Imagine, if you will, a dating sim, without your participation. It would sound like half a conversation. Now take away the visuals. You’d have half a conversation, with random bits of exposition that wouldn’t actually need to be said if you were part of the conversation.
Grand Stage is a Drama CD series by étriere that introduces us to 5 women who play men on the “Grand Stage” of an engikidan, a musical revue troupe, (not that famous all-female musical revue troupe.) Each one of the 5 otokoyaku have a individual Drama CD, in which they discuss their lives and love with us, their “partner,” as we share a day with them.
***
Like today’s Review? – Subscribe to Okazu with
***
The first track is a group song, which features all of the otokoyaku (I’ll get to them in a sec). This is followed by 3 longish tracks in which we and Akito spend an evening and morning together before we perform Romeo and Juliet on the stage. Apparently we are very nervous, so Akito and we share a bed and snuggle to settle our nerves. Akito jokes about seducing us, but does not go so far as to actually do so.
The next morning we make Akito oyakodon, (which is very delicious) and we leave to make our appearance on the Grand Stage. This is followed by another song, this time a solo piece called “Always be myself” sung by Akito.
Needless to say, this is a blast for those of us who are Yuri fangirls of seiyuu who have a habit of being cast as male characters…and lesbians. Oh yes, this is a six degrees of Yuri series. Akito is played by Ogata Megumi, best known to us as Sailor Uranus/Tenoh Haruka, but trust me when I tell you the rest of the cast is just as much geared towards us.
Here are the promotional videos for the series on Youtube:
Subaru Ryoya – Toyoguchi Megumi (You might remember her as Satou Sei from Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Peter Pan – Kazmiya Eru – Inoue Marina (Naitou Shouko in Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Kohaku Minami- Kitamura Eri (Sayaka in Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Akabara-no-kimi/Soukou Yui – Saiga Mitsuki (Chie from Mai HiMe and Mai Otome) Akabara-no-kimi is a Heian-period Top star, so all the credits are in Japanese calligraphy.
All 5 character CDs, plus the group CD are available through the Yuricon Store on the Drama CD page. Collect the whole set. ^_^
Ratings:
Overall – 8
This was a very fun little waste of time crafted specifically for us, I hope you’ll listen to the song tracks on Youtube at the very least. ^_^
*fangirl screaming* It’s perfect! I wish I knew Japanese so badly because I so want all 5 of these CDS!
Bought all of these and eagerly waiting. Does anyone think that the actresses here are being cast against type on this series? If you were to tell me just the actresses and gave me the pictures of the characters I would have guessed a completely different configuration.
I’m not sure that I’d agree generally. Specifically, Toyoguchi Megumi is the only one I’d say is against type. She doesn’t usually get the cool, suave character, she tends to get a character who appears to be one thing, but is actually deep and complex. Other than her, it all seems on type, Ogata Megumi is playing the persona she has around her fan club. Inoue is spot on, as she often gets “cute” characters and the others seem commensurate with their Yuri personas – in my opinion. Discussion open. ^_^
Cool. That is what I needed to know. Toyoguchi Megumi and Saiga Mitsuki where the actresses who seemed to have swapped usual roles. I also thought Ogata Megumi was playing a very different character but I would defer to you on that.