This is a diary-styled feature from Kageki accompanied by the star’s personal photos. Tatsuki’s was published in the June 2008 issue.
The dates are unspecified (and sometimes she isn’t talking about things that happened that actual day), but going by the events she described this was recorded during late April/early May, during the break after Le Rouge et le Noir 2008 and the start of Scarlet Pimpernel rehearsals.
Continue readingAshizawa Jin is an illustrator/columnist who seems to have worked for GRAPH since the 1960s (yes, you read that right). His interview column generally gets a new title every year but has been fairly consistent format-wise in recent years. I’m giving him his own tag in the Staff category since he is one of the few interview conductors to be credited by name in the publications.
This interview with Kisaki Airi was published in the July 2017 issue of GRAPH and seems to have been recorded during the production of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Continue readingThis is an talk between Beni and Coto during the run of The Scarlet Pimpernel, published in the June 2017 issue of GRAPH. It’s pretty in-depth and very fun!
chemicalperfume helped with editing and translating! Many thanks as always <3
Continue readingThis is the new song written by Wildhorn for the most recent productions of The Scarlet Pimpernel (it seems to have made its first appearance in the 2016 Toho production, starring Aran Kei and a man).
This song replaces the second half of the Madame Guillotine reprise in Act II; instead of Chauvelin’s solo portion, it segues into this.
Continue readingBackstage Journal is a short Kageki feature where very young cast members write anecdotes about what’s going on behind the scenes of the productions. They’re not very deep, being full of emojis and more like blog entries than articles, but they are a good way to get to know the newest actresses in each troupe.
This one is by Star Troupe member Kitori Mariya (of the 91 Class), and was published in the August 2008 issue.
Backstage Journal: The Scarlet Pimpernel – Kitori Mariya
Hello everyone! Kitori Maya, writing a Backstage Journal for the second time!
Here I’m going to present some fun episodes from the performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel which started on June 20th.
The too-mischievious Sir Percy ❤️❤️
In this production, Touko-san [Aran] plays an elegant ✨ British gentleman, but every day she would do tons of ad-libs onstage. One of them was a scene where Percy would offer to loan Chauvelin, played by Chie-san [Yuzuki],some of his clothes. Of course!! Touko-san ✨ would do really fun adlibs every day!
One day she said “you should wear a bunny suit~” and hopped towards Chie and Asuka-san [Toono] (who were already on stage) in a bunny pose ❤️❤️ she’s so mischievous 😍
Another time, she said “you should wear a disco ball on your head~” while spinning round and round!!1 Even when she was heading into the wings she kept spinning like a disco ball ❤️
Everyone, make sure you don’t miss out on the rest of Touko-san’s wonderful adlibs!!
M. Grapin is from Kansai!?
In the Miquelon scene in Act 2, there’s a part where Touko-san, who is disguised as Grapin, is kicked away by the captured Marguerite. From opening night, Grapin’s adlibs gradually escalated!
She started out on opening night saying “What are you doing! Hold on to her!” but this changed day by day to things like “What are you doing! That’s scary!” or “If she actually kicked me that would really really hurt, you know!” or “Ahh! Scary!” so they kept becoming more intense. But where would a Belgian spy employed by the French embassy have learned Kansai dialect!? That sort of incongruity is the best! Don’t you think? 😆
Everyone, don’t miss out on seeing Touko-san like this!! Perhaps you’ll end up thinking “Isn’t she like that comedian, ______-chan?”
Everyone’s idol ❤️ Mr. Jessup (Tenju)
I can’t talk about this production without writing about Tenju Mitsuki-san, who played the butler ❤️ One day, Mr. Jessup was working on something really intently in the wings. Then she came near where I was on stage. While we were singing “Tralala~ 🎵 Tralala~” she was raising her hands alternately. After doing that a few times suddenly she had flowers in both hands! That’s right, Mr. Jessup can also perform magic. But she had been working so hard to hide the flowers so her secret wouldn’t slip. It was so adorable ❤️ After that all the junior actresses raced to catch her and made her perform until they were satisfied!!
The Scarlet Pimpernel was so much fun, both onstage and in the wings. Did you all have fun too? Well, now it’s ‘adieu’ until we meet again ✨
1 – This adlib is on one of the recordings.
This article featuring Aran Kei’s recollection of the opening of The Scarlet Pimpernel in 2008 was published by Mainichi News on October 19, 2015. (This article has since been taken down and no archived versions are available; the link is included for completion.)
Dream Anthology: Former Star Troupe Top Star Aran Kei
Reaction to opening night applause
While the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel (2008) is called a masterpiece of mine, I didn’t even imagine it would turn out that way. Before the curtain opened we hadn’t sold too many tickets and hadn’t received much of a reaction.
I still can’t forget the applause on the first night in the Grand Theatre after I sang on the Silver Bridge at the end of the first act. The applause was so powerful I felt like I would fall into the orchestra pit. After that praise of the show spread and the number of people coming increased.
