History: Asaji ga Yado / Ravir (Snow 1998)

English Title: House Amid the Thickets / Ravir
Japanese Title: 浅茅が宿 / ラヴィール
Romanized Title: Asaji ga Yado / Raviiru

Troupe: Snow
Year: 1998
Performances: Grand Theater, 8/7 - 9/14; 1000days Theater, 11/28 - 12/26
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Grand Theater, 8/25; 1000 Days Theater, 12/8

House Amid the Thickets:

Based On: The short story "House Amid the Thickets" in Ueda Akinari's Ugetsu Monogatari.
Author/Director: Sakai Sumio
Music: Terada Takio, Yoshida Yuuko
Choreography: Hanayagi Yoshijirou, Houdou Kouka
Shinjin Kouen Director: Saitou Yoshimasa

Ravir:

Author/Director: Nakamura Kazunori
Music: Nishimura Kouji, Kai Masato, Kuratomi Shinichi
Choreography: Nakura Kayoko, Ieki Hiroshi, Ai Erina, Ootani Morio, Miyazaki Atsumi

Available on DVD: VHS only

Role	Cast	Shinko Cast
Katsushirou (a young man from the east country)	Todoroki Yuu	Takashiro Kei
Miyagi (Katsushirou's fiancee) / Manago (daugher of an aristocrat)	Tsukikage Hitomi	Dan Rei
Soujirou (Katsushirou's best friend)	Kouju Tatsuki	Tatsuki You
Lady of the Flowers	Ashita Michiko	-
Buddhist Priest	Ebira Kaoru	Mirai Yuuki
Kashiwagi (Katsushiro's mother)	Asuka Yuu	Mizutani Shino
Isoji (Tokisada's lady-in-waiting)	Akari Nami	Kasumi Fuuka
Sagami Genta (warrior of Bandou)	Kaede Saki (1)	Hodaka Yuu (2)
Abe Tokisada (major general in the capital)	Shiokaze Kou	Ayabuki Mao (3)
Kazuma (Tokisada's vassal)	Aran Kei	Sugata Kou (4)
Yasushige (Tokisada's vassal)	Shiomi Maho (5)	Yuuki Mao (6)
Rinya (Manago's page)	Takashiro Kei	Amase Izuru
Maroya (Manago's maidservant)	Saotome Sachi	Ai Youko
Suzuna (little girl)	Kisaki Miri	Aida Megu
Kikyou (little girl)	Konno Mahiru	Ere Marina
Katsushirou as a boy	Amase Izuru	Kaou Remi †
Miyagi as a girl	Konno Mahiru	Yumena Saya
Tokimaru	Maisaka Yukiko	Chisaki Maria
Sakura Chitose A	Saotome Sachi	Haru Ayuka
Sakura Chitose A	Itsumine Aki	Konno Mahiru
Sakura Chitose A	Kisaki Miri	Tamaki Kaho
Traveling noblewoman	Marioka Tomomi	Matsuyuki Kanako
Traveling gentleman	Aran Kei	Aomi Taku
Puppeteer	Mirai Yuuki	Machika Meguru

† Grand Theater only
(1) Kazahaya Yuu in Tokyo
(2) Yuuki Mao in Tokyo
(3) Sugata Kou in Tokyo
(4) Aomi Taku in Tokyo
(5) Naruse Kouki in Tokyo
(6) Machika Meguru in Tokyo

Others: Tasai Shun, Chiya Akira, Morio Kazumi, Asukai Mari, Miho Keiko, Kasai Hitomi, Amaki Kaori, Arisa Miho, Yuu Naoki, Saezuki Akira, Minaho Karin, Namiki Akira, Kazami Yoshiki, Yurika Shiho, Marina Miho, Asaka Serena, Tachibana Riya, Ayuna Sae, Misumi Kanon, Shiroka Koyu, Amase Izuru, Mio Urara, Rei Yuuki, Makise Kai, Houju Konatsu, Hijiri Rei, Anjou Shiki

84th Class (Group C): Asaki Yumemi, Maishiro Nodoka, Misuzu Aki, Hokushou Kairi, Shioka Yurisa, Hanae Miku, Taka Reira, Asou Akura, Kurosawa Daria, Ayaka Rei, Takatoo Azusa, Hosumi Sae, Mishiro Ren

WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

Katsushirou's dream is to go the the big city. He is always day-dreaming about going, seeing the sights, and learning things there, but he doesn't quite have the courage to leave. Finally, his best friend Soujirou convinces him that now is the time to go. Katsushirou promises his mother and his fiancee Miyagi that he will return in three years. Miyagi give him a protection charm from a nearby temple, and in return Katsushirou gives her a flute he has had since he was a little boy. The two young men set out. Miyagi, watching them go, suddenly falls to her knees, looking ill. Katsushirou's mother realizes, horrified, that she is pregnant, but Miyagi will not let her call Katsushirou back and ruin his dream.

Along the way, and in the capital they see amazing things, and beautiful clothing. They are wide-eyed in astonishment. They also run into a very mysterious monk, who warns them to keep their eyes open, before disappearing with a promise that they will likely meet again. In the capital, they look up General Tokisada, a man with roots in their own area. He takes the two amusing and innocent young men into his entourage.

One day, Katsushirou seeks shelter from a sudden downpour under the eve of a doorway. A beautiful woman appears. They trade greetings, and Katsushirou convinces her to take his umbrella to spare herself from the rain. She is regally grateful, and tells him he must come to call on her so that she can return it. Soujirou belatedly arrives to find his friend bemused and missing his umbrella, and can't get anything coherent out of him, except the word: "Beautiful."

Some time later, Katsushirou goes out to the woman's home. Her name is Manago, and she is obviously a lady of good breeding. Manago and her servants entice Katsushirou to stay longer than he intended, and he seems to almost fall into a trance as he watches Manago dance. He joins her. She gives him a sword and sends him on his way.

He meets the monk again, and again the monk warns him that he is giving too much credence to dreams. He tells him to keep Miyagi's charm close to him, as it is the only think that can help him now.

Tokisada and his household is in an uproar over a band of Bandou warriors. All kinds of rumors are flying as to the unspeakable acts they are doing, and Tokisada's young men are determined to fight them, if given a chance. Katsushirou stumbles home, in a strange daze. Siujirou is worried about him, and particularly worried about the strange, expensive-looking sword he is carrying. Katsushirou says he was given it, and Soujirou accuses him of stealing it. Their lord appears, and the sword is recognized as belonging to a lord who was recently attacked. Katsushirou is accused of stealing it, or worse.

Katsushirou denies it, and Soujirou supports him. When Katsushirou tells his story, the lord and his men are suspicious, never having heard of the sumptuous house Katsushirou describes. The lord orders Katsushirou to guide them to these suspicious women.

Meanwhile, Manago is talking to her attendants. They scold her for giving away the sword, and tell her that now the only thing to do is kill Katsushirou. She is very reluctant, but finally agrees.

Tokisada and his men arrive. They search the premises and find more things with crests and seals of lords who had recently been attacked. Tokisada orders his men to capture the women attendants. Suddenly, Manago appears from behind a screen. She has a wild and fey appearance. Tokisada takes one look at her and names her: demon. The samurai and the demons begin to fight. Katsushirou, meanwhile, has gone completely back into the dreamy half-awareness when he sees Manago again. They dance, while around them all of the samurai are killed.

Darkness. Soujirou arrives, and shakes Katsushirou awake. He is the sole survivor. Suddenly, the monk is there again. He tells them they have been living too much in their dreams, and pointedly asks Katsushirou where his treasure, his love, is. They argue with the monk, who disappears yet again. Katsushirou and Soujirou suddenly realize they have been in the city for 7 years now, long past their promised time. Katsushirou apologizes to Soujirou for keeping him here, to a place which is no longer their dream, but has become quite dark. They decide to return home.

A flashback of a younger Katsushirou and Miyagi as children together fades into a misty scene of Miyagi being taunted and chased by Bandou men. Outnumbered, she grabs one of their swords and cuts her own throat.

As they travel home, Soujirou meets with a band of Bandou warriors. Although he tries to bluff their way through, at last Soujirou cannot let their taunts go on, and accuses them of being traitors. The Bandou realize he must be one of Tokisada's, and attack. Katsushirou arrives, and the two friends fight valiantly, though impossibly outnumbered. Soujirou is struck down by their leader, Sagami Genta. Katsushirou, infuriated, kills Sagami, and the few remaining men flee. Soujirou dies in his friend's arms.

