Not Enough Rehearsal Time!

It's a task that requires sheer perseverance, with no alternative but to repeat it endlessly. Plays with a small cast demand exceptional concentration, making it impossible to rehearse for many hours a day. In "Naniwa Butterfly," we rehearsed for three to four hours. This time, it was about five hours on average. Ultimately, due to insufficient repetition, I found myself volunteering for extra practice before the full rehearsals.

Costumes Not Ready Either!?

The costumes were also a challenge this time. Despite the limited rehearsal time, the costume fittings were unsatisfactory no matter how many times we tried. I personally found myself seeking help from acquaintances and rushing around late into the night. Honestly, I felt distressed that time I should have been focusing solely on rehearsals was consumed by unexpected issues. Well, this was common during my theater company days, but it's the first time since leaving. Still, they are my costumes, and I wanted them to be perfect!







With nine scenes, the costumes were a major undertaking. Naturally, if the costumes aren't decided, then accessories, bags, and shoes can't be finalized either... Ultimately, all the costumes were finalized during the dress rehearsal period after we moved into the theater.※I believe Lydia's nine distinct costumes turned out beautifully thanks to the help of many people. I am truly grateful to everyone involved who lent their support.

※Dress rehearsal: The final full rehearsal conducted on stage shortly before the performance.

Opening Night Arrives Amidst Anxiety

The "Kenichi Kato Office" literally means Kato-san is the producer. When it's a two-person play, and your co-star is older and also the producer, it becomes difficult to have casual conversations about the play itself (laughs). Normally, co-stars would discuss things back and forth, but this time, there was absolutely none of that (laughs).




I felt a sense of loneliness. Director Uyama is the type who offers criticism without praise, and producer Kato-san proceeded through each day with remarkable composure. I received no affirmation, not from anyone, about whether my performance, or indeed the play itself, was going well.──. Even the production staff, who watched the run-throughs in the rehearsal room, might have offered a word of flattery, but there was again "nothing" (laughs). My own staff also doesn't watch the play until the dress rehearsal, so I was truly consumed by anxiety. With absolutely no "self-affirmation," the curtain rose on opening night, March 8th.

To be honest, there were a few lines that were difficult to understand, and portraying the "middle-aged" characters realistically was quite challenging. If I overdid it, it would seem like a comedy, and if I simply spoke the vast amount of dialogue slowly, it would take over three hours (laughs). In many ways, it was a very valuable learning experience.

"Ah, it was good after all."──Growing Confidence with Each Performance

With such a wonderful wig, my appearance was said to resemble various people. And, though I feel unworthy to say it, they included Mitsuko Kusabue, Fujiko Ito, Shirley MacLaine, and perhaps a slightly troubled look like Michelle Pfeiffer. Most often, people said I resembled my mother. All my friends who knew my mother said the same. When I look at photos, I truly see it too.




August Love Song was a play that didn't go smoothly. The curtain rose without me having any self-confidence, but I received unexpectedly high praise from the audience. I was also surprised by the large number of young female repeat viewers. As the performances progressed, I gradually gained confidence and a sense of security, thinking, "Ah, it was good after all." Thank you all for coming to see the show.