Lyrics: L’Amour Heureux (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Romeo:
The ways your eyes sparkle beneath your mask
Strikes me to the heart
I can’t even move

Juliette:
The sound of your voice under the mask
Makes my heart tremble
It hurts to breathe

Romeo:
I can hear angels singing
God has brought us together

Juliette:
I can hear angels singing
They say this is my destined love

Romeo:
My heart is pounding
This is love

Juliette:
I don’t know why I’m crying
This is love

Both:
The angels’ song is echoing
With joy at our meeting
I will share my life with you
At last we’ve found each other
The angels’ song is echoing
With joy at our meeting
I will share my life with you
At last we’ve found each other

Scarlet Pimpernel Cast Comments: Aran Kei

Translation of Aran’s section of commentary on her character published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki, taken from the larger feature. Paragraph breaks are added for ease of reading.

Aran Kei (Sir Percy Blakeney):

For this production, when I was working on how to put my character together, I felt like I was able to get hold of it a lot quicker than normal. Mr. Wildhorn’s music is all really splendid, and because of that I was able to stir up those feelings naturally. This was especially so in the song in the first act ‘Prayer’ where I have to express my character’s suffering. While I was having trouble with the emotion, when I was singing my feelings would gradually increase so the music really saved me.

Percy is a hero among heroes. He has a strong sense of justice, he’s cool, he has a sense of humor, and he’s a really charming person. During the performance, I wanted to make his love for Marguerite the most important thing. Percy really loves Marguerite. He probably fell for her because of her beauty and her appeal as an actress. But even though he loves her, he can’t dispel his doubts about her, and he can’t tell her about the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, so there’s always conflict between them. During ‘She was There’ everything is resolved and he feels it’s alright to love Marguerite, so it’s a number that’s full of his love for her. In the last scene they’re at the height of happiness. Percy is overflowing with joy now that he knows that he loves her.

Percy doesn’t feel anger at the French Revolution itself, but at the unfair purging of the aristocracy. He sees Chauvelin as a rival to his own League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but he also has some doubts about his relation to Marguerite and suspects he might be a love rival as well.

Since when Percy is disguised as Grapin he’s always doing silly things, I’m always a little worried that if I go too far as Grapin people might lose the thread of the story… I also have to keep in mind as I perform that he isn’t supposed to be recognized as Percy. Furthermore, when I’m be arguing with Chauvelin, if I go too far in my responses Chauvelin might break character, so I have to make sure there’s a good balance there.

In the C section of the Finale I sing ‘When I Look At You’ which is actually my favorite song, so I’m very happy to be able to sing it. And the sabre dance is really fresh and cool. In the duet dance with Asuka I think we create a world for just the two of us that has a grown-up atmosphere.

Heading into the Tokyo performances, I hope that Percy’s many faces will be even more distinct, that the fun scenes will be even more fun, the touching scenes even more touching, and that it will have a new emotional resonance with the audience.

Lyrics: J’ai Peur (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Romeo:
You two and I are closer than brothers
We played and laughed and spent our youth together
But all too suddenly a strange shadow has appeared
Leaving behind the sense that death is coming someday
I’m afraid: I won’t hide it, I’m afraid to die
The shadow is silently creeping up behind me
I’m afraid–I’m afraid
What if tomorrow my friends were to vanish
And the world closed off in darkness
Please, my friends, listen to me
I can see what’s coming
We spend all our time in foolish play
But there is no bright dawn waiting for us
The end is coming someday–I can see it
I’m afraid
I’m afraid of the sound of the guitar you play
Being swept away by the wind forever
I’m afraid, oh, I’m afraid
If we are struck by God’s wrath
What might we be driven to?
Oh~ Oh~
I’m afraid, I’m afraid
The end of something is beginning
Oh~ Oh~
I’m afraid

Lyrics: La Reine Mab (Je Reve) (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical. This song was not used in all productions.

