This interview with Snow Troupe Top Star prior to the opening of the 2011 production The Man in the Iron Mask/Royal Straight Flush! was written by Kuroishi Etsuko [approximate reading] for Ticket Pia and can be found here.
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Otozuki Kei interview: The Man in the Iron Mask/Royal Straight Flush!
Takarazuka Revue Snow Troupe’s Top Star Otozuki Kei’s smile is so refreshingly charming that it seems to instantaneously make everything around her more cheerful. It’s been about a year since she became Top Star, and her next challenge is The Man in the Iron Mask based on the book by Alexandre Dumas, which was made famous by the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. We asked her how she is portraying the completely opposite characters of the heartlessly cruel tyrant Louis XIV and his imprisoned older twin brother, Philippe.
Pia: This time you’re being challenged with a double role; how do you feel about it?
Otozuki: When I first received the script, I thought it would be easy to portray them since their personalities and the circumstances they were brought up in were so different. But when rehearsals actually started, I found it really difficult to get into character as Louis XIV. While it’s been 14 years since I joined the Takarazuka Revue, I’ve never had the role of a tyrant before. It takes a lot of imagination so I’m having to fight for it. Also, I want to make sure I’m conveying Philippe’s feelings after being imprisoned and masked for 6 years.
Pia: Since it seems like we’ll be able to see a new you, expectations might be high.
Otozuki: I’m really happy to be able to show the audience different sides of me by portraying opposite roles in the same show.
Pia: In the cast list, there are roles like “(Bowling) Ball Attendant*” and “(Moliere’s Troupe) Mito Mitsukuni” so we’re really curious about that! (laugh)
Otozuki: That’s right. (laugh) Louis XIV likes to play and he’s very promiscuous, so the bowling scene shows what his everyday life is like. In performance with all the scenery and choreography, it’s really fun to watch. The show was made to be enjoyed by young and old, men and women, and Mito Mitsukuni is a part of that too. Please come and watch it.
Pia: The second feature is named after the winning hand in poker, “royal straight flush” but can you tell us what’s going to be in it?
Otozuki: I want it to be the kind of show that could only be performed by the current members of Snow Troupe. We’re aiming for it to be a very powerful and energetic show. Even including the underclassmen, there are lots of various scenes featuring the different actresses. I think it’s the kind of show where not just us but the audience too will be caught up with it and want to dance with us. I want everyone to really enjoy it.
Pia: Your first year as Top Star has nearly passed: what is your mental state like?
Otozuki: In this play, the musketeers say their motto, “one for all, all for one,” in French. Right now I have everyone supporting me, and I want to work really hard for the rest of my troupe members so I can improve myself as I lead them on. Therefore, I am really happy that I was able to do this show with such good timing.
* This is a reference to scenes that were cut before the commercial recording of the show, as The Man in the Iron Mask went through heavy edits after the Takarazuka run.