Cleverly Disguised as a Responsible Adult

I watched the honkouen of "Aoi Tori wo Sagashite" tonight.  What a cute show!  I'm embarrassed to admit that this is actually my first Komu/Maa-chan show (and I'm not sure if it technically counts since it was also a Tom show).  Somehow I've managed to miss out on a lot of pre-Mizu yukigumi >.>  This may need to be corrected.

The performances were very solid all around and the entire cast was obviously enjoying having Tom back in the troupe, but it was the 84th class who stole the show for me.  Before this I had only seen Tonami in the strong, elegant roles that she has become known for.  Who would have known that she is just at talented at playing ditzy roles too? (although we really shouldn't be surprised)  Everyone needs to see this show if only to see her forlornly singing "Happy Birthday" to herself while wearing a bathrobe and face mask <3333  And tomboy-musumeyaku!Kimu?  Need I say more about how happy this made me? 

Oh, and Kashige was adorable.

Beyond a lot of good performances, I thought it was also decently written.  Convoluted, yes, but in the Takarazuka way and therefore not bad.  There were both moments that had me rolling on the floor and some genuinely touching moments as well.  I'm looking at the TakaWiki now, and I don't understand how Ishida-sensei can write such good shows (namely Aoi Tori and Osaka Samurai), and yet also produce such wastes of my time like Sakamoto Ryoma and Reimei no Kaze.  I guess everyone has their good and bad days >.>

Only...parts of the plot got a little confusing.

( Spoilery question underneath the cut )

From the Takarazuka news section: 

July 20th:
-Yamato Yuuga's "Brilliant Dreams."  I know Mizu Natsuki and Aran Kei got "Brilliant Dreams" releases, but what exactly are they?  I only know they're produced by Sky Stage...
-Sena Jun's "El Viento" dinner show
-Todoroki Yu's "Lavendar Monologue" dinner show
-the Mahoroba/Magician's Melancholy piano CD
-Sena Jun's "Photographie" DVD.  This is also made by Sky Stage.  It's "making of" footage...maybe from her recent photobook?

August 5th:
-Osaka Samurai

Well, regardless, Osaka Samurai is opening in a few days at Bow Hall, so congratulations to Kiriyan and the rest of tsukigumi.  I will be keeping my eyes peeled to the internet for any articles/pictures/etc.

Edit: My bad, apparently Yumesaki Nene is the musumeyaku lead role.  Interesting that they didn't go with Ai-chan, given how much she and Kiriyan have been paired together in the past.  Makes me wonder what will happen in terms of a musumeyaku partner if Asako retires and Kiriyan becomes top star.  Of course, Mihoko sticking around is more than fine by me too and she and Kiriyan could quite possibly make a good combo.  Assuming that Hankyu decides to promote Kiriyan when Asako retires.  Which hopefully will be a while from now.

In any case, good for Yumesaki Nene.  I haven't seen her in a prominent role yet but she seemed cool in her Cafe Break interview from what I remember.  And I'm definitely glad that she's getting a bigger role than Mimi in the ParisSora shinjikouen.  Absolutely no offense at all meant to either her or Mihoko, but Mimi I thought was really a fairly boring role.