Mercutio:
Tonight there’s a strange light in the skies of Verona
The Capulets we hate are holding a masked ball
If we’re wearing masks
They won’t know who anyone is!
We can dance with and seduce our enemy’s women
And if we feel like it we can just dump them in the end

(dialogue)

Let’s play with the fire of love
It’ll make good memories later!
Kissing soft skin while enveloped in the scent of her perfume
It might make you faint!
Tonight let’s go out
For a romantic adventure
If we wear masks they won’t know
Who we are
They won’t have a clue!

On and Off: Hanagata Hikaru

Question-and-answer feature published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Hanagata Hikaru

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Snow Troupe’s Yukinojo Henge/Saggitarius

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
Because I’d seen a performance.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
Since I didn’t know the building well I got lost and ended up wandering around with my mother for ages.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
I liked Acting.

A Takarazuka song you like:
I can’t cho~ose (sweatdrop)

When do you learn your lines?
At home.

What you do to combat nervousness:
Nothing in particular.

On-stage mistakes:
Once my fan slipped right out of my hand…
During a junior performance I was wiping away cold sweat (sweatdrop)…

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
20-30 minutes.

A stage necessity:
Water and VO5 (a hair product)

How you spent the night before your debut:
I prepared for the next day and then slept well!!

Something important for an otokoyaku:
You have to do everything while being determined not to forget “I’m an otokoyaku!!”

A performance that left an impression on you:
I can’t really choose, but right now it would have to be “Ebb Tide” from Red Hot Sea

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I feel like “we’re all one!!” or when I see people in the audience smiling.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I have a relaxing meal with my friends.

Your favorite music genre:
I like anything.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
While I’m just following a trend here, I think it’s good to have T-shirts and jeans.

Colors that you think suit you:
White maybe…I like white!

The last time you cried:
When I was on a trip and took a deep breath while looking up at a night sky filled with stars <3

The last time you laughed:
When Director Tani* was talking to me about pranks I’d pulled a long time ago!!

Do you have a pet?
I have one son (laugh)…(it’s a dog)

The first thing you do when you get up:
I open the curtains.

Something you do for your health:
I drink lots of water~

What sort of child were you?
I was often mistaken for a little boy…

Things you learned in the past:
I went to the pool to swim.

Something you recommend from your home region:
Sunplaza Nakano [a musician]

People you want to meet:
Nobody in particular.

Something you can’t lose:
My cellphone, my car, my favorite sneakers

* This feature was published prior to the hiring of Tani Takaya, so this would refer to Tani Masazumi.

Lyrics: Tybalt (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical. This song is not included in all productions.

Tybalt:
I’ve lived this far
Suppressing myself
But I can’t hide these feelings
I love you, Juliette
Even if we are cousins
I’ve loved you since we were children

Tybalt, I am Tybalt
My destiny is to protect the Capulets

Tybalt, I am Tybalt
Must I abandon this love as well?

Tybalt, I am Tybalt
If I abandon myself to loneliness
Can it still be called living?
I am Tybalt…

Lyrics: Le Poete (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Juliette:
For sixteen years since I was born untill today
I have never disobeyed my parents once
But I want my marriage to be with someone I love
If I have to marry someone I don’t love
I would rather go to a convent

I want my marriage to be with someone I love
I won’t give that up

To have my entire live
Spent with someone I didn’t love
I couldn’t bear that!

At the ball tonight
I want to meet my soulmate!
Dear Lord,
Please

Lyrics: Un Jour (Romeo et Juliette)

English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the French musical.

Romeo:
Even if I didn’t do anything
The girls would still come after me
If I just wanted to play I could be with any of them
But that would be pointless
Where is my true love?
Where is the person who was born just for me?

