Koichi's words (Extracts)~~

"Endless Shock" is starting soon. This "Endless Shock" would be something totally different from the past "Shock". The only thing which will remain is probably the company that perform on the stage? The past "Shock"'s storyline is mainly on the leg injury of a member of the company with continous variations from this main focus. But this time as the sets etc could not be changed further to accomodate new changes, it was unanimously agreed by the staff that we start a new story from zero.
Of course, to start from scratch again for something which has been improvised for the past 5 years would be a big challenge. For those who love the "Shock" so far, there will be specified songs or scenes from the performances which they will associate once they think of "Shock". But we did not started out creating "Endless Shock" so that it would be compared to the past "Shock" although we know very well that comparison is bound to happen for these people who come and watch. Thus there will be people who, after watching "Endless Shock", thinks that the past was better. We started the creation of a new "Shock" with this understanding in our mind.
I know the advantages of improvising the same thing by making little improvements to what was created in the past - it would just become better and better. But if we keep doing this, we will not be able to move a big step forward (ie there will be limitation on the improvement we could do). To take a big step forward, we decided to work real hard to make something even better than before from scratch.
The past "Shock" was based on the Shounentai's version performed in Aoyama Theatre. And I did not participated greatly in the production of those past "Shock". This time, I got to participate in areas such as creation of story, music, sets and costumes.
First, on the story. In the past, the story started out with this leg injury issue. For this year's story, we thought "So what would be thing that would exceed this?". With this idea in mind, the development of this year's "Endless Shock" might be a surprise to the audience. But of course, the main thing is we wanted to present the strength of the company could have. The story this year has a message that if people comes together just like the company, then they will have great strength and everyone can move forward together.
For myself, I would become KOICHI (ie the character) on the stage. But the KOICHI this time is different from the KOICHI in the past and it is not a reflection of myself as well. Maybe there are similarities but at this point in time, we are two different persons. I will do my best for "Endless Shock" not losing to KOICHI, I will stand on the stage and it would be good that I can feel it for myself.
This year's rehearsal was filled with obstacles and I got to know how difficult it is to create a new performance like this. To have a new "Shock" is something good but of course the past "Shock" are still all very precious to me. So if we were to act "Shock" again, we would actually have a choice of deciding which "Shock" to perform. And, there could be nothing better than this I think.
I have the confidence of performing "Shocking Shock" from last year again if I want but we have decided not to take this easier way out and chose a more difficult way. This is because I believe there will be something out there at the end of this more difficult way.
This year's "Shock", other than the title, will be totally different from the past. Soon the curtain will raise, without any preconception about what it should be, please enjoy.


Story

Koichi appears as the conductor of the orchestra
Overture: Hello broadway-One-Let's go to Tokyo (Latania)

Tsubasa appears on the left hand box playing piano welcoming everyone to the theatre for today's performance.
Akiyama appears at the audience and talks about the history of this off-broadway theatre.. it is a small theatre which is left behind by his father. There are stories that it is haunted and that spirits will appear in the theatre when it turns dark. He warns the audience to be careful. He will suddenly point at one of the audience and says "Especially you, you might be possessed by some spirits for all you know" but immediately he will apologizes saying maybe he is the one being possessed.
Because the performance lead by koichi is popular, they manage to survive until now and today is the last day of their performance.

So feel it coming
Cause I know you're gonna find it
I know you're gonna make it
Oh dreams do come true

Finding the right way it's sometimes long way
And if you don't suceed, just try and try again
Take the easy way, you'll fall on your face
So just smile and take day by day

It's time to let go and maybe it'll just flow
And there's no time to even stop watch trip or fall
So feel it coming through your body
energy take flight
Cause I know you're gonna find it
I know you're gonna make it
Oh dreams do come true

Dream Ghost Theater

New Horizon

At the same time, there are on-going magic performances: Vanishing female dancer, Appearance of Mustang on Stage. (this seems to be the selling point of their current show)

Backstage after the last performance

The part where Akiyama complains about bursting the budget on the performances by using that mustang and employing so many dancers while the other people in the company just want to celebrate. Koichi appears saying that show business usually takes at least 2 years to recoup. But all those are none of his business and passes Akiyama the bill for the champagne.

