This interview with Tamaki Ryou to promote the upcoming Grand Theatre show COMPANY: Lesson, Passion, and Company/BADDY was written by Onodera Aki and published by Ticket Pia on January 26th, 2018. (Archive link here.)
From a sincere corporate employee to a supervillain, Tamaki Ryou shows off the breadth of her appeal
In her new Grand Theatre production, Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe Top Star Tamaki Ryou takes on the challenge of a very rare play with a modern Japanese setting as well as a revue with a storyline. ‘Since I have the current Moon Troupe and my partnership with Manaki, I think it will be an adventure, so as an actor I couldn’t be happier,’ she said, eyes sparkling.
Company: Lesson, Passion, and Company is a stage adaptation of Ibuki Yuuki’s novel Company. Tamaki plays Aoyagi Seiji, a young office worker at a pharmeceutical company who is ordered to go to a ballet performance and begins supporting them from the background. ‘He’s a very sincere, warm person. Whatever he’s thinking he says clearly to the other person, and those words give encouragement and salvation.’ Aoyaki becomes attracted to Manaki’s character, a ballerina named Takazaki Minami. ‘This show is a bit different for the Takarazuka Revue, as the characters appear life-sized. Also, in this scenario, the women have more authority than the men, which is very refreshing and interesting. While with this more naturalistic presentation it will be difficult not to get swallowed up by the expanse of the Grand Theatre, I think I will learn a lot from it,’ said Tamaki.
With lovely ballet scenes and the impactful flash mob scene from the original novel, where everyone in the city suddenly begins dancing, this show portrays the various excitements and troubles of ordinary life. ‘It’s certainly different from the “world of dreams” but I am hoping that it will leave a lingering impression so that people might think ‘I wonder if there is someone like Aoyagi in my company’ or something like that.’ It seems to be a story full of warmth, showing people doing their best in everyday life.
The accompanying performance Baddy – The Bad Lot Came from the Moon is the first revue show by up-and-coming director Ueda Kumiko. It is a revue with a storyline, about a near future earth which is completely peaceful over every continent, and a supervillain, ‘Baddy’ who comes form the moon. Tamaki’s character, Baddy, is a cool heavy smoker who is pursued by Manaki’s characer, the policewoman Goody. ‘Although I play a villain, there are humorous parts, and it’s completely different from what I imagined (laughs). Even while everyone’s chasing after him he has fun doing all sorts of things, so I want to convey that sense of freedom. I’m really honored to have such a variety of roles for each production I’m in. I want to be a performer who can always stir the imagination.’
Tamaki Ryou is in her 10th year as an otokoyaku, and has held the position of Top Star for around 1 year and 3 months. ‘I can feel myself becoming more and more liberated currently. Since I have a very carefree nature at heart (laughs), I want to continue taking on new challenges this year,’ she said with a smile that conveyed a sense of fulfillment.