Especially at the last stage, colorful bouquets with fans' various thoughts
stood out, and children's cosplay costumes were their parents' more laborious
works than usual though we can usually see a sprinkling of children's
cosplay. Above all, a girl who wore Sailor Pluto's musical stage costume and
her sister who wore Eternal Sailor Moon's were highlights. Sailor Pluto was
elaborate to have a fine Garnet Rod. (I wonder if the rod was made by her
father or someone.)
Of course, our friend Painter Hiyo's daughter wore handmade T.A Girls'
School uniform and was in a flood of flashlight.
As for the stage, there was a drastic change in the order of music as the revised edition of "Supers". At "Supers", I felt the change resulted in a firm story and was very good. But I wasn't satisfied with this revised edition of "SailorStars" because the quality of Summer Special Musical "SailorStars" was very high.
After my excitement at the first day had cooled down (though I laughed my
head off at a barrage of new jokes at the first day), I felt they had changed
the order of music and the story line so drastically that it was hard for
those who watched "SailorStars" musical for the first time to understand this
winter musical though it might be good for repeat guests or those who had
watched the summer musical.
The memorial album of "SailorStars" musical accords with the story line in
comparison with former memorial albums, which are rather collections of
music. You can enjoy the CD imagining the story even if you haven't seen the
stage. So the image of the order of music is fixed.
Joke scenes were full of entertainment with parodies of commercial messages,
dramas and Cassette Collection. But I felt they were a little too lengthy and
overdone. I feel the scene Yaten prostrates himself and bows his head
repeatedly is overdone beyond joke even now.
At the scene of Edo period, the setting of Woman Nezumi-kozo was fairly
good. Above all, the setting that each Woman Nezumi-kozo had been led to come
together by a ball of her particular color was very exciting. (This is a
parody of SailorMoon.)
It seems there can be one more anecdote on this setting. Was it asking too
much that I felt it was a pity they went to the scene of Town Magistrate
Toyama's court easily?
I feel it was too eccentric a gunman appeared as a villain. (Though they
explained he had wandered off into there by the distortion of space-time^^;)
But the words "Pass me.", "Never ad-lib (on the stage) from now on." and so
on were very popular among us for a while because Ryuji was suited to the
role.
It should be particular to him, who always entertains his audience with his
nice ad libs.
But I think a musical in which personalities of only a minority of the cast stand out is a failure. I think they have built up Yaten's part as a comic actor and the scene of the Edo period because they excited the audience and became popular at the summer musical. But I feel only they stood out and that the impression of the original climax, Sailor Scouts' death and revival and the battle between Galaxia, who was very strong, and Sailor Moon, was rather vague.
Somehow, I felt Galaxia was very pitiful in this winter musical when I
watched the musical video again.
At the scene of "Galaxia no Dokusai" (Dictatorship of Galaxia), she looked
like striking out for her own ideals, fuller of life and more youthful in
the summer musical. But she looks even as if she was anticipating being
beaten by Sailor Moon sooner or later and was bluffing in the winter musical.
Besides, at the scene of the decisive battle in which she is beaten by
Sailor Moon, Galaxia is at a disadvantage too definitely. I was very hopeful
about that scene considering the last scene of the manga. So I'm not
satisfied. In anime, Galaxia harmed each Scout powerfully with an air to the
end, and I had even hatred toward her. But in this winter musical, I feel
Galaxia is pitiful.
I hope that powerful shining Galaxia will revive.
ONO Hikari (as Sailor Star Maker, TAIKI Kou)'s good performance stands out
this time. I think she has done a lot to make the role of Taiki, who is
intellectual and a sharp dresser, companionable role.
She appeared Seramyu for the first time at the revised edition of "SuperS"
as Hawks Eye. But it seems she couldn't show her personality well in the role
of Hawks Eye with Tigers Eye performed by KASAHARA Ryuji and Fish Eye in
which role KIMURA Tae performed a gay well. Besides, TAMURA Tsukiko in the
1995 summer "SuperS" musical was a little more impressive as Hawks Eye. But
watching the 1996 spring "SuperS" musical video again, at every turn, there
were glimpses of ONO Hikari's skill which would blossom in the role of Taiki. I
think I should have directed my attention more to her on the stage at that
time.
At last, I should mention KOTANI Misako (as Sailor Mars)'s flying kick at the cast's speech in the finale. It blew my mind at the first day. Applause to her energetic performance.
The train was almost empty because it was the New Year. So I arrived in
front of the Sunshine theater after two o'clock. But I found some people were
already waiting for the doors to open in twos and threes.
Although it's the much-awaited first stage in Tokyo, the front of the
theater is rather dreary lacking brightness with no floral decorations. (Is
that because flower shops are closed for the New Year?)
As for the goods counter close to the entrance, "Musical SailorMoon
calendar", which appeared for the first time, stands out in usual goods
-former musical videos, giant pamphlets and sets of three prepaid phone
cards. But the counter has a narrow selection of goods. There are disciform
seals (500yen) too. There is a lot in the seal. Each lot is graded. Daikichi
(excellent luck) stands for a card album and a big poster, Tyukichi (middle
luck) for a big poster, Syokichi (small luck) for a small poster, and Kichi
(luck) for a blank.
There are also series of 6 CD singles of 5 inner senshi and Chibiusa at the CD
counter. They are advertising the series is newly released. (I don't know the
actual sale date.)
I buy the pamphlet, and casually look at the lobby thinking to go back to my seat. And I meet a gaze of a man who is sitting in a chair there. Oh, I feel I've seen that man somewhere. Oh, he is the action director Mr. Nishimoto, who said elfishly "See you next week!" on the official guide videotape of "SailorStars". I call to him and get his autograph on my pamphlet.^^;
We are at No.19 and No.20 seats in the 16th row and 17th row. I say we are in a good position which overlooks the whole of the hall.^^; The seat numbers become the lottery numbers after the performance. As for the seats, there are seats in the aisle too. It seems this performance is a sellout.
The lottery after the performance particular to Jan 2nd, 3rd and 4th takes
place in the form of a lottery in which each Sailor Scout and each of Sailor
Star Lights draws a lot for a prize which has the name of the Scout.
They draw stubs of our tickets. Prizes are SailorMoon goods of Bandai
-dolls, other toys, towelkets and so on. If each prize had autograph of each
actress worthily of the precious name -Saturn prize, Mars prize and so on,
grown-up fans might be absorbed in the lottery more.^^; The prizes are mere
toys of Bandai. I think goods collectors are not happy to get them. Prizes
are not given there, but at the lobby after the curtain falls. The value
falls a little by that. Or does my inferiority complex make me think that way
because my ticket is a blank?
But of course, child fans, who are in the minority, look very happy to win
the prizes. Sailor Scouts on the stage also look happy.
I wonder if I should have gone to see the musical after visiting Hikawa
shrine.
I hope my friends who go to see it on Jan 4th will win a prize.
Of course, It was SAITO Rei who called the tune at the lottery. She took an active part this time too. When a grown-up fan won a towelket, she said "Roll yourself in this towelket." and warmed up the hall. Tuxedo Mask prize was a blanket (It seemed a child fan's father won it). MOCHIZUKI Yuta said "It's warm." and drew a laugh.