My Pleasure

Rika appears giving Koichi the necklace and also helping him to wipe off sweat so that he will not get cold. Here Tsubasa gets jealous and pretends to sneeze to get Rika's attention. Koichi leaves for the rooftop.

Koichi standing at the rooftop. On stage, 3 young juniors appearing as the young Koichi, Akiyama and Tsubasa.
Young T: Koichi, let's play
Young K: No time to play..
Young T: Eh?
Young A: Koichi, let's play
Young K: ok, after practicing the dance
Young T: Yeah!!

New York Night

Rika appears and talks about she seeing koichi disappearing in front of her and she is scared that it will become true. When Koichi asks her why she has such thoughts, she explains that maybe it is because their performance is coming to an end. but somehow inside her, she is still concerned about things they did not manage to accomplish this time although everyone has done their best. Then Koichi comforts her by saying that everyone is the same, the uncompleted portion would be the pushing force to move everyone forward/improve in the future.

Later, everyone joins the two at the rooftop and they talks about the past.. about being shy to practice in front of other people and thus hiding at the rooftop to dance. Akiyama also mentions that his father has always wanted to make it to the Broadway but died without fulfilling that dream. He will continue to manage this theatre in hope to fulfill his father's dream. But in the meantime, they would all need to work part-time in order to survive and they would need to split the cost of the champagne. On hearing this, Koichi immediately says that they have to wake up early tomorrow so they better starts clearing up the stage now. So everyone leaves with Koichi taking the Mustang down. While Koichi sits in the car, Akiyama complains to koichi about the cost of the car and here, Koichi will tell Akiyama that he want to talk about F1 when they can go for a drive after the part-time work tomorrow. Koichi's reaction at this part will vary for different performances. most of the time using that gangster's voice to insist on talking about F1 giving different reasons.

Get my eyes on you (Tsubasa)

This part is where they do their part-time job in order to earn money for their living.
One of the jobs include, pasting those musicals/ movie posters on the wall
For Mission 007(Gun pic), there is the machine guns act where koichi using his own machine gun.
For Norma (Marilyn Monroe pic), koichi is being hugged by Akiyama
For Shock, Akiyama will pretend to fly with koichi but drops off the stage and the rest of the cast stand at the side of the stage pretending to pray for him

Here a piece of the wall falls on Koichi's head. Following which, he will sit on the stage rubbing his head and Akiyama appears in the glittering suit for the drive after the work. Everyone will tease Akiyama by saying he looks disgusting. Tsubasa says that everyone can go for the drive but he and Rika will take motorbike. At this point, koichi starts his own act about Tsubasa should not be taking motorbike because if he did.. it is possible that he will break his leg and Koichi will ask the doctor whether Tsubasa can drive again and the doctor will yell back "Are you crazy?"[related past shock story of course] he acts as Koichi and the doctor at the same time.

Rika appears with the newspapers saying that their performance is given good reviews and everyone gets real excited as it means that they can become mainstream and popular and no longer need to struggle in the small theatre. Koichi thinks that performance is not about being mainstream or not and he is not that excited like the rest. He thinks that as long as it is a good production, he will perform at that place even if it is not broadway or if it is not a mainstream act. If there is nothing to gain by being mainstream, he does not see the need to go mainstream. Tsubasa is displeased with koichi's response. He feels that to be recognized and go mainstream is an opportunity not to be missed. Akiyama on the other hand wants to keep the theatre left behind by his father and is confused himself.

Don't look back (Music piece by Koichi)

The company starts their Broadway performance with everyone having their own worries/doubts/wants. What the future holds for them is unknown. This is not the ending, but just a start and show must go on.

