A Year-End Greeting for 2008: Keiko Toda

2008: A Year-End Greeting

As we mentioned last time, Keiko Toda is currently starring in "Goodnight Sleep Tight," a two-person play written and directed by Koki Mitani, alongside Kiichi Nakai. Mitani's demands seem to increase when working with actors he trusts, and both the play and Toda herself appear to be evolving daily.
We bring you a message from Toda, who is currently tackling her final major work of 2008, with a little bonus guest comment.

Compiled by Sora OnePhotos courtesy of ©PARCO

The Second "Tough" in My Moderately Long Stage Career

I'm currently in the midst of performing "Goodnight Sleep Tight" at the PARCO Theatre. It's tough. How tough, you ask? Well, in my moderately long stage career, this ranks as the second toughest experience (laughs).

First, just like with my solo play "Naniwa Butterfly," I can't quite gauge how much I need to do to feel secure. The sheer volume of lines is immense, and I still lack the confidence that they're properly stored in my mental "tank" and can be accessed freely. While I've performed it a few times now, so if I stumble, I can usually say words with the same meaning, or if one of us misses a line in a rapid exchange, we can cover for each other. However, maintaining focus for over two hours is no ordinary feat.

If there were more actors on stage, the workload would be distributed, making it somewhat easier even with the same running time. Of course, I'm always tense during a performance, but the degree of tension is extraordinary. It feels like a profound tension, the second most intense of my life, is constantly upon me, with just the two of us on stage, always being watched.

When I shared my feelings with Mitani-san, he said, "I'm sure you're always tense on stage, but I believe we must aim for greater heights. This particular tension is given to you for a reason, Keiko. Those chosen must strive for a tension that sets them apart from ordinary nervousness." While his words were encouraging, they're terrible for my health! Every day before the show, Kiichi-san and I hold hands backstage and can't help but whisper, "Yes we can!" (laughs).

Ultimately, I have to believe in myself. But it's hard to find that courage to believe. I feel like there's still so much to learn, and I'm right in the thick of it. While I'm enjoying the process of deepening this wonderful script I've been given, I hope to continue running at full speed until the end of the year without letting up. Rather than looking back, this feels like the peak, a true culmination.

The Show Must Go On!

Looking back, following last year's "Keiko-chan Year," this year has also been incredibly packed. I've taken on many new challenges, produced a new song with Yasushi Akimoto, collaborated with Go Ueki on a brand, music production, and live activities. The beloved "Anpanman" celebrated its 20th anniversary on TV, and I even joined the troupe of Siro Ito. I really wasn't allowed to rest, was I? (laughs).

Among all of this, "Goodnight Sleep Tight," my final performance of the year, was exceptionally demanding, but now that I've calmed down a bit, I realize it's also a work that has taught me a great deal about myself.

Although I received the script well before rehearsals began, for some reason, my engine started slowly. I wonder if I was a bit too complacent, and that self-doubt led to visible frustration, with some days reminding me anew of my own weaknesses. My partner, Kiichi-san, was not only a gentleman but also a perfect actor, so he helped me immensely and gave me opportunities to recognize my shortcomings.

As Mitani-san said, this play and this encounter were necessary for me and were given to me. Grateful for that, I will do what I always do: strengthen my discovered weaknesses and move forward. That's the only thing I can do, isn't it? After all, the "Show must go on!"

Even after the new year, the Osaka performances will continue. Through these nearly 70 performances of "Goodnight Sleep Tight," I aim to deliver an even more powerful version of myself in 2009!!

P.S.

This year, I was able to participate in AAA (Act Against AIDS), the AIDS charity event organized by Amuse, for the first time in a while. I had the valuable experience of singing "Tsuyogari" at the Budokan, and it was worth the effort despite my packed schedule (laughs).

The photo is with the members of PaniCrew, the group where Brother GO (Go Ueki) is the main vocalist, taken at that event ♪

Bonus
＜Brother GO's "Good Night Sleep Tight" Viewing Notes＞

From the moment "Goodnight Sleep Tight" began, I was captivated and watched it engrossed. The way the timeline jumps back and forth is key; you can't predict what will happen next.

Many couples or partners likely came to see it, and I'm sure they felt and thought about many things. Although I'm not married, I found myself reminiscing about the past, thinking, "Ah, these kinds of misunderstandings do happen..." (laughs).

Time changes everything, including feelings, little by little. For better or worse, no one can escape it. That's why "now" is so important, and even if things change, as long as "memories" remain, nothing is truly in vain... I found myself contemplating many such thoughts. It's a wonderful play that leaves you feeling a little kinder afterwards.

However, my sister's performance was incredible. She was on stage the entire time, with numerous costume changes, displaying a multitude of expressions, and her singing was flawless. She told me, "It'll be a learning experience, so why don't you try playing Taro once?" but I'll politely decline (laughs).

*Taro is the name of the turtle owned by the couple in the play "Goodnight Sleep Tight."

"Goodnight Sleep Tight" Pamphlet with Keiko Toda's Autograph - Gift Offerhas now closed. Winners will be notified by mail. Thank you to everyone who applied. (OPENERS Editorial Department)