[Review] Takarazuka BOYS 2013 (宝塚BOYS 2013)

Hello my lovelies,

After a long break from reviewing and having stressing out myself to write my thesis (which is still undergoing immense amount of correction right now), I got back on my feet and started off my “holiday” with a awkward but delightful musical.

I have to admit what attracts me to see this musical was one of the actor (again, as if the many other things I have been to was not. But I did buy the ticket just specifically to see this one little dude) which lead me to have soaring high expectation and having a crappy time when he messes up his line or step and showing it literally on stage.

宝塚BOYS 2013 working poster (Pic cred: j-clip)

Synopsis
   Circa 1950s. A post war stricken Japan filled with youngsters with big dreams. Boys that became men but yet still finding peace in their self in by expressing themselves through dance and music. Some of these boys had offered their service for their country and some had lost their love ones to the war. Aspiring to be stage actors enters the musical stage academy dominated by very talented women. Finding their way through the tough years in the entertainment business.
    This story represents their day-to-day life in the Takarazuka academy and the hardship they faced against the main Takarazuka existing players. Even after a year of hard work these boys still struggled getting any job on the main stage. Their work mainly involves being in the rear stage or as faceless extras. It took them more than just a couple of years to be the star and get a written review. Though in the end being written about and being seen is not as important as their bond of friendship was.
    In the end, Takarazuka academy did not only produce well-mannered and very interesting looking men, but also the bond of friendship that binds these men for life.

I was actually prepared to see these men in thick make up and red lipstick with one kick ass show. Instead this show was really tame and very idol like play. There was nothing amazing about the play but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

When I first knew about this show, I wanted to go just to see these men make a fool out of themselves in ladies clothing and thick make up, then I did a little research and found out that the Takarazuka Revue did have a smaller boys company back in the 50s, so when I entered the show I kind of know what to expect despite the promotional photo and also the poster (of why I said earlier about the red lipstick and thick make up).

Although I was expecting more from the actors, since this is a play commemorating the Takarazuka players. I literally bought the ticket just to see Miyu Irino (入野自由) live on stage. I have heard his voice in various forms of characters and also as a singer yet this was my first time listening to him as a musical actor. I have to give it to him that he does have a good voice. He has almost perfect control and he has the perfect voice for the stage. His projection was amazing and his harmony was just unbelievably wonderful. Though, he is a little inconsistent.

I watched this show twice which was the 3^rd from (Day 1 from here on) the final show and also the final show (Day 2 from here on) it self. If there is one thing I know about stage play is that reviewers and media usually sit in for the opening and the closing (also usually the 1^st cast will play for the opening and closing but there is only 1 cast here) of a tour. Thus most performers will give their 1000% on those days.

Back to Irino’s performance, he was amazing in the Day 2 show but he was a little lazy and had more than just a couple of mistakes in the Day 1 show. In the Day 1 show, his dance was off beat, he was unsynchronized and his singing voice was okay but a little lazy. Again his character possession was a little lazy as he was in and out of character and he has a very obvious tell when he made a mistake. Though in Day 2 his character possession was good. It was almost like he is that character itself. I did not expect for him to dance as much as he did, but in Day 1 he was very awkward and very lethargic, almost like he was rehearsing instead of dancing. Obviously he is not a dancer, but he has been rehearsing this play for more than just a few weeks I presume, he could have done better. And he did in the Day 2 show. He had much cleaner moves and was much more energetic.

The next person I was looking forward to see in this play was Kamiyama Ryuji (上山竜司). After Gamba 9 The Musical, I am almost in love with his voice. Like I said in my last review of Gamba 9 The Musical, he could be as good as Gavin Creel or even better if he was given the chance. I was right. He was great. His projection, his energy and his dance were just amazing. To be fair, he did grow up singing and dancing, but his schedule was lined up ridiculously packed (from what I can see) for a stage actor or even an idol. I was expecting his performance to be very lethargic but, boy was I wrong. He was great. His character possessing was just spot on.

Even his movement could project his emotion, and it was not an easy task for even the more experienced actor to do that. There was a specific scene where he received a letter saying his father just passed away, and his body movement just crushed me. There was not script, no cry and not even a sound. Just the way that he melts into the ground was so heart breaking that it works. And he is the one actor that was actually consistent through out both days.

Another actor that I think was great with his vocal was Rachi Shinji (良知真次). He has the best vocal control after Kamiyama and volume control as well as harmony. His harmony made me melt in my seat. His dancing could be better and not to say he was bad, just like any other person on the stage, he was annoyingly lazy in his dance in Day 1 show. Though his choice clearly made up for it and he was amazing there.

The character that got on my nerves on the first day was the character that was played by Nakagauchi Masataka (中河内雅貴). He is one stuck up, annoying bum crack that only cares about himself (or at least in the first act). Which means his acting works and it delivers. I do not know whether is he a dancer, a singer or a proper stage actor so I’m just going to guess that he is a proper stage actor. Both days he had great character possession and he had an above average voice well it is unfair for me to compare him to a voice actor, but he has a nice tone to his voice. His dance was a totally different story. He is a great dancer for an actor. His pirouette is so clean that it sparkles. Though his points could be better and his lines are a little messy here and there, but it was awesome for an actor though. He does remind me of young John Travolta in Grease with badly pointed feet.

In the Day 1 show I thought the main focus of the play played by Yoshizawa Hisashi (吉沢 悠) was very squeamish and his voice was very screamish, like he was screaming throughout the play. The second day was much better but still very screamish. I am sure he is a fine actor but maybe not in this play. He does however have great grasp of his character and had great control over it. I do think he would rather make a fine Hoshino Jõji (星野丈治) rather than Uehara (上原).

The two older casts was not as memorable as the younger cast but the actor who played Mr. Ikeda (池田さん) have a very high tone voice and that makes his lower tone dialogue a little hard to hear. The only lady in the play was very cute and she looks like a veteran on stage.

The other two actor was not bad, they were not exactly singers or dancers but they look like they are super comfortable on stage as well. And the rougher Osaka dialect put forth by Itakura Chihiro (板倉チヒロ) was just too cute. For Day 2 show I was actually looking forward just to listen to him. He was amazingly annoying and has an amazing stage presence. Besides Kamiyama, he was the only person who does not look bored out of his wits waiting for other actor to finish their dialogue.

One thing that kept bothering me was the staging. Either the placement by the director was a little off or the actors themselves were quite oblivious of their surrounding. Not only that, the placement for dancing were very scattered as well.

Another thing that bothers me is that the interactions between actors were very fake and they do not look like they get along very well with each other. Either the cast was not compatible or they were just tired. Either way, it was a little let down for me.

All in all it is a thumbs up show for the director. I would rate this play a six out of ten stars (6/10). I do hope to see more works of the director and these actors in other plays. I do know from experience that Kamiyama is an amazing stage player and his voice is just great. What amaze me even more is that when speaking with him he has the most polite and gracious voice yet on stage his projection is amazingly clear and spot on.

Love and kisses,

GWRL