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Jan. 23rd, 2013 02:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skygiantsSo for Yuletide, my roommate innerbrat wrote A Complex Problem, an AU of the Scarlet Pimpernel where everything is the same except Percy Blakeney is Peggy Blakeney and EVERYONE IS LESBIANS.
Obviously this is, like, the best thing ever and you should all go read it, but the other thing this meant is that we spent a lot of time in December watching various versions of The Scarlet Pimpernel, including the takarazuka production of Frank Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel musical.
For those of you unfamiliar with takarazuka, takarazuka is a Japanese musical theater form in which all the roles are played by women. Takarazuka tends to feature epic drama and super extravagant costumes and glorious musical set pieces and a million bajillion sparkles. This means that takarazuka is basically the perfect way to convey the epic glory of Frank Wildhorn, who is ALL ABOUT staging as much of an epic extragavanza as humanly possible.
The download that we used was all in Japanese with no subtitles, but fortunately Debi and I have Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel basically memorized (NO SHAME) and were therefore able to follow nearly all of the story . . . we think.
So this is Percy Blakeney, looking as dashing as a Percy Blakeney should. Would you follow this gentleman into fire, into terror, etc.? BECAUSE I WOULD.
And this is Marguerite, queen of the Paris stage!
You can tell because she's palling around with someone who appears to be Meg Giry, who has accidentally wandered into the wrong musical. (Either that, or she's Princess Tutu. It's really unclear.)
Anyway, evil revolutionary Chauvelin is harassing Marguerite, but she slaps him in the face and runs off with Percy.
Chauvelin is so upset that he storms straight off and guillotines somebody.
Sadly for Marguerite, somebody has told Percy that Marguerite tattled on somebody and sent them to their death, and now he is REALLY SUPER UNEXCITED about their wedding.
All of his friends turn up at this point, to play a game of cricket and/or golf (it's not exactly clear, half of them are carrying cricket bats and half of them golf clubs. But all this may just be because they're British and that's what British people do.)
Percy reveals to them his GIANT MAP of the British Isles and also his secret plan to become the Scarlet Pimpernel!
Then they all bounce around and pretend to use their golf clubs to fight bad guys and it's super adorable.
It's even more adorable when Percy reveals his even more cunning plan to have all of his bros CROSS-DRESS in order to save the French aristocrats. Everyone is very enthusiastic about this!
Then there are some hijinks that it's sort of difficult to screencap but they mostly involve tricking French soldiers into playing jump-rope and then tying them up.
Meanwhile, Percy has infiltrated the French inner ranks in CUNNING DISGUISE as the most limp-wristed man in France.
That false nose and moustache are not suspicious AT ALL.
Chauvelin is too busy with his pelvic thrusts and "Falcon in the Dive" feelings of rage to really notice.
This Chauvelin really rocks the crazy eyes, which I respect.
Percy breaks in to see the Dauphin, but, for reasons unclear, decides not to rescue him at this time and instead just to sing an optimistic song.
I guess it's because he has to race back to London to have his portrait painted.
Then Chauvelin turns up in London and Percy starts on a long and profitable career of making his life miserable.
You can tell this actress is the Prince of Wales because of the giant paunch they are making her wear. (Yes, Percy is dressed in tiger print. Yes, that is a pirate behind him. Yes, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.)
Chauvelin tells Marguerite he's totally going to throw her brother in jail unless she helps him find the Pimpernel, neener neener!
Marguerite is not amused.
But at least she and Percy are the most fabulously dressed pair at the ball.
. . . or maybe not. SAY HELLO TO THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL!
"What do you MEAN?" says Percy. "I am still by far the most fabulous of ALL."
Anyway, Marguerite reluctantly lays a trap for the Scarlet Pimpernel, which Chauvelin attempts to spring, only for Percy to hilariously turn the tables on him.
As far as I can make out, what Percy says here is, "Chauvelin, you're the Scarlet Pimpernel? THAT'S SO CUTE! It's just like Mr. Chauvelin!" (I do not know much Japanese, but I can pick out "kimi SCARLET PIMPERNEL?!" and "kawaii!" when I hear them.)
