I found Toda city lyceum after walking 10 minutes in a scorching sun from
Toda station. The hall has 1200 seats. Its capacity is far larger than that
of the Sunshine theater. In addition, I heard they could get tickets by phone
even two days ago. So I was a little worried that there might be a lot of
vacant seats. But the ground floor of the auditorium is almost full. The
lobby is so crowded that we have to stand in line to enter the lyceum.
It is also troublesome after entering. This is the very first performance of
this summer musical. The goods counter is so crowded that I can't even see
what is sold though the lobby seems to be twice as large as that of the
Sunshine theater. I manage to buy a set of the pamphlet and the official
guide videotape (3200yen) and a set of 2 CDs with a box (6300yen). It seems
new goods, such as costumes, dolls, stationery and prepaid phone cards are
sold. But I can't check them.
The auditorium is almost full. The hall of Toda city lyceum is wide, and the
seats are also wide. The slope gets sharp from 7th or 8th row backward. The
hall is very good for watching the stage. Of course, the stage is deep and
wide. So it's OK lots of actors and actresses move about the stage. But it
seems there aren't stage basement and sinking stage. There are scenes in
which it seems the sinking stage should be used. We may see a different
rendition at the Sunshine theater.
Anyway, this is the first time I see Seramyu at any place other than the
Sunshine theater. So I feel as if I were watching another musical after the
curtain rises. I feel unfamiliar. lol
As for the stage, Seramyu is the musical in which entertaining scenes and
storytelling scenes match well (as its nature^^;). But it seems they haven't
matched yet as far as this stage goes.
In serious scenes which tell the setting of medieval demons or deep stories
about immortality and life or the war between human beings and demons,
SailorMoon stories of friendship of Usagi and her friends or the fellow
feeling of Sailor Scouts suddenly appear every time the scene changes. They
don't match the story well. They don't take advantage of the nice character
setting fully. Their words are so difficult that I can't catch them. Above
all, technical terms may be more understandable if they come in from not only
my ears but also my eyes.
As Miyuki said in an interview of "Gekkan Musical" (Musical Monthly), they
explain the previous musical "Last Dracul Overture" for several minutes
first. They sing the theme song of this musical "Millennium Koi no senshi ja
irarenai" (Millennium We can't remain soldiers of love) here. It is already
decisive battle atmosphere from the beginning.
The stage goes relatively seriously. There isn't a series of joke scenes.
They evoke laughter just by foolish talks of Usagi and her friends in mundane
scenes. Hikari keeps deep in meditation seriously as she said in an event.
Ryuji acts a little comically when he interacts with Mandragora or Semail
Quartet, so the last stage might be hopeful.
This is the very first stage. Their ways of speaking and dances, especially
new members', don't seem quite satisfactory.
I don't want to make spoilers, but I'm surprised at the setting of Sailor
@@@@@@@@. I wonder if they have the consent of the authorship^^;
It is HOSODA Aya that I'm the most concerned about and fascinated by in the
setting of this musical. I'm fascinated with not only her role but also her
playing collectedly though she is still a teenager. I'm looking forward to
watching later performances very eagerly.
Costumes catch our eyes in this stage. Villains' costumes are great,
gorgeous, nice and expensive. lol
Each villain has his/her particular personality and shines. But there are
two leaders, Death Vulcan and Lilith of Darkness, and in addition, Baron
Gilles De Rais, Elizabeth Bathory and so on. I can't understand their
relationship well. Besides, Semail Quartet acts as villains.
The relationship between Lu Fei and Bloody Dracul Vampire moves me to tears.
Though it is usual for Sailor Scouts to revive soon after they die, it is a
little contrived. I wonder how Death Vulcan is at the end. I wonder if Lilith
has been beaten. They are not clearly mentioned, and in addition, the story
is difficult to understand. So I can't be convinced. I wonder if it is to be
continued in the revised edition in next winter.
Two Undead Werewolves have died. They will never revive. lol Baron Gilles De
Rais has done his hair at his back, and has mustaches. Whether habit or
acting, his occasional gesture of both hands sweeping both sides of his head
is nice. Though I assumed he was quieter than I had expected and that he
wouldn't burst on this stage, he roars at the end. He jumps down from rather
higher place as well. He is powerful as usual. His costume consists of
clothes like a medieval knight and stuffy armor. He also swings a mace, the
stick with handle of this stage.
Speaking of stick with handle, Sword of Semail has revived, Sword of
Werewolf, Lilith also swings a long stick, and Death Vulcan has a narrow
sword as well. While lots of villains have sticks with handle, Sailor Scouts
fight unarmed. (They seem weak^^;)
Scenes of villains stand out on this stage more than on former stages.
