A Message from Riyoko Ikeda
From The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre Star Troupe 2001 Program
The Rose of Versailles was first staged by the Takarazuka Revue in 1974.
This marks the third staging, since the first Heisei era production of The Rose of Versailles. When the show first premiered, not only the leading characters such as Oscar, André, Fersen, and Marie Antoinette, but also the supporting characters like Rosalie, Girodelle, Alain, Louis XVI, and the nanny were played by Takarazuka performers who were my age or just a little older than me.
Since then, each one has gone her own way, some have settled into life as devoted wives and mothers. Others, didnât quite settle into the role of wife, but have successfully balanced motherhood with a career as an actress. Some have become politicians. Some have pursued careers in directing, some have dedicated themselves to mentoring the next generation and others are still active as Takarazuka Revue members to this dayâŠ
Even though our paths have diverged, since we are all from the same generation, whenever we meet, itâs just like a class reunion, we all get excited sharing old memories. Surprisingly, for this new revival, from our perspective, most of the cast are young enough they could be our children.
The original cast members and I used to share our dreams with one another, saying "someday, when we are old we should open a shop called 'Berubaba', so fans of Takarazuka Revue and The Rose of Versailles will always have a place stop by".
At that time I was still in my 20s and assumed it would be a very long time before I'd be referred to as a 'Berubaba'. Despite that, I have come to realized that all of us have reached the age, that if anyone did call us 'old ladies', we would simply laugh it off with a hearty ''hahaha". Indeed, it is not at all surprising that the performers of this production are of an age where they could be my own children.
Although I was never able to have my own children, when I watch the performers of this production, I feel as if I am watching my own child's big moment. I feel like a proud parent, my heart pounding with excitement. In a sense, for an author, each work is like a 'child', and I also have many other beautiful and wonderful 'children'.
On the opening night of the first production, I was so nervous, along with the cast, director, and writers, that it was enough to make my stomach ache. In that sense, they are all irreplaceable 'comrades-in-arms' to me, but for this third revival, Iâm watching the opening with a different kind of stomach tension. After all it is a big moment for my dear children. It is true that the parent watching is more nervous then the child performing. My eyes will surely fill with tears. I'm sure I will think "everyone is so wonderful" and feel like giving them nothing but praise.
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