New York Theatre - World Adventure II
America
It's a groove (Jungle dance)
Rap&Tap (Tap dancing mainly - all pre-recorded)
-Chinese-Tsubasa
-Brazilian MA
-Irish Tsubasa
-Spanish "Love and loneliness" Koichi

Shrine
Tsubasa followed by Koichi doing the rope flying

Backstage of New York Theatre
Tsubasa scolds the staff for the miss resulting in him unable to perform the the rope flying item and letting Koichi does it all. Koichi thinks that Tsubasa is at fault too by not noticing that something is wrong and take action to react to it so that performance can go on smoothly.
Koichi's view "stage is alive and you have to react to it accordingly. Show must go on no matter what happens"
Tsubasa's view "to be professional is about executing out everything as planned or organized so that performance is perfect"
At this point, koichi suddenly mentions that he is planning for a new performance. This surprises everyone because most of them thought that as this is a success and they will perform this for long term. And Akiyama also suddenly says that he will return to his small theatre which is off-broadway after this because he thinks he does not suit the broadway and he wants to perform Shakespeare.

The bell for second curtain rings and everyone runs to prepare for the next performance. Tsubasa tells Koichi that Koichi is the one who splits the company and while taking the sword for his performance, poses the question on "is it really show must go on?" to koichi

Latania appears after Tsubasa leaves asking koichi "The second curtain is about to start, are you ok?"Koichi replies "Ok"

Japanesque Show

Koichi appears on the right lane of audience
Long fight (use of the music from the Pirates of Carribean? I have forgotten is it this part?)
At the top of the stairs, Tsubasa purposedly lose his sword so that the performance could not continue. Akiyama provides his sword which Koichi draws and on seeing that sword, he probably realize that it is not their normal acting sword. Koichi then looks at Akiyama and shouted "Akiyama!"But in order to continue with the show, he passes the sword to Tsubasa. Tsubasa is shocked but still takes the sword and cut the tree to show that it is a real sword. But Koichi is determined to continue with the performance, and he moves forward indicating Tsubasa to kill him as per the planned performance. Tsubasa does not know what else to do other than to continue, pushes the sword into Koichi. Koichi takes the fake blood from a white bag on the door and wipes his face to create the effect of blood spilling on his face [saw this only on the 27th Feb performance using binoculars]. And following which, Koichi falls from that long flight of steps.

BreakTime

A year has passed since Koichi last performed. Akiyama feels guilty of causing Koichi to be injured and lying in the hospital since then. The company is disbanded and Akiyama returns to off Broadway. Although he puts all his efforts in creating the Shakespeare¡¦s performances, it is not popular.

In The Cemetery

Dream Ghost Theatre
Shakespeare's Acts produced by Akiyama. (i have used the original Shakespeare'ss quotes here which i think represent what they said in Japanese. I actually studied R&J for my "O" level literature a long time ago. Reading it again brings back a lot of memory.)

Hamlet (Koichi) - tells the story of a hero- Hamlet's struggle with two opposing forces: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father's murder. Prince Hamlet mourns both his father's death and the ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and tells him take revenge for him. Hamlet swears revenge.

link to the reality where Akiyama is together on the stage - Akiyama is guilty and he thinks that Koichi will blame him for the accident on the stage and he imagines Koichi to be mad at him and wants revenge.

Ghost of the dead Hamlet's father (Koichi):
Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural. I find thee apt;
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,
Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
Now wears his crown.

Hamlet (Koichi):
O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else?
And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, hold, my heart;
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee!
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe. Remember thee!
Yea, from the table of my memory
I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,
All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past,
That youth and observation copied there;
And thy commandment all alone shall live
Within the book and volume of my brain,
Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven!

Akiyama goes hysterical here. and asks for koichi's forgiveness. Hamlet:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd.


Richard III (Tsubasa, Rika and Koichi) - The main theme of Richard III is the conflict between evil and good.

possible link to the actual situation of the company ,Tsubasa leg's injury at first Act and also the ugly side of Tsubasa wanting to prove Koichi wrong and hurt Koichi in the end.

