Me and My Girl review
May. 27th, 2008 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matataku_hoshi
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.
