5種類ある：手かけ、ラダー、一点吊り、リボン、と傘だ。一番有名なのは、命綱なし素手で布を腕に巻き付けて飛ぶリボンだ。（実はSHOCKは帝国劇場で初めて導入されたフライングだそうだ。）殺陣のシーンも素晴らしい身体能力を表示し、4.8メートルの高さからの階段落ちが、締めくくる。
もう一つの魅力は、歌と音楽だ。もちろん音楽が良くて、その上にオリジナル楽曲はブロードウェイと伝統的な日本の両方のスタイルの色々楽曲がある。日本製独自のブロードウェイのミュージカルである。また、堂本光一のファンは、幾つの楽曲が堂本座長自身に作曲されていることも喜ぶだろう。
視覚と聴覚で楽しむエンタテインメントの舞台だ。あり得ない離れ業が観たくて、ブロードウェイミュージカルや伝統的な日本の舞台に興味がある方々にこの舞台をお勧めだ。劇場で観劇するのが一番だが、日本で「もっともチケット入手が困難な舞台」と言われるけれど。幸いに、数枚のDVD・BDが販売中で、誰でもが見られるようになった。
"Show Must Go On"
This is the theme of the stage play "Endless SHOCK" which is about a young off-Broadway theatre troupe in New York who dream of success on Broadway. It's a story that focuses on the relationships and conflicts within the group.
The appeal of this stage play are the physical stunts of flying, sword fighting, and falling down the stairs performed by the lead performer Koichi Domoto. There are 5 types of flying: one-handed, ladder, single wire, ribbon, and umbrella. The most famous of these is the ribbon gripped with bare-hands, the fabric wrapped around the arms, without any safety line. (Actually SHOCK was apparently the first the introduce flying to the Imperial Theatre.) The sword fight scene also demonstrates amazing physical ability and culminates with a fall down a 4.8 metre high staircase.
Another appeal of this musical is the songs and music. Of course the music is good and on top of that the original songs are a mix of both Broadway and traditional Japanese styles. It's a uniquely made in Japan Broadway musical. Additionally, fans of Koichi Domoto will be pleased to know that many of the songs have been composed by Chairman Domoto himself.
It is a stage play that entertains both visually and auditorily. Recommended for anyone who wants to see unbelievable physical stunts and is interested in Broadway musicals and traditional Japanese stage plays. It's best seen performed in the theatre however, it is said to be 'the stage play which is the hardest to get tickets' for in Japan. Fortunately, there are several DVD and Blu-ray versions currently for sale, so that anyone can watch.