The Journey Begins with Carole King's Autobiographical Musical

I went again this year. My annual Broadway binge-watching tour. I basically go during my time off. So I rest. I just rest... It's more accurate to say I rest my body.

The journey began with 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.' It's the story of Carole King. You know, Carole King, who shot to stardom in her early twenties. I didn't know she had been active as a songwriter since her teens. The twists and turns of her life are told through her hit songs. When her husband left her, she was at the depths of despair, surrounded by friends, and sang the masterpiece 'You've Got A Friend.' That song got me. Everyone was crying. Ah, friends are wonderful, aren't they? Friends are better than men, really (laughs).

'You've Got A Friend,' released by Carole King in 1971, won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and has been covered by numerous artists, including James Taylor and Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. The image shows a scene from her concert in Australia on February 10, 2013.

Despite having only about twenty cast members, the scene changes are incredibly rapid, and the cast members switch roles so quickly that it never gets boring. And above all, everyone is so talented! I was genuinely moved when I confirmed the small cast size during the curtain call! Jessie Mueller, who was chosen to play the lead, not only sang beautifully but also delivered a fantastic piano performance (with improvisations). The audience seemed to be quite mature. It was heartwarming.

I tend to skip the sweets and focus on drinking plenty of beer and wine. Is New York dry? Speaking of sweets, I couldn't resist snapping a photo of a cake shop I saw on the street. The cakes were topped with something like marble chocolate. Isn't that amazing!?

Next, I visited 'Aladdin.' The audience here was much younger, with many families with children. They even provide booster seats. Actually, I kind of wanted one too (laughs).

The moment the curtain rose and the Genie appeared, I was reminded of the late Kenji Utsumi. He was the Genie in 'Anpanman.' From then on, I felt as if I were watching the musical with Mr. Utsumi.

Accompanying the protagonist on his adventure is the Genie, a giant who won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor. He's super-sized but incredibly cute. Despite his size, he's so agile! Full of charm, he received thunderous applause from the audience. The children were delighted. And the adults too. We don't have people like that in Japan, do we?


As my trip reached its midpoint, I headed to 'Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.' The moment I entered the theater, I was reminded ofPack My Present SelfHeather Jones, the club singer I played... I remembered that.

This is a one-woman show portraying the live performance of the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. Since it's a play that reenacts a live show, there's singing, of course. How much time did Audra McDonald, who won a Tony Award for this role, spend listening to Billie Holiday? Did she pore over research materials? To sing and act so much like her... it gave me goosebumps.

The audience seating was arranged like a club, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row table seat, allowing me to witness her every gesture. Her breaths, her tears. It felt less like a play and more like watching a real live performance. I heard that Billie Holiday passed away just a few days after this live show. To perform her final live show in its entirety... for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Alone. Alone. Alone. It must be exhausting (laughs). You can't let your guard down for a single second.



At one point, she returns to her dressing room during the play, where she seems to inject drugs. When she returns to the stage, one of her elbow-length gloves is down. At that moment, I rememberedNaniwa ButterflySad things happen everywhere, in every country... During that scene, she brings her pet dog (a real one) from the dressing room. The dog was so well-behaved and cute, blinking its eyes in the stage lights. It was probably the only source of comfort. I was reminded of 'Naniwa Butterfly.' Sad things happen everywhere, in every country... During that scene, she brings her pet dog (a real one) from the dressing room. The dog was so well-behaved and cute, blinking its eyes in the stage lights. It was probably the only source of comfort.

This work, performed by many artists including Naomi Chiaki in Japan, is a powerful piece dealing with the struggles of being Black and issues of racial discrimination. I wonder how Japanese performers portrayed it? I would have loved to see it. This must be what is called a 'powerful performance.' It was magnificent.

On the Final Day, I Met the Highly Respected Nathan Lane

First premiered on Broadway in 1944, this story, as you may know, is about sailors on shore leave in New York who have romantic adventures (it was also made into the film 'On the Town' in 1949). Singing, dancing, and falling in love. It's simply glamorous and happy. Everyone is so talented!

The set design and costumes were also wonderful. The women's skirts, for example, had elaborate linings, and it was clearly designed so that the lining would be visible during pirouettes. Beautiful! The colors were vibrant, making it twice as enjoyable. And the crucial element: the sound. It was also superb. Whether it was the sound engineer's technique or the theater's acoustics, the sound, music, and dialogue all came through naturally. Even the 'whisper song,' where the cast comes down into the audience to sing, was perfectly audible. Truly impressive. I envy such an environment. In Japan, the musical was performed by Tonisen from Johnny's group V6 this year. I saw it after returning home. The Japanese version was also performed with great sincerity, creating a pleasant stage. It was a perfect fit for Tonisen.


The seventh show was 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch.' Neil Patrick Harris, who won a Tony Award for his role, was replaced by Andrew Rannells on this particular day. I was disappointed not to see Neil's performance, but alas. Andrew, who took over, had made a strong impression as the earnest (?) character in 'The Book of Mormon' (a musical that won 9 Tony Awards in 2011), so this was a surprise. The role is of a rock singer who failed gender reassignment surgery and lives with the 'angry inch' remaining between her legs (I saw the Japanese version a few years ago starring Koji Yamamoto and Naka Nakamura). Andrew gave a great performance, full of passion, and was wonderful, but perhaps he was a bit too plump for this role... (laughs).

On the final day, I deliberately chose a straight play. It was titled 'It's Only a Play.' Honestly, with my English skills, a straight play is practically impossible for me, but since my highly respected Nathan Lane was in it, it was a must-see. I thought, 'It's Only a Play' (which translates to something like 'Just a Play' in Japanese).

I also discovered a new shop called 'Zaiyo.' It seems to have been around for quite a while. It's a deli, but they offer onigiri and miso soup that Japanese people will appreciate. It's comforting. It's located between Fifth and Madison Avenues on 45th Street, and you can eat in. They also have various breads with a taste similar to Japanese bread. Their plain bread sells exceptionally well, and people were coming in one after another to buy it. Definitely check it out if you visit New York!

Fortunately, the play was about the people who create Broadway productions, so I was able to follow along somehow. And since it's a comedy, the variations in the sound of the dialogue were pleasant. Great actors anywhere are brilliant at pacing. That's why even if you don't understand the language, it's not boring to watch. Matthew Broderick, who was my partner in 'The Producers' (a hit show that premiered in 2001 and won 12 Tony Awards), is still going strong. It's wonderful that he hasn't forgotten the stage.

Year by year, my jet lag gets worse, especially after returning to Japan. While I have fun during the trip, I feel so down afterward. I wonder how much longer I'll be able to go... I'm grateful to have experienced another Broadway-filled trip this year.