Katsushirou arrives home at last, at the cherry tree where he parted from Miyagi she greets him, and he apologizes tearfully for breaking his promise. She is simply glad to see him again. He promises never to leave her side again. He gives her a kimono he brought her from the city, and they dance. Suddenly, the scene changes. He comes back to himself. The little cherry tree is actually grown now, and he sees a grave marker beneath it with the kimono draped over it. It bears Miyagi's name, and he realizes that he was dreaming yet again, and that Miyagi had been waiting for him still, the only way she could. He despairs. His dream made no one happy, and in fact brought misery to those he loved. Suddenly, an old woman and a young child come to the tree. The woman spots Katsushirou — it is his mother. The child, he learns, is Tokimaru, his and Miyagi's child.

---

A revue style openning.

Revue Etoile: Todoroki Yuu
Revue Garcon: Kaede Saki (1), Amaki Kaori, Shiomi Maho (2), Takashiro Kei, Mirai Yuuki, Tatsuki You, Ayabuki Mao (3), Machika Meguru

Revue Gentleman S: Todoroki Yuu
Revue Lady S: Tsukikage Hitomi
Revue Gentleman A: Kouju Tatsuki, Shiokaze Kou, Aran Kei
Ladies A: Saotome Sachi, Akari Nami, Marioka Tomomi, Asukai Mari
Ravir Girls A: Itsumine Aki, Morio Kazumi

(1) Kazahaya Yuu in Tokyo
(2) Naruse Kouki in Tokyo
(3) Saezuki Akira in Tokyo


A gentleman and a lady's maneuvers for love.

Gentleman: Kouju Tatsuki
Lady: Kisaki Miri


The unforgivable love of an Egyptian girl and a panther.

Panther S: Todoroki Yuu
Egyptian Girl: Tsukikage Hitomi
Panthers: Itsumine Aki, Shiokaze Kou, Kaede Saki (1), Aran Kei, Shiomi Maho (2), Takashiro Kei, Mirai Yuuki, Ayabuki Mao (3)

(1) Naruse Kouki in Tokyo
(2) Tachibana Riya in Tokyo
(3) Amase Izuru in Tokyo


A moment of getting carried along with gypsy music, and dancing gloriously.

Gypsy Man S: Todoroki Yuu
Gypsy Woman S: Tsukikage Hitomi
Gypsy Men A: Kouju Tatsuki, Shiokaze Kou, Aran Kei


A jazz dance scene from the dancers of Yukigumi.

Singing Men: Kaede Saki (1), Shiomi Maho (2), Takashiro Kei, Ayabuki Mao (Takarazuka Only)

Dancing Man S: Todoroki Yuu
Dancing Woman S: Tsukikage Hitomi
Dancing Men A: Kouju Tatsuki, Shiokaze Kou, Aran Kei

(1) Naruse Kouki in Tokyo
(2) Mirai Yuuki in Tokyo


The rockette line dance, an otokoyaku-only number, the pair dance.

Rockette Boy: Tatsuki You

Singing Gentleman A: Shiokaze Kou
Dancing Gentleman A: Aran Kei
Dancing Lady A: Itsumine Aki
Gentleman A: Takashiro Kei (1), Ayabuki Mao (2)
Ladies A: Kisaki Miri, Konno Mahiru

(1) Asuka Yuu in Tokyo
(2) Kazahaya Yuu in Tokyo



Etoile: Konno Mahiru

• The Takarazuka performance was the final show for Hodaka Yuu. The Tokyo performance was the final show for Saotome Sachi.
• Ebira Kaoru and Ayabuki Mao were transferred out of Snow on Oct. 1st, before the Tokyo run. Ebira Kaoru returned to play her role in Tokyo as a member of Senka.
• Naruse Kouki was transferred into Snow on Oct. 27th, before the Tokyo run.
• Kaede Saki, Kaou Remi, and Shiomi Maho were transferred out of Snow on Nov. 2, before the Tokyo run.

Asaji ga Yado / Ravir - Review by Ekusudei

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