Chauvelin is not comfortable with Percy intruding on his personal space in this way.
Chauvelin is delayed enough by this that there's time for everybody to head off to France, where Percy rescues the Dauphin and dumps him off at Meg Giry's house.
Marguerite turns up, and as far as we can make out this exchange follows:
MARGUERITE: Hey Meg, I'm looking for my brother - oh, who's this small child?
MEG GIRY: Hello, Marguerite Blakeney!
THE DAUPHIN: Blakeney omg Blakeney like Percy Blakeney like your husband is totally the Scarlet Pimpernel like omg I'm so happy to meet you! :D
MARGUERITE: . . . . my husband is the what now?
But before she can do much about this revelation she is captured and forced to sing at the Comedie Francaise again. We don't feel too badly because at least she gets to wear her most fabulously be-ribboned dress yet.
All the other actresses complain, but Percy-in-disguise reminds everyone that this was Robespierre's idea, with helpful jazz hands, while Chauvelin looks on dubiously. Have I mentioned that Percy-in-disguise is the greatest?
Marguerite sings, and then everything gets very confused for a bit but we're pretty sure there's some dramatic reveals, and Percy's fake nose comes off, and then there's some kind of epic swordfight.
Touching reconciliations! The Dauphin is very happy that it all worked out okay.
innerbrat wrote A Complex Problem, an AU of the Scarlet Pimpernel where everything is the same except Percy Blakeney is Peggy Blakeney and EVERYONE IS LESBIANS.Obviously this is, like, the best thing ever and you should all go read it, but the other thing this meant is that we spent a lot of time in December watching various versions of The Scarlet Pimpernel, including the takarazuka production of Frank Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel musical.
For those of you unfamiliar with takarazuka, takarazuka is a Japanese musical theater form in which all the roles are played by women. Takarazuka tends to feature epic drama and super extravagant costumes and glorious musical set pieces and a million bajillion sparkles. This means that takarazuka is basically the perfect way to convey the epic glory of Frank Wildhorn, who is ALL ABOUT staging as much of an epic extragavanza as humanly possible.
The download that we used was all in Japanese with no subtitles, but fortunately Debi and I have Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel basically memorized (NO SHAME) and were therefore able to follow nearly all of the story . . . we think.
So this is Percy Blakeney, looking as dashing as a Percy Blakeney should. Would you follow this gentleman into fire, into terror, etc.? BECAUSE I WOULD.
And this is Marguerite, queen of the Paris stage!
You can tell because she's palling around with someone who appears to be Meg Giry, who has accidentally wandered into the wrong musical. (Either that, or she's Princess Tutu. It's really unclear.)
Anyway, evil revolutionary Chauvelin is harassing Marguerite, but she slaps him in the face and runs off with Percy.
Chauvelin is so upset that he storms straight off and guillotines somebody.
Sadly for Marguerite, somebody has told Percy that Marguerite tattled on somebody and sent them to their death, and now he is REALLY SUPER UNEXCITED about their wedding.
All of his friends turn up at this point, to play a game of cricket and/or golf (it's not exactly clear, half of them are carrying cricket bats and half of them golf clubs. But all this may just be because they're British and that's what British people do.)
Percy reveals to them his GIANT MAP of the British Isles and also his secret plan to become the Scarlet Pimpernel!
Then they all bounce around and pretend to use their golf clubs to fight bad guys and it's super adorable.
It's even more adorable when Percy reveals his even more cunning plan to have all of his bros CROSS-DRESS in order to save the French aristocrats. Everyone is very enthusiastic about this!
Then there are some hijinks that it's sort of difficult to screencap but they mostly involve tricking French soldiers into playing jump-rope and then tying them up.
Meanwhile, Percy has infiltrated the French inner ranks in CUNNING DISGUISE as the most limp-wristed man in France.
That false nose and moustache are not suspicious AT ALL.
