Me and My Girl review
May. 27th, 2008 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
To give some background, I have a copy of the 1995 version on DVD. I watched the first act but somehow never got around to watching the second. As MiiMai’s
I started off grumpy for reasons that I won’t go into here, but I even have a threshold of grumpiness. By the time The Lambeth Walk came around I wanted to get up and dance too. This is an excellent, excellent production and you could tell that all the performers were really enjoying themselves.
I was sitting in the second row of the A section. There’s a bit of aisle space between the A and S sections and the Takarasiennes (including Asako and Mihoko) run through it during “The Lambeth Walk.” I don’t think I’ve ever been that close to a Takarasienne while they’re performing. It’s really something else. They both looked in my general direction, which made me very doki-doki <3 Asako waved at the 10-year old girl sitting next to me, which I thought was extremely sweet. In terms of my favorite live Takarazuka moments, “The Lambeth Walk” ranks right up there with Tonami’s “Watashi Dake Ni”, Kiriyan’s “Mononofu no Michi”, and Micchan’s “Kimi ni Tsutaetai Koto ga Aru.”
Individual Takarasiennes:
Sena Jun: Asako, darling, I’ve missed you! I’m really glad I’m able to like you again! I’m relieved you managed to banish that imposter that was on stage during A-“R”ex. It’s so nice to have you back! I think wao_wao puts it best: Asako was pretty much born to play this role. Obviously her comedy was amazing, but more than that, she really got me with some of the more dramatic moments, like when she’s looking for Sally in “Leaning on the Lamp Post.” I nearly cried at the end of the final scene.
Ayano Kanami: Mihoko was wonderful in her comedic moments, but it was during the latter half of “When You Lose Your Heart” that I really fell in love with her performance. The end of the song (where Sally’s despair starts to show) was extremely poignant. Mihoko’s voice is as lovely as ever. It’s truly a shame that Mihoko was mostly received boring roles throughout her career as a top musumeyaku, but I’m happy to say that she received a fantastic sayonara role and plays it marvelously.
Kiriya Hiromu: To be completely honest, I wasn’t really getting into Kiriyan’s performance at the beginning. After Mihoko sang “Once You Lose Your Heart” and John loosened up, however, I really enjoyed it and that Kiriyan-style passion that I love was very much present. I think now when I go back and watch the first act again I’ll be able to enjoy her performance much more. As I mentioned, I hadn’t seen the second act on DVD before and “Love Makes the World Go Round” was a wonderful, wonderful surprise. (I knew there was a comical duet between those two, but…) That song and certain scenes in A-“R”ex have taught me that clearly I need more Asako/Kiriyan slash in my life. Asako/Kiriyan as a combi were often overshadowed by Asako/Yuuhi, but Asako and Kiriyan really do work well together. And finally, and I don’t know what you people are complaining about. Kiriyan looks positively dashing in that mustache.
Ryouga Haruhi: I’ve been very Ahi-indifferent up to this point. I’ve never disliked her, but with the exception of
Asumi Rio: Hmm. Mirio did nicely, especially considering this was her first major role in a Daigekijou production. You could tell she’s an otokoyaku but it never felt like she was doing the role in drag. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel like someone else could have done the role just as well. (Full disclosure: I’m a bit bitter about how many people Mirio jumped over to get this role. I’m trying not to hold it against her, but…). In any case, I’ll be seeing the show twice with Ai-chan and one more time with Mirio.
Izumo Aya: I love Taki-san to death, but I’m sometimes frustrated that she gets cast in the same sorts of roles over and over again. Yes, I know that it’s much better for her to get roles like the Duchess or Lady Bracknell than your typical bland onnayaku mother roles, but I don’t like typecasting regardless. I think my favorite Taki-san role was actually in A-“R”ex, despite the fact that I hated the show. Anyway, Taki-san’s performance wasn’t anything new, but she was as fabulous as she always is and I’m very sad that she’s retiring. My favorite Taki-san scene was when Bill comes to say goodbye to his aunt and the Duchess finally realizes what Sally means to Bill and accepts Bill for who he is.
Misa Noeru: Everyone gave excellent performances, but I think Maya-san’s was my favorite. Her comedic timing was pretty much perfect. Maya-san, why aren’t you joining us in Hakata????? (Okay, so I’m also excited about other people getting the opportunity to play Parchester, but you know what I mean). “The Family Solicitor” was up there on my list of favorite moments along with “The Lambeth Walk” and “Love Makes the World Go Round.”
Everyone else: MiiMai is a great show, but unfortunately there aren’t a lot of roles for up-and-coming Takarasiennes. People like Morie, Masaki, Magee, Ai-chan, etc. mostly were in the front of the background. On stage they got to do a lot of fun things (Magee was a very genki Lambeth-ian), but I worry that won’t show up on the DVD. However, Morie, Ai-chan, and Masaki got the first number of the finale, which I think is Hankyu’s way of acknowledging that they’re still on the star track. In any case, I’m looking forward to seeing these guys tackle the major roles in the Hakataza production.
