Troupe Report is a Kageki feature where an appointed reporter will write about current events in the troupe or ask troupe members for questions to answers sent in by readers. Reporters are generally only replaced on retirement, unlike other backstage features that rotate monthly or quarterly.
This edition was written by Nanami Hiroki, and talks about Legend of the Galactic Heroes @ Hakata as well as Ace Attorney 3: Miles Edgeworth.
Cosmos Troupe Troupe Report, Nanami Hiroki
These days, whenever I talk about Ouki Kaname, the Prince of Cosmos Troupe, I feel like my own internal temperature increases by about 2 degrees. Please don’t let her hear about this, obviously (laughs). And now that I’m able to act one-on-one with our Kaname-sama every day in Hakata, I’m learning so much. First of all, Rika-san’s (Ouki Kaname) makeup is so beautiful ✨ Also, there’s nobody in Takarazuka who can beat her in cape work. In dress rehearsals, when I felt the breeze from her beautifully soaring cape beside me for the first time, it gave me goosebumps ✨ I asked Rika-san some questions related to Hakata!!
Q1: Is there something you’re looking forward to eating in Hakata?
A: “Hmmm…Ramen!! I want to go eat ramen from a food cart 💖”
Was her answer. My thoughts. Rika-san, eating Ramen at a Hakata food cart. If I sat down next to her, and I was a company worker heading home, I’d stare at her out of the corner of my eye for about two seconds. After that, I’d definitely pretend I was reaching for some water and get my second look. Yeah. 😁
Q2: What is it like doing a winter show in Hakata?
A: “It’s cold but we’re so hot with passion onstage ✨ What about you, Zukkun (Oozuki Tooma)?”
Rika-san turned to Oozuki-san, who was in the same dressing room with us 😀
Oozuki: “Huh!? …Health maintenance.”
Ouki: “That’s such a realistic thought (laughs)”
Oozuki: “Like, it’s a winter show. Staying in condition is vital, right?”
Ouki: “Sure, I guess. After all it’s our first winter Hakata show.”
The two of them reached an amicable resolution. Maybe it’s because they’re classmates, but I really like the atmosphere the two of them give off 😀
Now, we’re performing in Hakata, but the other half of the troupe is currently performing in Ace Attorney 3: Miles Edgeworth. During the end-of-year days of 2012, since our Hakata group wouldn’t be able to see their show, they gave us a chance to watch a runthrough rehearsal!! We were supposed to watch on 2 separate days, but I was dying to see it, so I got them to let me watch on both days ✨ I’ll take the liberty of listing some things that stood out. The part where Yuumi (Hiro)-san is drinking Earl Gray Tea. It’s just too perfect for her. Troupe Elder Kotobuki’s sharp dancing in the prologue ✨ Suzuna (Saya)-san’s cafe owner was so faithful to the original game. Chii-sama (Hasumi Yuuya)’s glasses…are you trying to kill me!? (laughs). Everything about Kacha (Nagina Ruumi) 💖 The way Kanon (Mai) drinks, Sattsun (Kazahane Reia)’s subtle acting. Kozu (Amakaze Ibuki)’s absolute villainy (laughs). The way (Sumireno) Rei-chan picks up her heels when Tomo-san (Yuumi Hiro) hugs her. There are so many other things, but I can’t fit them all on the page so I’ll leave it here!!
Kacha is moving to Moon Troupe. Icchan (Isono Chihiro) is departing for a new world1. Partings are always sad, but all the time we spent together is my heart’s treasure. I know it will never fade. I’ll keep those memories in my heart and next month I’ll report on rehearsals for our next Grand Theatre show!! Look forward to it!!
1 – Isono, a Senka member who performed in both runs of Galactic Heroes, would have just announced she would retire at the conclusion of The Rose of Versailles: Fersen.