Juliette:
I still don’t know anything
I’m only a maiden of 16
But I know this much
A wonderful love adventure is waiting for me
My world is dark without love
I want to meet my soulmate soon

Romeo:
Someday I will meet them
That day will surely come

Juliette:
Someday I will meet them
I can hear that day coming closer

Both:
Someday, when we meet
We’ll know at once
Someday…you are the one
I saw in my dreams
I will swear
Eternal love to you
We are bound by an invisible thread
Even if the heavens commanded it
We can never be separated

Romeo:
Someday

Juliette:
We will meet…

On and Off: Shirahana Remi

This question-and-answer feature was published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Shirahana Remi

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Flower Troupe’s “That’s Revue”

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
I really wanted a job where I could be onstage.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
I went to sleep in an empty room.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
Tea ceremony.

A Takarazuka song you like:
“I Wish” from Descendant of the Baron.

When do you learn your lines?
While I’m at home.

What you do to combat nervousness:
Deep breaths.

On-stage mistakes:
I accidentally fell down once.

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
30-45 minutes.

A stage necessity:
‘Hakefuki’ (a gauze handkerchief used to wipe off sweat for quick changes and such)

How you spent the night before your debut:
I did visualizations based on the rehearsals.

Something important for a musumeyaku:
Rehearsal clothes and such.

A performance that left an impression on you:
The star of A-Rex.

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I get applause, or when I see an audience member smiling.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I’m talking and laughing with everyone.

Your favorite music genre:
Musical theatre.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
50s and 60s

Colors that you think suit you:
Green and blue

The last time you cried:
When I was really moved watching Frozen Tomorrow: Bonnie and Clyde

The last time you laughed:
When I watched The Magic Hour

Do you have a pet?
I don’t.

The first thing you do when you get up:
I open the curtains.

Something you do for your health:
I try to remember to drink plenty of water.

What sort of child were you?
I was a strong-willed, cheerful, and lively child.

Things you learned in the past:
Ballet, Piano, Penmanship, Swimming…

Something you recommend from your home region:
Asosan [mountain], horse-meat sashimi

People you want to meet:
Tsumori Chisato, Hashimoto Jun

Something you can’t lose:
My family, my friends, Takarazuka

On and Off: Yumeno Seika

This cute question-and-answer feature with Yumeno Seika (then a member of Star Troupe) was published in the August 2008 issue of Kageki.

On and Off: Yumeno Seika

On:

First Takarazuka show you saw:
Moon Troupe’s “Can-Can”

Your reason for entering Takarazuka:
I took the test without caring if I had a chance of passing.

A memory of the Takarazuka Music School Entrance Exam:
Words got corrupted constantly…even my own name got mispronounced.

A subject you liked at the Takarazuka Music School:
Piano

A Takarazuka song you like:
‘When the Violet Flowers Bloom’

When do you learn your lines:
While I’m in the bath.

What you do to combat nervousness:
I write the character for “person” 3 times on my palm, as well as my name, then I swallow it!

On-stage mistakes:
Right now?…when I’m like “!!!!!!” and I fumble my words )’:

How long it takes you to put on your stage makeup:
30-40 minutes.

A stage necessity:
False eyelashes

How you spent the night before your debut:
I did a simulation in my head and then went to sleep!

Something important for an otokoyaku:
Putting forth an impressive presence!!

A performance that left an impression on you:
When I got a lot of applause during the parade of Anna Karenina

A moment when you were happy onstage:
When I get applause during the parades.

Off:

The most fun time for you:
When I’m talking to friends:

Your favorite music genre:
Right now it’s piano music.

Your favorite kind of fashion:
A simple style but with one focal point.

Colors that you think suit you:
White/Gold/Black

The last time you cried:
When I accidentally stubbed my little toe on the corner of my bed )’:

The last time you laughed:
During a conversation with classmates… (laugh)

Do you have a pet?
I don’t!!

The first thing you do when you get up:
I drink some water and space out a bit!!

Something you do for your health:
I drink healthy drinks.

What sort of child were you?
I was a cheerful and super curious child!!

Things you learned in the past:
Penmanship, Piano, Kumon Method, Kendo

Something you recommend from your home region:
It has to be “Kishikawa manjuu” from my hometown, Takushi!!!

People you want to meet:
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tominaga Ai

Something you can’t lose:
My smile 😀