This is a very light comedy of the “mistaken identity” variety. One can’t complain about character development, or plot development, because that’s not what this kind of play is about. It’s about fun, catchy numbers, and just enough twists to keep things interesting – and that is exactly what this play delivers.

Actor opinions:

Boy was it nice to see Moon Troupe again! Because I saw “Guys and Dolls” so many times in the theater, I tend to think of people by who they played in that. It was so nice to see Harry the Horse (Koshino Ryuu) and Joey Builtmore (Koki Subaru) again! ;) Subaru especially had a nice amount of stage time.

Sena Jun: If I had to pick a troupe for Asako (other than Flower…) Moon would be it. Her “vibe” just matches it so well – she definitely fits the Mami, Rika sort of top (Ayaki was a bit of an aberration, I think, not really being a comedy sort of sienne…) Asako was hilarious – like when she’s kneeling proposing to Gwen, and follows her across the stage! I had to instantly rewind and watch it again.

Ayano Kanami: I wasn’t actually all that familiar with Ayano. I’ve seen her in small parts in a few things (like Ludwig II) but didn’t really have a sense of her. Now that I know her, I like her a lot. She has that art that not all musumeyaku can manage, of making their characters strong and feminine, funny but not parodied. She “got” Gwen’s character and played her bits of temper to perfect effect. And even in this light play, I got a sense of the chemistry between her and Asako. They play well off each other, and it’s totally believable that they’re in love.

Hiromu Kiriya: You know, I can almost handle Osa and Asako being separated, since Kiriyan and Asako are now together – they work GREAT together. The “Top and Second” can be a sort of “combi” of its own with the right pair (Tamo and Charlie, Zunko and Takako, Mami and Rika... A pair who I didn’t think particularly “meshed” would be Tartan and Touko, both of whom I love individually.) Kiriyan is SO funny and SO good at using her voice… I just love this girl to pieces. The way she can take one word – like “Umai” – and make it funny is just amazing.

Shirosaki Ai: Another musumeyaku I’m not that familiar with. She sang my favorite song – the “Warui Yatsu” one. She had some great moments, but I think I need to see her in something else before I decide about her – the character of Cecily didn’t have *quite* the range of Gwen, and I just want to see something more. I really liked her in this, but I didn’t fall instantly in love with her like I did with Toono Asuka a few years ago. But definitely someone I want to keep watching.

As for the DVD itself, unlike many of the other recent DVDs, this one had some nice bonus footage in the form of selections of scenes from an alternate day/ theater and some rehearsal footage. (Still no alternate angle stuff, which used to be my favorite bonus feature *sigh*) My absolute favorite thing on the disk was the alternate version of Jack and Algernon talking before tea with Gwen and her mother, where Asako steals a sandwich and then needs a loooooot of water – let’s just say Kiriyan has clearly improved her improv abilities since the “Guys and Dolls” days. :)