涼風真世 Puck in Dream

One year on…I thought this would be an appropriate album to share today, an album of hope and dream, especially since Kaname-san’s hometown is Ishinomaki, Miyagi…

“Puck in Dream” is the first of two 退団 CDs for 涼風真世 (Mayo Suzukaze) released in 1993 and also volume 6 of the CD Sound of Takarazuka series.  Some stars don’t even get one taidan kinen (退団記念) album, and yet Kaname-san has two.  And going by the cover pic and title of this first one, the little fairy “PUCK” is definitely one of her most memorable and best-loved roles.

One thing about this series of CDs is the effort that had gone into the design.  It comes in the form of a B5 size book-like package containing a beautiful booklet of facts, photos and lyrics.

The album contains 22 tracks taken from memorable scenes from past stage performances and opens not unexpectedly with “パック誕生” (The Birth of Puck).  The association with “PUCK” does not end there, for little Puck actually makes an appearance togther with Mayo Suzukaze and Kaname-san as joint narrators introducing the various songs and scenes in the album.  In fact these three are all voiced by the same person and you can’t help but marvel at the versatility of Kaname-san’s voice!  Here is a short snippet of the opening talk:

Puck vs Suzukaze Mayo vs Kaname

When asked about her most memorable scene, Kaname-san chose “It’s all right with me” from “The Reveue II” as it is her very first solo parading along the ginkyo (銀橋).  Songs from “ベルサイユのばら” (Rose of Versailles), “天使の微笑.悪魔の涙” (Angel’s Smile, Devil’s Tears) and “赤と黒” (Le Rouge et le Noir) are a definite shoo-in as Oscar, Mephistopheles and Julien are some of her most critically acclaimed and popular roles.

As Oscar in “ベルサイユのばら“:
我が名はオスカル (My Name is Oscar)

As Mephistopheles (left) in “天使の微笑.悪魔の涙“:

As Julien (top right) in “赤と黒“:

I was also pleased to see scenes from “川霧の橋” and “恋と霧笛と銀時計” as although she is not the main actress in these two plays, the altruistic and gentle 半次 and straightforward Albert 先生 are some of my favourite characters too.

As 半次 (centre) in “川霧の橋“:

As Dr. Albert (centre) in “恋と霧笛と銀時計“:

Then there is the lovely but too short “Dream Medley” from “The Dreamer” featuring Kaname-san and her best partner 朝凪鈴 (Rin Asanagi) and “パガニーニによせる狂詩曲” (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini) from “ル.ポァゾン 愛の媚薬”.

Opening scene from ル.ポァゾン 愛の媚薬

Kaname and Rin Rin:

But certain classics (or at least I thought so) were glaringly omitted, including “いつか来る日の夢” from “リラの壁の囚人たち“, “赤と黒のバラード” from “赤と黒“, “Second Sight” from “PUCK” and “愛 遥かに” from “The Dreamer“.  I guess there are just too many magical moments that they could not be adequately captured in one CD.  (But inexplicably they aren’t found in the other taidan kinen CD either…)

Tags: Mayo Suzukaze, Takarazuka