( interview yuuki, shougo & tomoru for star people - ilip january 1st 2017 )

[devilism]

"Let's do our best again from tomorrow on!" Entertainment that can give you that kind of energy thanks to unique actors and productions
En*Geki #02 "Star☆People!!" Interview with Suzuki Shougo, Akazawa Tomoru, Izawa Yuuki

The young actor Ikeda Junya who has been active through movies, dramas and stage plays is planning, organising, writing and directing the recent installment in the "En*Geki" stage play series, "Star☆People!!" It will be performed in Kinokuniya Hall in Tokyo from 2017/1/5 to 2017/1/11.

Although he's an actor as well, Ikeda Junya is now writing and directing things that aren't very difficult to understand, entertainment that can be enjoyed regardless of age or gender due to his thoughts about how much he loves entertainment and how he thoughts theater should be about entertainment.

Ikeda said before that he takes care of the matter of making the cast give off a toy box kind of feeling. Ikeda has casted the actors for this performance himself that play the various characters that make up the backbone of the play. They're actors he himself says he's a fan of.

This time we interviewed the three young handsome actors, Suzuki Shougo, Akazawa Tomoru and Izawa Yuuki. They talked about the charm of En*Geki #02 Star☆People!! from their own point of view.

Just like Ikeda, they all said there is no stiffness, but all of them each have their own charm you can discover by seeing the productions they've been in. We talked about their passion for plays as well, especially why this is a must see for entertainment loving girls who usually don't go to see stage plays! You might encounter new interesting things. ♡


This play is the story of seven alien men who travel with useless special abilities to try and save the star they live on from a crisis. Please tell us what you thought when you read the script for the first time.

Akazawa: I thought it was a varied work with a lot of words and phrases that aren't difficult and sound familiar, since Junya-kun wrote this in his twenties. There were also a lot of expressions that sound familiar to young people today, like real and net. I think that even people who usually don't go see stage plays can go see this production since it's movie-like and drama-like, it's cheerful.

Suzuki: I think the content is enjoyable for everyone, from children to adults, and since the work can be seen from multiple points of view, it felt like a work you could see over and over again. I think it really embodies the feeling Ikeda-kun was talking about, about him wanting to create entertainment.

Izawa: Since I like works with characters that have special abilities like in American comics, it felt fun in a way similar to that. But the abilities are very useless. (laughs) For me the production seems to be double as fun, since the content of the work is fun, but performing as an actor is also fun. Simply put, it was amusing, and I read the whole script to the end in one go.

Please all tell me the point in this work that made you go "I like this!"

Suzuki: The personalities of the characters in this play, along with their uncommon special abilities and how idiosyncratic they are. All the characters and their abilities aren't people you'd usually see, but they're depicted in a very amusing way in this work. Since they're shown in a good rather than a difficult light, I started to think while reading the script that it depends on your own feelings as to whether you see the differences between people and their complexes as something good or something bad. Something like, "Everyone is different, but everyone is good."

Akazawa: I thought the same thing as Suzuki-kun. Actually, I think the abilities and complexes are always tied together and lead to each other. But in this play those serious abilities are quite indifferently shown as something colorful and cheerful. I felt like I hadn't really considered in my daily life before as to whether you should see those complexes as an advantage or a disadvantage. My own feelings became a little lighter due to it as well.

Izawa: For me... It's Orakio-san's adlibs. When Orakio-san is acting, the calm pace and atmosphere in the play goes away and gets replaced by liveliness. Although I get tired when I'm tense and concentrating for a long time, I think that pace is very important. The highlight is how the other actors adapt to these adlibs. (laughs)

There's still a while left until the performances, but what kind of feeling is there during practice?

Izawa: I can't say much about it with details, but since it's entertainment and there's so many different things, it's difficult as an actor. But... for the people who see it, the play probably wouldn't seem difficult.

Suzuki and Akazawa: For sure! (laughs)

Akazawa: Although we're practicing, for the people who are watching wouldn't think it's difficult because of the atmosphere hanging around... (laughs)

Suzuki: Although the theme is coated with things that are light, fun and cute, but there's a lot of things behind that that are put together delicately like the timing, refining your technique and making it all come together. But since all of that isn't visible on the outside until the very end, the play seems light.

Akazawa: There are times during practice where Shougo-kun is sweating. (laughs)

Izawa: I really feel that for the lines to come together, I have to match everyone's breath and timing and expressions and the like.

Akazawa: My heart is actually pounding when I'm practicing. (laughs) When the nuances are different, there's a delicate shift and when we all match, the atmosphere changes.

Regarding that, are there any interesting anecdotes about practice?

Suzuki: When Izawa-kun was late, he said he would treat us to meat. (laughs)

Akazawa: That's right. (laughs)

The characters you play are very unique, how do they compare to all of you?

Akazawa: My character is the type that spews venom while he laughs... If it was a little softer, then it would be closer to how I am... I think...? Usually there sure are times where I slightly spew venom while I'm smiling... (laughs)

Izawa: A person with a sense of justice who supports weak people, even if they're bad. It makes me feel nostalgic, not since I was like that myself, but since there were people around me during my school days that were that type. What's most like me after that, is sticking close to the people you come to like.

Akazawa: Sticking close to the people you like, that's definitely like Izawa-kun!

Suzuki: Although I think he's like a kind child deep down, I'm still not really sure if that kindness is really kindness. I'm still trying to find the solution, since I'm still thinking of how to create the character. I'd like to find out through practice before the performances begin.

Finally, please give a few words to the people who read this article and are interested in the stage play.

Akazawa: It's very unique, since there are various types of characters and actors. Although it's a stage play, it's packed full of elements of entertainment and lacks stiffness, so I think that even people who never have seen a stage play can still enjoy it. I'd be glad if you could come to the theater and have fun for sure.

Izawa: I think it's a production that can give you interest in theatre and make you come to like it while thinking that plays and theatre are easy to understand. Like we said before, we're creating various things in order to show off the best entertainment possible, and I think that no matter whether only one person or many people come to see it, they can still enjoy themselves. We'll be waiting at the theater.

Suzuki: It feels like the world has been really worn out recently. It's hard to not find yourself in a daze, and it's hard to hold onto a dream. But when I saw this play, rather than thinking it was the best thing with amazingly beautiful elements, I thought it was simply a work that can light up someone's heart.

It can be popular no matter how many years and months pass and can keep moving people. There's actually a lot of simple things that don't have to be put into fancy or cool words, like simple and straightforward things like "thank you" and "I'm sorry". I think this production is like that.

If you know people that think they've been tired recently, then when they come to see this stage play, you can start feeling again like you can do your best every day, that you are loved, and that you are supported. I think this production can be a straightforward and unclouded light.

We are actors keep acting every day to give that light to the people who come to see the play, even if it's just a little bit. I think that you'll be able to feel that every day becomes a little bit more plentiful with plays.

( link to the original here. )