Musical stars Koichi Domoto and Yoshio Inoue will perform together at the Imperial Theatre in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, in "Knights' Tale: Kishi Monogatari," a new musical to make its world premiere in Japan.
Other top professionals involved with the production include prominent stage director John Caird, who also wrote the script, and renowned choreographer David Parsons. The music is entirely new, composed for this show.
"Knights' Tale: Kishi Monogatari" will run from July 27 to Aug. 29. It's mainly based on "The Two Noble Kinsmen," a play written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher.
Arcite, played by Domoto, and Palamon, played by Inoue, are cousins and good friends. They're both taken prisoner during wartime, and one day they see Princess Emilia, played by Kei Otozuki, from their jail and both fall in love with her. After surviving various difficulties, the two men reunite and duel for love and honor.
Domoto and Inoue, both 39, first appeared on the Imperial Theatre's large stage in separate productions in 2000: Domoto starred in "Millennium Shock" and Inoue played Prince Rudolf in "Elisabeth." The theater has been a main stage of their careers ever since.
I spoke to them ahead of the show's opening about their aspirations and how they feel about performing together.
The following are excerpts from the interview.
The Yomiuri Shimbun: This is a gorgeous production, a fitting stage for your joint appearance.
Koichi Domoto: I've wanted to do a new production for more than a decade, but I never expected to perform in such a grand work. I'm feeling somewhat scared. At the same time, I'm happy to have such a challenging, stimulating experience at my age.
Yomiuri: Are the staff planning to stage this musical overseas as well?
Yoshio Inoue: They probably want to. (Laughs)
Domoto: It'd be great if that happened. For any new stage production, the staff and cast work together to make it a success. When we started to rehearse this musical, we had nothing to base the singing on. We didn't know what atmosphere each song should create. We just followed the musical notes while thinking very hard.
John [Caird] and the arranger listened to our singing, and repeatedly changed the lyrics and melodies. We were told things like, "I felt like changing this part because you were so good and inspiring." This means we're being tested as to what we can do as performers. That is truly frightening.
Inoue: It's tough, but I'm thrilled to perform in a work that has the potential for enormous expansion. Traditionally, when a musical is staged in Japan, it's often a foreign musical. So it's great that a new musical is being staged first in Japan and then hopefully taken around the world, even though its director and composer aren't Japanese.
Yomiuri: You first met each other about four years ago. Why do you think you got along so well that you even wanted to perform together?
Domoto: Even before meeting him, I felt he had something I can relate to. When we met face to face, Yoshio [Inoue] treated me without bias, although I'm unorthodox in the musical world. For my part, I totally opened up to him.
Inoue: The more I talked with him, the more I felt we'd already known each other in the past and had something in common. Simply put, it was easy for me to talk to him.
Domoto: Yoshio told me we're the two people who shared the feeling of how tough it was to play a lead at the Imperial Theatre when we were still young.
Inoue: When Koichi [Domoto] said to me, "I prefer stage productions." I felt a strong affinity with him. I occasionally have the chance to do films and other projects, but I haven't figured out how to enjoy them yet.
Domoto: They have their own appeal, but stage productions are special for me. They start exactly at curtain time and the audience needs to arrive on time to watch it. The cast and crew all do everything they can to prepare and present our very best in the performance. I really like this traditional feeling.
Good results through good balance
John Caird, director of "Knights' Tale," is an honorary associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He codirected the first London production of the musical "Les Miserables," and has also worked on the musical in Japan since its first production. Choreographer David Parsons is known for his work with the Parsons Dance company -- his prowess is expected to add impressive ensemble dancing to "Knights' Tale."
"David has a very original, individual style," Caird said. "He has a ballet background, but he's strongly masculine and athletic. Most ballet doesn't have a sense of humor, but David can't stop himself from telling funny stories."
Hearing about Domoto's apprehension at working with the musical's exceptionally well-known staff and cast, Caird said: "It's good to be a bit scared. Then you need to do your best to overcome difficulties." He also said, "It's not worth being overconfident."
"The original story is dominated by masculine values," Caird said. "I'm very interested to see how that resonates in modern Japanese society," which Caird sees as still male-dominated with clear lines drawn between what men and women do.
He said he wants to deliver this message in the musical -- that striking a good balance between men and women can create good results.
Caird said he also wants to convey the importance of conserving nature, an idea he drew from the works of anime creator Hayao Miyazaki.
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