The casting was a bit kinder to the upperclassmen. Mihou Aya, Kitajima Mami, and Koshino Ryuu all had quirky little roles. But with all of the recent retirements and transfers, I feel like I don’t know the people in the background in tsukigumi as well as I used to *sigh*
Before the show I was talking to a tsukigumi fan friend of mine. She said that there are some shows that she dreads having to see multiple times, but this isn’t one of them and that she was smiling the entire way through. I agree completely. If you have the opportunity, I really recommend seeing this one, regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of tsukigumi or any of the Takarasiennes involved.
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Date: 2008-05-27 07:00 am (UTC)And I've heard great reviews of Me and My Girl all around, which I'm happy for. =)
I really wish I could see this live. Or at least on DVD... We'll see...
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Date: 2008-05-27 10:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 07:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 10:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 07:12 am (UTC)I mean she brings life to Tsukigumi.
Mihoko, I am going to miss her and its sad since I've pictured her and Asako as another Taka-Hana Golden Combi.
Taki is my favorite but I think those strong roles she gets casted are really good for her. Another one I am going to miss.
Wonderful review and I hope to get the DVD of this revival but first to warm up, I guess I should watch the 1995 Yuri production.
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Date: 2008-05-27 10:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 09:19 am (UTC)Personally, I like Ai-chan much better than Mirio in that role; they really do play it differently. I'm glad that you'll get to see both of them. I saw Ai-chan first (and am probably biased), but after seeing it the second time with Mirio instead, I wanted to see it a third with Ai-chan because I thought she was so much better.
I'm a little surprised at your warming up to Ryouga Haruhi from this role though. Personally, her voice grates on me a lot and I hardly see how her Gerard is much different from her role in "Pari No Sora yorimo Takaku," except that toward the end she stops playing a sniveling brat in Miimai.
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Date: 2008-05-27 10:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 04:32 pm (UTC)I'm going to insist until the end of time that all of Ahi's Tsukigumi roles need to be stricken from the canon. They're almost universally awful, and I'm vaguely apprehensive to hear that you thought Gerald resembled Gerard, although I probably should have seen that coming. ^_^;;
If you really want to see what kind of actress she is you have to see her older Soragumi roles like Never Say Goodbye, though admittedly you might not like her voice even then. :)
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Date: 2008-05-27 06:42 pm (UTC)Maybe I'll just have to watch her soragumi stuff to see another side of her, but I really think it is her voice that gets to me.
She's really pretty in pictures out of stage makeup and is really tall and I really do want to like her... but her otokoyaku voice...
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Date: 2008-05-27 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 07:24 pm (UTC)I guess I'll just have to keep watching for her in the future.
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Date: 2008-05-27 01:41 pm (UTC):)
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Date: 2008-05-27 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 02:54 pm (UTC)Okay Asako waving at the kid makes me so ridiculously giggly. Because it means that she watches the audience during the show. And notices people. And I'm really silly. (Man, she can actually see people? I never could when I went running through the audience in my shows, but then again that's probably because I don't wear contacts and often can't wear my glasses onstage ^^; )
Misa Noeru is the cutest thing ever as Parchester. She cracked me up every time with the energy she put into Lambeth Walk.
I figured you'd like "Love Makes the World Go Round" :D
I thought this was a really great show for Mihoko. I'm still kind of broken up about her leaving, but she really did pick a wonderful final role. Really it was a great show for a lot of people. Tsuki just seems to be made to do Me and My Girl. And it's so obvious that they had a lot of fun doing it. I think that's why I still want to watch it again after seeing it 5 times already :D
And that was so disjointed but I'm at work and easily distracted at any rate ^^;
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Date: 2008-05-27 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 12:59 pm (UTC)The point where she waved at the little girl was right as she ran past. I think the lights come on in the audience for that part, so I'm not surprised that they look at the audience. Seeing Asako and Mihoko up that close and in character was really something else...I get all smiley just thinking about it.
Your girl was so, so, good. So was everyone, but I'm especially glad that Mihoko gets to go out on a good role.
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Date: 2008-05-29 11:11 pm (UTC)I'm really going to miss her.
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Date: 2008-05-27 03:20 pm (UTC)I remember seeing her on the cast list and beginning to pray noisily for Parchester. Some people disagreed with me, and thought it should go to one of the (younger) Tsukigumi seito. Fools, all of them. This part was meant for Maya-san. <3
... And I just got your email and SQUEE! Thank you! <3 <3 <3
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Date: 2008-05-29 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 03:49 pm (UTC)Still don't know what to think about the Hakata Parchester, though.
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Date: 2008-05-27 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 09:42 pm (UTC)Thanks for the review. Can't wait to see this show! <3
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Date: 2008-05-29 12:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-27 05:58 pm (UTC)You are just so right from the beginning to the end.
And if Misa-chan wouldn't be my very favourite Senka actress already since I saw Copacabana for the first time, I guess she would be lastest now. <3
I need a Misa icon.