This article about the Star Trip revival of Manon was published by Mainichi Digital on July 1, 2021. The original article was written by Suizu Satoko [estimated name reading] and can be found here (archive link here).

Takarazuka Revue Star Troupe performance Manon opens in Bow Hall – Revival after 20 years

The Takarazuka Revue’s Star Troupe’s musical, Manon, opened in Takarazuka Bow Hall, Hyogo Prefecture, on the 1st. It is based on the novel by Abbé Prévost, Manon Lescaue, which is famous for its film and opera adaptations, with script and direction by Nakamura Satoru. Amidst the setting of 19th-century Spain, Otokoyaku star Aizuki Hikaru gives a passionate performance as a young man who plunges into a love affair and proceeds to his own destruction.

It was first performed in 2001 by Flower Troupe, with Sena Jun starring, and has been revived after 20 years. The youth Rodrigo, from a renowned noble family, falls in love with Manon (Arisa Hitomi), an free and uncontrollable young girl, and abandons his family, friends, and future to run away with her. Though Manon desires a luxurious lifestyle and betrays Rodrigo, Rodrigo is unfailingly devoted in his love for Manon, and for her sake even turns to gambling and crime…is the story.

Aizuki radiates from her whole boy the passionate feelings of a young man who strives to remain dedicated to his love even as he suffers due to the deterioration of his life. Her approach to the character establishes how good his upbringing is, which heightens the sense of tragedy even more. Her duets with Arisa, such as in the finale, showed impressively perfect balance [between them]. Arisa was the personification of the character type of ‘a girl who draws in men’ with her gorgeous appearance and her innocent smile. Amato Kanon, in her 6th year in the company, gives a great performance as Manon’s older brother, Lescaut, who motivates [Rodrigo] to start down the path of vice, and also demonstrated her carefree vocals.

[The performance] runs until the 12th. The 3pm performance on the 11th will be streamed live over the internet. It will play in the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre (Yokohama City Central Ward) from the 22nd-28th.