It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights...

Takarazuka Revue, baby! About bloody time. I've been raring to go to one of these shows since.... well, always. And it was FANTASTIC. They must have used a metric ton of rhinestones for the costumes. I love how the 'Revue operates under it's own rules of aesthetics. Excessive eyeliner, unnaturally bright lipstick and mullets? Takarazuka says "Onegai shimasu!". As you may know, the Takarazuka Revue is a musical theatre featuring an all-women cast; they play the male and female roles. It sounds kind of odd, but during the show you can feel that "suspension of disbelief" kick in. The show I saw was called "Phantom", starring Sumire Haruno in the title role. And in all seriousness it was very enjoyable. The lyrics and dialogue, being in Japanese, were incomprehensible, but I am familiar with the story ("Phantom of the Opera") so it wasn't so bad.
ps. This poster is from the 2004 version of Phantom, fyi!!