The mainstream musical theater magazine MUSICAL features various interviews with Takarasiennes in every issue. This interview with Tamaki Ryou comes from a feature discussing the then-upcoming production All for One.

Please note: All for One apparently went through major revisions after the press conference performance. Thus, what Tamaki discusses in this interview may not entirely match up with the show as finally performed.

All For One – Tamaki Ryou interview

The lead role of All For One – d’Artagnan and the Sun King will be played by Moon Troupe’s young Top Star, Tamaki Ryou, who broke new ground with her mature allure in her Top Star debut role of Count Felix in Grand Hotel. There are high hopes for how her dynamic allure will shine in this adventure tale of love and courage.

~ How did you feel when it was decided you would perform All for One?
I love adventure tales, so I was really happy! I’m playing d’Artagnan, from the world-famous ‘Three Musketeers’, and on top of that it’s an original show by Director Koike, so I’m awfully excited.

~ How does it feel to take on the role of the ‘undefeatable hero’, d’Artagnan?
d’Artagnan is full of a sense of justice, a good-natured young man who has a huge ability to sympathize with others. I want to focus on that, and create the character of a man who, while still lively and cheerful, has a very strong core. He’ll risk his own life to protect someone… And that ‘someone’, in this show, is Louis XIV. And the way he fights for his friends is wonderfully romantic. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of d’Artagnan will be born once the rehearsals start. Director Koike was good enough to say that he wants me to display my inner generosity in this role, so I hope that I can use that to show the generosity that the country-raised d’Artagnan has possessed since birth.

~ Your partner, Manaki Reika-san, will be playing Louis XIV.
Louis XIV is a huge key to this story. I’m sure that the audience will have great expectations for this, and I think that the relationship between our characters is something that only me and Manaki could do. Passion: Jose and Carmen, Le Roi Arthur, Grand Hotel…up until now, the shows I have done with Manaki have all had bad ends, so I’ll be happy if people look forward to seeing how things will turn out for d’Artagnan and Louis XIV with excitement.

~ We are looking forward to your relationship with the Three Musketeers, as well as Countess Montpensier and Bernardo.
Miya (Rurika)-san, who plays Aramis, had a friendly relationship with my character last time, in Grand Hotel, but that started out with me lying to her, and aside from that we often play enemies, so I’m happy that in this show we can play characters who have a deep bond with each other. Uzuki (Hayate)-san, who plays Athos, has also often played antagonists, but we were raised together in Moon Troupe so I’m looking forward to perhaps being able to display that relationship on stage. And then the young Akatsuki (Chisei) also joins us as Porthos. I hope that she can use her energetic charm to keep up with the rest of us, and I also hope that we can help her bring out a new side of herself. It’s my first time in a long time performing with Saou (Kurama)-san, who plays the antagonist Countess Montpensier, and it’s my first time with Tsukishiro (Kanato), who plays Bernardo, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how they create their characters.

~ I’m so excited for the show, evenafter watching just the press conference performance.
Thank you so much! The theme songs we were presenting have uplifting melodies and amazing lyrics, and also, the character introductions are blended into that…even us performer were getting really excited as we were doing it. The costumes are also a really modern style design using denim and leather, so as soon as I put them on I feel like I’m in the world of the show. I think it’s sure a show that will delight the audience’s eyes and ears.

~ What other shows have you worked on with the writer and director, Koike Shuuichiro-san?
He has worked on shows such as THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Romeo et Juliette, Puck, 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille; he’s so meticulous about the smallest details, and has an uncompromising desire to achieve his goals, so I think he’s a really incredible person. Every time, we create the show by trying again over and over by trial and error until we gain Director Koike’s OK. I always feel like not only is what we’re doing really valuable, but I can sense a deep love from him, so I’m looking forward to it this time too.

~ How does the title, All For One, feel to you?
Originally, the whole phrase is “One for All, All for One”. I’m sure Director Koike was thinking about many different things when he chose “All for One”, which means ‘everyone for the sake of one person’, as the title. This is my second show in the Grand Theatre as Top Star, so I want to be steady and take the stage confidently.

~ What was it like to play the role of the Count in Grand Hotel, as well as to meet Tommy Tune?
Tommy-san is so pure and sensitive, and I could tell that his inspiration was really coming through in the wonderful direction for the show. Just listening to him speak struck me right to the heart. That was a huge and valuable experience in my life as an actor. While the Count was a role that was rather challenging for me and made me grow a bit, I was really happy while performing him, and I felt so honored to be able to sing all of the wonderful songs.

~ What do you think about your partnership with Manaki-san?
I feel every time we do another show that our hearts interact in a different way each time to create that performance. I hope that our energies can impact each other more and more so that we can give birth to a huge power.

~ Has there been any change in your feelings towards the stage or your attitude since becoming Top Star?
My attitude of putting in effort on top of effort hasn’t changed at all, but now I think more than ever about the whole troupe and the troupe members, and I try to keep an eye on things. When I look at each person while we’re on stage, even the junior actresses are making such lovely faces…I can feel how much everyone enjoys performing on stage. In Grand Hotel and Carousel Rondo, I was able to experience what an amazing thing it is to perform in such an impactful ensemble, and I think it was a big turning point for me. In All For One, I hope that Moon Troupe can use its abundance of energy to explode with fresh appeal.

~ What is the otokoyaku image that is your current goal?
First I want to be both an actor and a human with a strong core. Also, on top of that base, I want to continue to hold on to a love for Takarazuka, and an inexhaustible desire to improve and learn as an otokoyaku, and be able to take on many different styles.

~ Can you give us a message looking forward to the opening of All for One?
As it’s called an ‘Action Romanesque’, there are three different fight choreographers attached to the show, and I think the action scenes, such as duels and combat sequences, will be a big attraction for this performance. Just imagining the scene where all the otokoyaku are ranked together as the Musketeers is so thrilling to me. This show is full with abundant new appeal for Moon Troupe, and it’s a perfect musical for summer and early autumn, a fun musical full of love and hope. Moon Troupe will all work together to put on a powerful performance, so please look forward to it!