"Soldiers who protect Chibi-Moon", the subtitle of this stage, is not represented well. I am surprised at the setting of Semail Quartet being Chibiusa's doppelganger (human clone artificially made from Chibiusa?). I wonder if Sailor Quartet will be given body and substance at the revised edition.
According to my friend, Nagoya is a heavy locality where child cosplayers of all Scouts attend every year. There are not only children in Narikiri costumes but also ones in their mothers' handmade costumes. Grown-up fans disguised as Sailor Moon, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are just in front of me^^; They are surrounded by children during the interval between the acts. The children offer their hands to them as if they took the cosplayers for the real Scouts. Children are naive in Nagoya! (hey! > myself^^;)
The hall of Aichi employees' pension lyceum seems to have as large capacity as that of Toda city lyceum. The hall is almost full though the hall is big. There are a few vacant seats only in the backmost row of the upstairs auditorium. Why do I see beknown people here in Nagoya too? lol I have a little pain in my neck for being in the 2nd row.
I heard the stage had been improved little by little after the performance
at Toda and that the length of a performance got short. It certainly has.
I feel the stage has learned to zip along. Though dark changes are frequent
as usual, the intervals between scenes are not so lengthy.
I've learned to understand the meaning of lines as a result of studying a
little about the origins of the villains. Above all, it reveals the setting
of Elizabeth Bathory is according to the legend.
But I still can't figure out Astarte. Do they still need Astarte as the
incarnation of the evil leader, Death Vulcan with such eminent villains?
Sailor Uranus, Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter betray their friends. Aren't
they enough betrayers? As for Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, there was a
similar scene with their positions reversed in "Last Dracul Overture". (In
"Last Dracul Overture", it was a good scene which constricted my chest.)
Semail Quartet are not soldiers who protect Chibi-Moon at all.
Baron Gilles De Rais, Elizabeth Bathory and Bloody Dracul Vampire kill
themselves with a sword. Eh? Aren't they the undead? Isn't Bloody Dracul
Vampire the only one who can kill vampires??
In the legend, Baron Gilles De Rais regains his heart as a church member
before he is executed. So it is still understandable that he is awoken by
Sailor Moon's persuasion and kills himself feeling shame at his misdeeds.
But I can't believe Elizabeth Bathory does so.
Does Bloody Dracul Vampire understand her father's intention before she
kills herself in spite of the fact she has hated Sailor Scouts who killed
him? Her contrariness against Lu Fei seems to have faded away, though.
Three major villains die without being killed (sanctified) by Sailor Scouts.
It leaves an irrecoverable bad aftertaste.
While villains have lots of lines to make their character stand out, Sailor Scouts can't display their character. It would be a little unsatisfactory to fans of each Scout. The roles of Scouts new actresses perform, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus and Sailor Saturn, are a little miserable. Sailor Saturn is supposed to be the soldier of death and birth as powerful as Lilith or Astarte. But she is a mere grade schooler on this stage. I think it shows the stage director doesn't understand the SailorMoon world well. It's a pity.
But the conversation about the English examination in front of Juban High School (Crossroads High School), the scene of Rei's room (?... They don't burn sesame seeds in a private room. Are they studying or eating somewhere in the shrine? lol) and the dance with suitcases at the airport are very funny and nice. Haruka's suitcase hurdles is one of the highlights.
It's a pity the theme songs of Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter aren't on the CD though I expected they would be. I'm sure I'll find those songs very good if I hear them repeatedly.
As usual, I want the actors to speak their lines more clearly so that we can catch them. I think they are struggling with a lot of scenes in which they have to shout or speak fast, though. The story line of this summer musical is difficult, and there are lots of parenthetical scenes. So I'm listening up, but I often miss Semail Quartet's lines. Their lines might be difficult for them to say, but I want them to do their best.
Dances in dance scenes and battle scenes are cool and suitable for Seramyu as usual.
Tousled hair of Gilles De Rais who has turned into werewolf and taken off his helmet is
suitable and very good. Swords are swung on this stage too. Both villains and Scouts act
very carefully and accurately, and it's quite delightful.
Gilles De Rais is cool. And his eyes are sweet when he interacts with Semail Quartet.
Their interaction is funny. In the performance at Toda city, he pretended to be caring about
his hair. In this performance, he frequently touches his beards. It's also cool. (Don't complain
I say all his behavior is cool^^; I really think so. Why don't you give an eye to him when you
are tired of following the story line!?)