The lead role, Percy, plays the fool, but in reality he’s a hero of justice. Since this is a type of story that turns up in Japan a lot and is easy to understand, it was easy to perform. The beautiful melody of the show’s theme song, “A Piece of Courage”, was written for us by the composer, Frank Wildhorn.
While I was back on the Grand Stage for the 100th anniversary last year, as well as this year, I faltered a bit seeing how big it was. But the audience was so warm: it was like they were saying “welcome back!”
Next month, at a concert with the Tokyo Philharmonic, I’ll be singing “A Piece of Courage” as well as numbers from musicals I performed in after my retirement from Takarazuka. But I want everyone to listen to and enjoy the richly layered music of the orchestra, and not just my singing.
English translation of lyric from the Takarazuka production of the Broadway musical. This song is one of the original songs written for the Takarazuka version.
Chauvelin:
Everyone has their dreams
This revolution was the dream of humanity
Chorus:
The dream of humanity
Chauvelin:
Those who built barricades in the streets
And gained victory in the fight, the citoyens
Chorus:
We citoyens fought
Chauvelin:
That summer we were all in solidarity
I won’t forget the heat of our clasped hands
Where have the days of glory gone?
Was it only a fantasy we saw?
Have the days of glory faded?
I believe in the dream
of the Revolution!
Chorus:
Where have they gone?
What did we see?
The days of glory
Have faded
With the dream of the Revolution）
Percy:
Everyone wants to be free
They have the right to pull themselves up
They were drunk with the dream of revolution
And lost their senses, the citoyens
Chorus:
Everyone wants to be free
To have rights (have rights)
But liberty, equality, and fraternity
Were forgotten, citoyens
Percy:
So much blood was shed and so many lives were lost
And after that what was left?
Chorus:
Lives lost
What remained?
Percy:
We must create
The days of glory anew
We will grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands
Chorus:
We must create
The days of glory anew (we must)
Let’s grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands
Percy:
This time
We will fight
To take hold of real freedom
Without being seduced by a fantasy
All:
Where have the days of glory gone? (Where have they gone?)
Was it only a fantasy we saw?
We will grasp the days of glory again
With our own hands
We will take hold of real freedom
This time
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Broadway musical.
Ffoulkes:
If it is alright with you
Will you stay in my country
And nurture our love?
I need you
Suzanne:
If it is alright with you
I will be by your side
I only want
To think about you
[Dialogue break]
Armand:
I want to think of you
As my new home
I’m overflowing with emotion
After leaving my homeland
Marie:
I also want to think of you
As my home
No matter where you go
I will be with you
[Dialogue break]
Armand and Marie:
Together
Let’s build
A new future
I won’t
part from you
ever again
[Dialogue break]
All Leaguers and Girlfriends:
You are my home
English translation of lyrics from the Takarauka version of the Broadway musical.
Percy:
How many sleepless nights did I pass
Trying to guess your feelings until the morning
My tears would fall in the mist before the dawn
Now the mist has cleared and I have awakened from the nightmare
Before my eyes you are more beautiful than ever
Your strength of will is dazzling
I was so foolish not to realize your suffering
Your love is wrapped around me
My love will protect you now more than ever
When I can face you once again
I will reveal everything about myself to you
With bared hearts we can start over
I am no longer lost
I am no longer shaken
This love is all I need
English translation of lyrics from the Takarazuka production of the Broadway musical. This song is not used in all Takarazuka versions.
Chorus:
The blade is sliding down (the blade)
Madame Guillotine
She hungers for blood
She hungers for blood
She hungers for blood
Musumeyaku Solo:
I can’t bear to see any more blood!
Otokoyaku Solo:
When will the Terror end?
Musumeyaku Solo:
We killed the Aristos
Otokoyaku Solo:
But our lives haven’t improved
Otokoyaku Solo:
Instead of the Aristos
Musumeyaku Solo:
Robespierre is our dictator (Dictator!)
Chorus:
Has Paris died?
The glory of the Revolution has vanished
Ssh! It’s the sound
Of France being slain
Paris is the city of Death
Madame Guillotine has gone too far
[Dialogue Break]
Robespierre:
What were you doing in London?
Chauvelin:
“Well…”
Robespierre:
You didn’t even figure out the identity of the Pimpernel
Chauvelin:
“I have no excuse.”
Robespierre:
My power is wavering
I must do something now or I am in danger
[Dialogue Break]
Chorus:
I can’t bear to see any more blood!
When will the Terror end?
Our lives aren’t getting better
Has Paris died?
Ssh! It’s the sound
Of France being slain
Paris is the city of Death
Madame Guillotine has gone too far
Chauvelin (over chorus):
Only the strong can survive
To be strong is to be just
In this deep darkness I sharpen my claws
I will swoop down on my prey like a falcon