Chauvelin is too busy with his pelvic thrusts and "Falcon in the Dive" feelings of rage to really notice.
This Chauvelin really rocks the crazy eyes, which I respect.
Percy breaks in to see the Dauphin, but, for reasons unclear, decides not to rescue him at this time and instead just to sing an optimistic song.
I guess it's because he has to race back to London to have his portrait painted.
Then Chauvelin turns up in London and Percy starts on a long and profitable career of making his life miserable.
You can tell this actress is the Prince of Wales because of the giant paunch they are making her wear. (Yes, Percy is dressed in tiger print. Yes, that is a pirate behind him. Yes, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.)
Chauvelin tells Marguerite he's totally going to throw her brother in jail unless she helps him find the Pimpernel, neener neener!
Marguerite is not amused.
But at least she and Percy are the most fabulously dressed pair at the ball.
. . . or maybe not. SAY HELLO TO THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL!
"What do you MEAN?" says Percy. "I am still by far the most fabulous of ALL."
Anyway, Marguerite reluctantly lays a trap for the Scarlet Pimpernel, which Chauvelin attempts to spring, only for Percy to hilariously turn the tables on him.
As far as I can make out, what Percy says here is, "Chauvelin, you're the Scarlet Pimpernel? THAT'S SO CUTE! It's just like Mr. Chauvelin!" (I do not know much Japanese, but I can pick out "kimi SCARLET PIMPERNEL?!" and "kawaii!" when I hear them.)
Chauvelin is not comfortable with Percy intruding on his personal space in this way.
Chauvelin is delayed enough by this that there's time for everybody to head off to France, where Percy rescues the Dauphin and dumps him off at Meg Giry's house.
Marguerite turns up, and as far as we can make out this exchange follows:
MARGUERITE: Hey Meg, I'm looking for my brother - oh, who's this small child?
MEG GIRY: Hello, Marguerite Blakeney!
THE DAUPHIN: Blakeney omg Blakeney like Percy Blakeney like your husband is totally the Scarlet Pimpernel like omg I'm so happy to meet you! :D
MARGUERITE: . . . . my husband is the what now?
But before she can do much about this revelation she is captured and forced to sing at the Comedie Francaise again. We don't feel too badly because at least she gets to wear her most fabulously be-ribboned dress yet.
All the other actresses complain, but Percy-in-disguise reminds everyone that this was Robespierre's idea, with helpful jazz hands, while Chauvelin looks on dubiously. Have I mentioned that Percy-in-disguise is the greatest?
Marguerite sings, and then everything gets very confused for a bit but we're pretty sure there's some dramatic reveals, and Percy's fake nose comes off, and then there's some kind of epic swordfight.
Touching reconciliations! The Dauphin is very happy that it all worked out okay.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:06 pm (UTC)takarazuka production of Frank Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel musical
takarazuka production of Frank Wildhorn's Scarlet Pimpernel musical
...
I am SO GLAD the costumes live up to this incredible premise.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:44 pm (UTC)(I am frankly kind of amazed there has never been an anime version of the Scarlet Pimpernel.)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 10:01 pm (UTC)The only other (filmed) takarazuka production I've seen is the Utena takarazuka show, which was . . . very different from this . . .
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 12:14 am (UTC)ALWAYS.
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Date: 2013-01-24 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 02:10 am (UTC)THIS IS A THING. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS THING.
How can we find this thing?!
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 02:22 am (UTC)I believe my roommate downloaded it from here, maybe? But in the meantime here is a recording of "The Riddle" from what looks like the same production with a different (but EQUALLY AMAZING) cast . . .
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 02:55 am (UTC)Sadly, since SP has a lot of spoken dialogue and I've never managed to see it, I suspect I'd have trouble following the whole performance....
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 05:31 am (UTC)(I don't have every single line of dialogue memorized like Les Mis, but I have... an entirely embarrassing amount of it memorized.)
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Date: 2013-01-24 05:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 05:52 am (UTC)