cagamosis | ( old kento interview - stardust december 12th 2012 )

Ono Kento has already performed in 6 plays in 2012. At the end of 2012 he takes on the reading play "Shippo no Nakama-tachi." Now we'll directly see what kind of year 2012 was for him, his enthusiasm about taking on a reading play and his feelings towards theatre!

You've already performed in 6 plays this year. What kind of year was it?

Having appeared in stage plays with relatively few breaks between them, especially without rest and without any time to really stop and think.. It gives the kind of feeling of being set on keeping going.

With practice and performances coming so quick one after another, how did you manage to make the switch each time?

I wonder if switching really is that difficult as they say it is? Although I'm not really aware of it, it's like there's somehow some kind of switch which allows me to naturally switch between roles. The switch might be flipped the moment I put on a costume.

There are many people who keep holding onto their roles, how is that for you?

Although it used to be for me like that in the past, it wasn't really like that this year. Even when it comes to doing a recapitulation of a play, I want to take every next production up as a challenge and organise it in my thoughts that way.

I think there are a lot of people who are the type to get nervous on the first day of a stage play or during practice, are you that type?

During the performances I'm not the type who gets really nervous. But when it comes to the first introductions for a stage play cast or script reading, I get nervous, even though I've done a lot of script readings by now. The first impressions and long dialogue make me nervous. That very first day is when I feel nervous every time.

Do you feel glad when you hear you can do a recapitulation of the same play?

I'm glad, and I get excited too. When it's with a different cast as well, the play can turn out entirely different. That's a lot of fun.

Is it different for you if it's a recapitulation?

Although it's an embarrassing story, there was a recapitulation of a stage play with the same director. Although there were 3 or 4 people the same in the cast, I had to be careful that my acting would match up with the last time. I wondered if I could do well, and I felt weak. It wasn't just me, the rest of the cast also got to hear the same things. At that time there was a director I liked a lot, Kida-san, and he told me that for my own sake I should watch the others practice. When I objectively was able to see their acting was the same as last time, I felt like the same would count for me too.

Don't you think you've grown?

I don't really feel that way. But I think I look like I've improved compared to the way I struggled before.

You've had a lot of young co-stars, how does that feel each time around?

Although my position can vary depending on the role I play at any given time, when it's the kind of role where I lead others, it feels like me as myself and the role start mixing. Although I'm aware of it, it does make it feel more realistic.

You've often performed in a production based on an already existing work, do you prepare for those in advance?

Of course. If it's a game, then I play the game, and if it's a novel then I read the original. When I play the games and read the manga and try out many ways of posing for in the stage play, there's some cases where the pose and the lines that go with it don't match. At those times I go talk to the director about it, and while we're busy with practice the ideas gradually appear. I decide what to do through those discussions.

Although a lot of costuming and makeup comes into play when it's a production based on a manga, how do you look at yourself during those times?

When I looked at the original work during Sakura Taisen Sougumi, I thought "am I going to have to do this?" It was very feminine clothing. Although I thought it wouldn't suit me, when I started to wear it, I slowly started thinking that it suited me after all. (laughs)

The play you're currently performing in, Shippo no Nakama-tachi, is a reading drama and different from the usual stage plays you do, but...

Since you don't transmit a reading drama with just your voice, you need to do it in a more exaggerated way than with usual stage plays. Shippo no Nakama-tachi consists of 3 parts this time. I appear in the first and third part, but since I have to appear on stage often and play 4 roles in total, I thought it was very difficult. But since I never got to play 4 roles in one stage play before, I also thought it was a lot of fun.

Was there a part that was very difficult or very fun during practice?

Although I play a lot of roles already, saying the long lines is hard as well. Since the story this time around is about dogs and cats, I think that people who have raised pets will be able to feel along with it a lot. I read the script for the first time when I was in the train, but I forgot that I was in the middle of the train and started laughing. Although there's serious parts as well, there's also some that make you laugh, it's a lot of fun. Since it puts the day-to-day thoughts of dogs and cats into human speech, the people who watch the play will be able to get the feeling of dogs and cats having a conversation, so there's many opportunities to sympathize. I think it's a fun stage play where all the fans can participate as well.

What are some of the highlights?

The story of the guard dog. It makes you want to find out more about how they live, and I think that when the audience looks into it, they'll be able to sympathize more. And to speak about myself.. Since I'm playing 4 roles, I can't help but just work hard. (laughs) Since there's performances on Christmas as well, I think it would be nice if it could turn out as a lovely gift from us to the audience.

You're also preparing yourself for the performances of "Gokujo Bungaku" next year...

There's a lot of developments around the reading drama "Gokujo Bungaku." Since there's a unique atmosphere, I think I'll also be able to enjoy that. Although I think it's difficult, it'll be fun to take on that challenge.

What's the appeal of stage plays?

I think it's something like rawness. Because you can see it from up close, and because the stage play is happening right then and there, we get some sort of power from the audience. It's not quite just that, I think there's a sense of intimacy. Something can become a hit because the audience comes to see it, and only with them there the production is really formed. I think it's that sort of thing.

Do you have a last comment about 2012? Or about what you want next year to be like?

2012 was eventful. There were a of lot various things going on. But I think it was the most dense year until now. Since this year was good, I want to do even better next year. Although it's a critical time and rumors say some actors are rising really fast, I want to think positively and appear in more plays so everyone can know about me.

( link to the original. )