Original message (89 Views )
| |  "Non-gaming Random Thread, Takarazuka Edition" , posted Mon 16 Feb 06:01  
I rise from my grave once again to talk about Castlevania. Because, what else is there to talk about?
Perhaps you remember that Our Ladies and Saviors from the Takarazuka Theater did a musical stage adapting Akumajo Dracula Gekka no Nocturne (a.k.a. Castlevania Symphony of the Night) last year. For all those millions of poor souls that could not secure a ticket to see it live, do not despair: the DVDs and Blurays are already on sale. And, if you are so inclined, I've heard there are other methods on the vast and infinite net to get to see the whole thing.
Well, I had the chance to watch these black caped, silver haired ladies in action a few weeks ago and, even taking into account that my expectations were quite high, my mind was totally blown. If you gentlemen like Castlevania, you love the original music score and can tolerate a healthy dose of cheese in your stage shows, you are in for some serious shit. Do yourselves a favor and try to watch it as soon as you can, you will thank me later.
For those of you that are still on the fence, here goes a small preview of what awaits you at Dracula's sparkling stage. Resistance is futile, give in and join the cult... err, the club.
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| PSN: zonepharaoh
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| "Re(2):Non-gaming Random Thread, Takarazuka Ed" , posted Tue 17 Feb 23:00
quote:
the Takarazuka performance looks FABULOUS
This applies to all of Takarazuka and all troupes (though everyone share your favorite troupe here (the proper answer is Hana/Flower))!
Dracula is a perfect match for Takarazuka's dramatic rococo glamor, though I have to use this opportunity to promote the extremely excellent recent adapation of the classic Poe Clan manga, also about tragic vampires with really great music, if not quite enough whips.
For the uninitiated, the nearly century-old all-female Takarazuka theater tradition is way more fun and better-composed than your average Broadway musical, has sweet and tragic themes for the melodrama-curious, and has massive crossover with shoujo manga of all types---one of my favorite opening songs of all time comes from the most recent version of Haikara-san Ga Tooru/Here Comes Miss Modern with Yuzuka Rei. The female roles are beautiful but it's the women playing male roles that have a type of beauty that as a straight male I find distinct from classical female beauty/attraction, bishounen, and Greek ideal alike...it's really hard to nail down, but will challenge your aesthetic (and more). Sometimes you'll see bored guys with their superfan girlfriends/wives at these things, but these guys are idiots: Takarazuka is the Most Gorgeous Situation and you will love it or else, especially with Dracula's arrival.
I was actually shocked to find their webpage fully translated when adding the links above, which means lots of people abroad must like this stuff, too! That's cool about the international streaming, but look: if any member of the Cafe wants a particular production, I will walk boldly into the Quatre Reves official Takarazuka merchandise store in Hibiya this very month, buy you a region-free (unless you live in Europe. Sorry, Europe!) Blu-Ray, and mail it to the actual house in which you live, together with a postcard or calendar of your favorite actress.
人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．
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| | "Re(3):Non-gaming Random Thread, Takarazuka Ed" , posted Thu 19 Feb 02:29
quote:
Maou's love letter to Takarazuka
Ah, I knew you were also a man of culture and learning, old friend!
Personally, I feel sorry for those guys that sit there at the theater and yet find the Takarazuka ladies boring or uninteresting. Rather, what I find impossible is NOT to enjoy their shows!
I have to admit that I usually like better their adaptations of preexisting things (especially manga and videogames) than their original stuff, though. Their renditions of Gyakuten Saiban were gorgeous, witty and super enjoyable, and much to my delight I just found out that they also did a Dai Gyakuten Saiban gig a few years ago that I totally have to hunt down.
I also liked their version of City Hunter a lot, and I actually think the Takarazuka version of Ryo Saeba is much more interesting and solid than all his other previous live action incarnations (yeah, Jackie Chan included). Man, the Takarazuka ladies sure know how to be manly, girly and sexy at the same time!
But what I like the most, and brought me to the Takarazuka world on the first place, is Versailles no Bara. While I love with a passion the original manga and the anime as well, I think the version of Berubara I like the most is and will always be the Takarazuka one. Ah, once I'm back in Japan I totally have to sing me some Berubara songs at karaoke...!
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