Ocean's 11, Hanagumi
Funny, but I went to see this show without having seen either the film or the Hoshigumi musical - I actually saw the film on my way back from Japan and a lot of things became much clearer.
Like a total lack of suitable musumeyaku roles in the original, so I suppose I can't blame Zuka for doing what they could - but the musumeyaku, even those with named roles, really had nothing to do. Well, Ichika did her nothing with a lot of style, pomp, costumes and backup dancers so it was rather fun, but Paula wasn't much of a role (even though I still regret not having seen Julia, there wasn't actually much to see in this instance).
Ranno Hana, though, really has grown up - I mean, I only have known her by her Tsukigumi roles and except for Ophelia wasn't that impressed, but she did a good Tess, I thought, as much as there was to do (I don't actually think Tess in the movie was that interesting a character).
I was really, really impressed by Daimon as Terry Benedict - very suave and with a lot of presence and charm. With Micchan I knew already she's charming (watching the movie I kept imagining either her or Toyoko in Brad Pitt's place. Sorry, Brad)... I am not quite sure how I am about Ranju - I probably like her better in angsty things than in comedic/action ones, but Danny Ocean does kind of have his moments of angstiness (even though he works those into his tricks and plans).
With the rest of the gang, Livingston Dell's presentation befuddled me - I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be a boy or a girl and who exactly it was (and I am not _that_ bad at Hanagumi - I think found and recognized Ayashiro Rea whom I liked on photos before; she was quite entertaining and cute); I liked the Malloy brothers (they really dyed their hair! I have later seen Yuzuka Rei and Minami Maito rather close because they went to see South Pacific) - they were fun. Takashou Mizuki made a better old man than Yuuma Rin, I think - Yuuma Rin's Saul was less comedic than Takashou Mizuki's character, and it was kinda noticeable to me that she's twenty years younger than Maya-san (I have seen bits of her Saul and thought she looked right in that role - but maybe I am not fair to Yuuma Rin here, I don't know. I actually like her).
But, well, this story isn't much for characters but rather good for fun - and they had fun with staging it. There was always something going on onstage, parts of stage moving, showing us new places, new action... And, well, even though I was impressed by some people more than the others, generally I had a lot of fun and I am glad I went to see this show.
Like a total lack of suitable musumeyaku roles in the original, so I suppose I can't blame Zuka for doing what they could - but the musumeyaku, even those with named roles, really had nothing to do. Well, Ichika did her nothing with a lot of style, pomp, costumes and backup dancers so it was rather fun, but Paula wasn't much of a role (even though I still regret not having seen Julia, there wasn't actually much to see in this instance).
Ranno Hana, though, really has grown up - I mean, I only have known her by her Tsukigumi roles and except for Ophelia wasn't that impressed, but she did a good Tess, I thought, as much as there was to do (I don't actually think Tess in the movie was that interesting a character).
I was really, really impressed by Daimon as Terry Benedict - very suave and with a lot of presence and charm. With Micchan I knew already she's charming (watching the movie I kept imagining either her or Toyoko in Brad Pitt's place. Sorry, Brad)... I am not quite sure how I am about Ranju - I probably like her better in angsty things than in comedic/action ones, but Danny Ocean does kind of have his moments of angstiness (even though he works those into his tricks and plans).
With the rest of the gang, Livingston Dell's presentation befuddled me - I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be a boy or a girl and who exactly it was (and I am not _that_ bad at Hanagumi - I think found and recognized Ayashiro Rea whom I liked on photos before; she was quite entertaining and cute); I liked the Malloy brothers (they really dyed their hair! I have later seen Yuzuka Rei and Minami Maito rather close because they went to see South Pacific) - they were fun. Takashou Mizuki made a better old man than Yuuma Rin, I think - Yuuma Rin's Saul was less comedic than Takashou Mizuki's character, and it was kinda noticeable to me that she's twenty years younger than Maya-san (I have seen bits of her Saul and thought she looked right in that role - but maybe I am not fair to Yuuma Rin here, I don't know. I actually like her).
But, well, this story isn't much for characters but rather good for fun - and they had fun with staging it. There was always something going on onstage, parts of stage moving, showing us new places, new action... And, well, even though I was impressed by some people more than the others, generally I had a lot of fun and I am glad I went to see this show.