Tsubasa=King Richard III (a self-professed villain)
Rika= Lady Anne, widow to Edward (hates Richard for murdering her husband and father- in-law, but Richard charms her into marrying him. As Richard's sad queen, she dies after he tires of her. Anne first appears in Act I Scene ii, sorrowfully following the coffin of her father-in-law, Henry VI.
Koichi=King Edward V - i am not too sure if it is Henry VI or Edward V here because I have seen people using different characters.. will try to check the Richard III story again. But currently I use the quotes from Edward V because there are quotes which fits their japanese script. But the appearance on stage seems to fit that Act 1 Scene II as mentioned above. Although it is likely that they do not follow closely to Shakespeare.

Richard III (Tsubasa)
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments;
Our stern alarums chang'd to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front,
And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I-that am not shap'd for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass-
I-that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph-
I-that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them-
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity.
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence and the King
In deadly hate the one against the other;

Lady Anne (Rika):
Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble us not;
For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
Fill'd it with cursing cries and deep exclaims.
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries.
O, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds
Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh!
Blush, Blush, thou lump of foul deformity;
For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood
From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells;
Thy deed, inhuman and unnatural,
Provokes this deluge most unnatural.
O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death!
O earth, which this blood drink'st revenge his death!
Either heaven with lightning strike the murderer dead,
Or earth, gape open wide and eat him quick,
As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood
Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered!

MA carries out the coffin where Koichi appears

King Edward (Koichi) to Richard III:
Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
Think, how thou stab'dst me in my prime of youth
At Tewksbury: despair, therefore, and die!

Tsubasa goes forward wanting to stab Koichi. Akiyama dashes forward to stop him.

Richard III (Tsubasa):
Give me another horse: bind up my wounds.
Have mercy, Jesu!--Soft! I did but dream.
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight.
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.
What do I fear? myself? there's none else by:
Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I.
Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am:
Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why:
Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?
Alack. I love myself. Wherefore? for any good
That I myself have done unto myself?
O, no! alas, I rather hate myself
For hateful deeds committed by myself! I am a villain: yet I lie. I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well: fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the high'st degree
Murder, stem murder, in the direst degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all, Guilty! guilty!
I shall despair. There is no creature loves me;
And if I die, no soul shall pity me:
Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?
Methought the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent; and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.

Koichi takes out a knife and stabs Tsubasa.

Romeo and Juliet (Koichi and Rika) - do I still need to write about R&J? simply, the story is about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Son of Lord Montague, falls in love with Juliet, daughter of Old Capulet but the 2 families were enemies for decades.

Possible link to the actual shock story - this is the hard one.. represent what is happening to Koichi and Rika in the sense that Koichi really died??

Romeo (Koichi):
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry! which their keepers call
A lightning before death: O, how may I
Call this a lightning?--O my love! my wife!
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O, what more favour can I do to thee
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
To sunder his that was thine enemy?
Forgive me, cousin!--Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous;
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
For fear of that I still will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again: here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chambermaids: O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest;
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh.--Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here's to my love! [Drinks.]--O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick.--Thus with a kiss I die.

Juliet (Rika) wakes up:
What's here? a cup, clos'd in my true love's hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:
O churl! drink all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after?--I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative.

Thy lips are warm!
Yea, noise?--Then I'll be brief.--O happy dagger!
This is thy sheath [stabs herself]; there rest, and let me die.

Dream Ghost Theatre Backstage
Akiyama playing the piano "Don't look back" when Rika receives the necklace from the nurse. Rika walks towards Akiyama and Akiyama starts apologizing to her about having to perform for very few people. And he talks about his illusion of seeing Koichi and even Tsubasa on stage. When Rika is about to tell him something about she knows from hospital, she is interrupted by Machida who informs Akiyama that they are closing the light for the theatre and so they leave the backstage.

Koichi returns. He puts his shirt over his head walking backwards.. acting cute here. I never really catch this part but 24th night when he pretends to hit the walls because he cannot see the back, it looks so real to me. and I got a shock.. haha.. realised later this is the usual trick he does.

The Lady is A Tramp (sing with Latania)

While resting by sitting on the stage, Rika appears. Act cute here again. Rika is too shocked to see him (probably because she was already informed that he has dead?) and could not react at all. And when passing him the necklace back, she held to his hand for a while. Koichi puzzled by her reaction will comment that she is weird or look at his hand and says that he does not have a long life line in his palm. (ironical here because he supposedly has died?)

