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New Lupin III Stage Play Travels to 18th-Century France

All-female acting troupe Takarazuka Revue is performing their Lupin III musical stage play, titled Lupin III: Ōhi no Kubigasari wo Oe! (Lupin III: Go After the Queen's Necklace!), in the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater from February 20 to March 22. The musical previously ran with the Fancy Guy! show at the Takarazuka Grand Theater from January 1 to February 2.

The musical's story begins when the Lupin and the rest of the characters accidentally travel back through time on the eve of the French Revolution, and become involved in a comical action adventure relating to Queen Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace affair.

The musical draws inspiration from Monkey Punch's iconic caper manga Lupin III. Takarazuka Revue's Snow Troupe performers star in the musical, which include Seina Sagiri as Arsene Lupin III, and Miyu Sakihi as the heroine, Marie Antoinette. Supporting characters include Seshiro Daigo as Mine Fujiko, Sakina Ayakaze as Daisuke Jigen, Shou Ayanagi as Goemon Ishikawa, and Seika Yumeno as Inspector Zenigata. Yuji Ohno composed the music, and Naoko Koyanagi wrote the script and directed the musical.

Original creator Monkey Punch watched the first performance of the musical, and offered a comment. "It's a completely different worldview from the manga I created. Now I want to create a manga to rival the Takarazuka portrayal, and I'll take their completely different portrayal as a hint that I can maybe capitalize on."

Ohno also said about Takarazuka, "I only had the image of them in my head to go on, so I was surprised that they could do this sort of thing now." He continued, "Lupin III originally had a French connection, so it fit right in with Takarazuka in a fun way."

Seina Sagiri, who played Lupin, said, "I watched the first TV series, especially the first half. Yasuo Yamada's voice left a deep impression on me, so I kept that voice in mind. But I wasn't trying to imitate it. Instead, I wanted to put my own voice in it, being fully aware that there are things you can only do on a Takarazuka stage." She added, "Whether it's a movie, anime, or whatever else, Lupin is still Lupin. I accepted the pressure of being able to become Lupin, and I humbly hope I've been able to entertain the audience since the premiere in the Grand Theater."

The new live-action Lupin III film starring Shun Oguri as Lupin opened last August 30. Redline director Takeshi Koike helmed the new Lupin III spinoff anime film Lupin the IIIrd: Jigen Daisuke no Bohyō (Lupin the IIIrd: Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone), which opened on June 21.

The Takarazuka Revue already performed stage versions of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Sengoku Basara, Jin, The Rose of Versailles, and more.

Source: Comic Natalie