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понедельник, 18 апреля 2011

07:25

koshatko

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune--without the words, And never stops at all.

VK takes on the theatrical stage with Rock Musical Pink Spider!

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Pink Spider Rock Musical? How did they ever pull that off? That’s right, it’s hard to imagine Hide’s music as a musical with a solid storyline and character development. However, this 13-year memorial tribute truly does earn the right to be called a rock musical. Rock Musical Pink Spider features a set of some of the most inspirational music to come out of the Japanese rock scene, and all by one beloved artist.

Some genius within the Headwax Corporation saw the upcoming advent of Hide’s 13th memorial year and decided it was time to honor the legend in a way that no Japanese rock artist has merited before, yet the concept is so old-fashioned, it’s charming. Rock Musical Pink Spider features no less than twenty-three pieces, all written by Hide, and is fashioned around what was known of his unique perspective.

There are holes, of course. For one, the appearance of Luna Sea’s bassist J—while touching—seems to have very little relevance in the story. In some instances, the flow of the story relies a touch too heavily on consecutive musical numbers that convey the concept, but not a full narrative. The lack of details is confusing and irritating, but the effect certainly adds to the sense of drug-induced surrealism beneath the music and in spite of the limited dialogue.

The double-cast Es (Gohta Watabe/Shinji Takeda) and Meru (Hitomi Takahashi/Nao Minasawa) share a bittersweet romantic journey surrounded by the nameless ensemble who nevertheless wow with their unity in dance and dazzling vocal solos. The role of the antagonist is played by Taka from defspiral, his fellow band members completing the supporting live band while J of Luna Sea looms over the scene as mentor to Es. The two leading men bring different skills and personalities to the table, goofy Gohta whipping out an electric guitar during “Hi-Ho” while charming Shinji breaks it down on a sexy saxophone. The supporting cast constantly show off their own skills with several different guitarists in the mix as well as the sweet trill of a violin during the ballad “Flame.”

The fragmented plot is well-suited by a butterfly-topped fantastic set of columns and broken ramps rigged together under an archaic stone picture frame. The failed musician and his lover’s would-be girlfriend waver back and forth almost painfully as both succumb to a drug-induced trip that somehow lands them in the midst of their wildest dreams. About them gather their inner voices and crowds of friends and strangers who influence the two on their journey, including the embodiment of the pink spider which moves with a twisting, break-dance gait. The pink spot on the spider indicates the difference between his dual role as member of the chorus and his ulterior identity as Es’s inner demon. The manipulator of their fates who bears dangerous gifts from PSYCHOMMUNITY (otherwise known as Taka from Defspiral,) offers butterfly’s wings to help the hero and his girlfriend achieve their goals, tempting them to the very last. It is through this temptation that the pink spider is able to take flight and recognize his dreams under the watchful eye of his fellow musician, J—and, of course, get the girl!

Though the music is well adapted for theater, Rock Musical Pink Spider preserves its rock element impeccably and with impressive balance. Not only the lead actors, but the chorus as well belt out jazzy solos, and the ensemble sound comes in full four-five part harmony. The pink spider theme is repeated several times, each with a different tone as the singer and situation change.The song takes on new meaning with every evolution. Meanwhile, the big chorus numbers of “50%-50%” (skillfully choreographed to depict a typical Tokyo train ride) and “Hi-Ho” (complete with big gaudy hats and loud instrumental solos by the cast) are strong hits sure to bring a grin to both fans of Hide and of musical theatre alike.

For me, the highlight was “Misery,” sung by the chorus, which integrated flawlessly into the theater performance but paid humble tribute to the original solo number. It was soon followed up by the similar ballad adaptation on the same theme, “Flame.” These two pieces are some of Hide’s finest work, and are beautifully represented in the musical.

It goes without saying that this is the first time music associated with a visual kei artist has broken into the world of musical theater. Continuing through April in locations across Japan, this rock musical could rival the off-broadway scene. Meanwhile, a compilation album titled “Musical Number” Rock Musical Pink Spider was released with all of the songs heard in the musical as previously recorded by Hide or performed live/remixed.

Set List