Viva la Revolućion…Diva Style
I’ve got to hand it to the fearless players of Takurazuka – they might be the only women in the world who regularly get up on stage and play the … Continue Reading Viva la Revolućion…Diva Style
Poppins-san
In the land where nannies are nearly as scarce as chimney sweeps, this all-Japanese celebration of bygone British privilege is about to hit the stage. It’s too bad they don’t … Continue Reading Poppins-san
Honest Abe Gets An Extreme Makeover
I thought playing Rhett Butler in an all-Japanese, all-female production of Gone With The Wind was about as gender-bendy as you could get, but now one of the esteemed actresses in the famed Takarazuka troupe … Continue Reading Honest Abe Gets An Extreme Makeover
Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn (That We’re Both Female And Japanese!)
Yes, the famed all-female Takarazuka troupe is back on stage, mustachioed and corseted and ready to kick some Civil War butt! After mind-bendingly taking on the roles of handsome male scalawags (Oceans Eleven) … Continue Reading Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn (That We’re Both Female And Japanese!)
Art Aquarium
Part laser light show, part aquatic extravaganza, Art Aquarium is the newest take on the old idea of keeping cool during the steamy Japanese summertime by contemplating goldfish bowls. Over … Continue Reading Art Aquarium
Fishing For Women
Of all the rakugo performances I’ve seen, Fishing For Women is my fave. It’s got great characters, including a guy who’s more of a nightmare than the worst Tinder story you’ve ever heard! THE CHARACTERS In … Continue Reading Fishing For Women
The Robot Restaurant
Fembots, scantily-clad taiko drummers, battling transformers…okay, I admit the Robot Restaurant is more like Vegas on steroids than ye olde Nippon, but you’ve really gotta see this extravaganza once in … Continue Reading The Robot Restaurant
Jack The Ripper – The Musical
Purple crushed velvet, bejeweled fake fur, slashed to the navel satin shirt – somehow the Japanese version of the elusive old serial killer comes off as slightly more of a gay … Continue Reading Jack The Ripper – The Musical
Gonna Wash That Woman Right Out Of My Hair…
An all-Japanese, all-female, stage production of South Pacific? A play in which not only are most of the main characters undeniably male, they’re also employed in fighting against, uh, THE … Continue Reading Gonna Wash That Woman Right Out Of My Hair…
“Ocean’s 11”: All-New, All-Japanese And All-Female!
The Takurazuka stage production of the classic caper film naturally features the usual all-female cast, with lots of choice roles for the otokoyaku actresses who specialize in male roles! Taking … Continue Reading “Ocean’s 11”: All-New, All-Japanese And All-Female!
Tevye-san!
Yes, it’s the all-Japanese production of Fiddler On The Roof! I’d like to meet the yenta who put this one together! It seriously challenges the productions of Mozart-san and AKB48 idols starring … Continue Reading Tevye-san!
Sit Down Stand Up
One day last fall, as I was walking through Yoyogi Park on my way to fall off the slackline, I saw this guy standing by a tree in a vaguely … Continue Reading Sit Down Stand Up
Boy Band, K-Style
Walking through the gigantic Sunshine City shopping mall in Ikebukuro, I thought I heard the perfectly-engineered chorusing of a Japanese boy band performing. I was wrong. When I craned my … Continue Reading Boy Band, K-Style
Mozart-san
Yep, it’s the profusely be-wigged, all-Japanese production of Amadeus. • Jonelle Patrick is the author of four novels set in Tokyo…
Boyz in Pink Hair and Eyeliner
Tonight I saw Duel Jewel at the Liquidroom in Ebisu, a ‘live house’ with standing room for about 400. The band is a classic example of visual kei: glam metal overlaid with … Continue Reading Boyz in Pink Hair and Eyeliner
