Backstage Journal is a short Kageki feature where very young cast members write anecdotes about what’s going on behind the scenes of the productions. They’re not very deep, being full of emojis and more like blog entries than articles, but they are a good way to get to know the newest actresses in each troupe.

This one is by Cosmos Troupe member Takato Chiaki (of the 101st class), and was published in the December 2017 issue.

I have only seen this show once, so I do not have much context to go on and relied on Takato’s details.

Backstage Journal: Takato Chiaki (Land of the Gods/Classical Bijou)

It’s a pleasure to meet you, dear Kageki readers: this time I, Takato Chiaki, have been given the chance to write a Backstage Journal.

The play always feels so fresh and the revue is so powerful, but no matter how much I concentrate, there’s one thing that always catches my attention about the production, so in this Backstage Journal I’m going to tell you some anecdotes about the props!

First, the deer. While it might look like merely a large deer, maybe the chief of a herd of deer, to the audience, when it’s sitting in the wings it’s actually very cute. During the revue, it’s sitting by the side stage entrance, and when Rukaze-san, Kihou-san, and Manase-san enter in search of the sapphire they would pat it on the head. I was wondering what they were doing so I asked them about it, and they said “if we touch the deer, we’ll be fine.” It was a strangely appealing idea, so ever since then I would also pat the deer for power before my entrance.

Next up is the guitar from the play. I’m always watching the bar scenes from the wings so that I can learn from them, and Yuuki, who plays Mischa, is really playing it exactly to match the music from the orchestra…I was really moved at how much detail she put into her performance. When I talked to her about it, she said that she was trying to make her hand movements as large as possible so that even the audience members in the 2nd floor would be able to see. She’s always so impressive ✨

Also, in the bar scene, there’s of course the cigar Makaze-san, as Felix, is smoking! The way she lights it and smokes is so amazing; apparently she also learned a lot doing that role. In the middle of the scene the light gets even brighter, and that part when Makaze-san has the cigar and the rose is my favorite moment.

I mentioned the rose prop, and it seems that the flower seller, Oumi-kun, actually has 20 roses! But the only person who ever buys one is Constantine (Sumiki)…she told me a lot about the flower shop’s situation.

The props that catch my eye the most are the jewels used in the revue show. The piano and the pearls, the glass slippers and things: they’re all so beautiful and cute, and when I think how they must be conveying dreams to the audience, they look even more beautiful to me.

Finally, there’s something that I’m sure none of you have noticed. It’s the cane Dowager Empress Maria has during the New York scene. It actually has an owl carved on the top, and the owl is actually really cute so when I see it in the wings I’m always comforted.

Those were my favorite props from the show! Next time you are seeing a show live, why don’t you try paying close attention to the props!