Then MA comes in to check if Koichi is really back, here Koichi will try ways to hide. The usual one is to hide under the piano. On 24 Feb, he takes the photo on top of the piano and tries to cover his face. After he hides, MA will appear and not seeing him will start making comments on how good he is. At this point, Koichi will come out and make a kakkoii pose by putting his leg on the chair for the piano. On 27th Feb night, he misses and hits the piano keyboard which created some sound. MA seems to do not hear it but continues with their usual script. But Koichi was very shocked himself and looked real cute then. When MA realizes he is back, they will have this chain exaggerated reaction act which reminded me of playzone 2 years ago where they appeared. Then it will be the chasing of Koichi, fall of Akiyama and being stepped by the rest of the gang. On 27th night, he commented that this is meaningless and too tiring especially he just recovered.

Koichi asks about Tsubasa and is being informed that Tsubasa continues at the Broadway but it is also closing down soon. So Koichi and MA gang decides to go and look for him.

Watch Me!(Tsubasa)
Tsubasa performing on broadway

New York Theatre Backstage

Why Don't You Dance With me

Inviting Tsubasa to join the company again. But is not successful, and Tsubasa confesses about the changing of the sword to the real one. He says that he purposedly drops that swords and want to show that there are circumstances where it is impossible to continue with the show. If he can do that, he will win Koichi and proves the "Show must go on" is a silly idea. And that the show is always about Koichi. Because of what he has done and that he is unable to keep up with the rest, he wants to destroy the whole company. Then he takes his knife and wants to pass to Rika asking her to kill him. Only then, his sins could be washed away. When Rika takes the knife, Koichi is surprised and wonders if she will really take the knife and kills Tsubasa. But she kneels down and says that when Koichi returns, she is so happy as she thinks that they can return to the good old time even if they is only an illusion. Because Koichi has died in the hospital. Koichi is shocked on hearing this (he did not know he has died). And of course the other people are shocked too.

She takes the knife and stabs Koichi. Koichi did not fall and die again of course. And Rika starts telling that she knows all along that it is Koichi's spirit that has come back but she does not dare to say it as she is afraid that Koichi's spirit will disappear once she says it (this will probably explains why the lack of reaction by Rika from both the actress when Koichi does all the funny acts on rolling on the floor to pretend he is not there etc? because she is too shock or too confused to react). But when she holds his hand (when passing him the necklace), his hand is so cold, and even though she is so close to him, touching him, she cannot feels his warmthness at all. But still they have to accept this fact and move on (that is why she stabs Koichi again?? to show Tsubasa that Koichi has died and that he should wake up and not continue living his life in this depression and hatred)

In response to what Rika has said, Koichi continues to encourage Tsubasa by saying that Tsubasa has been strong and continue the show even though something like this has happened. And it is himself who did not react to the situation well. And so Tsubasa should buck up and give all he has for all performance opportunities.

And to redeem his wrong doings, Tsubasa requests Koichi to perform with all of them again. Koichi agrees but reminds them that he might vanish soon so even if that really happens, they must continue with the performance.

New York Theatre
What 10(Ju) wanna say

Reporters coming in and asking if it is Koichi last performance. Koichi keeps combing the fringe of one of the reports using his hand during this part.

It's A New World On The Earth

Naoki's solo
for whatever reason, for all the performances I saw, they were all not perfect. Although he did change his drum act slightly every time, I think.

Koichi vs Naoki
Other than the 20th Feb performance which I thought he did not hit well (in the sense when he hit the sound that comes out is not echoing and clear), I think he did a good job for the other 3 performances where he did not hit flat.

Fly - Koichi ladder flying portion

Intermission - Tsubasa and Naoki Hit-fight

Mask - Koichi mask performance

Yoru no Umi
Oozakura

Koichi falls and finally his spirit leaves this world at this point.

he wakes up in heaven(?) and we are reminded of the young Koichi and gang with the voice over by the children

CONTINUE