Review: COME VISIT! MINAMI LAUGHING STREET at Osaka Shochiku Theatre

Come visit! Minami Laughing Street: A comedy directed and produced by Ken Kojima of Ae! group which has been expanding its presence in recent years. The main focus of the play is the "laughter" characteristic of Kansai Juniors. Members of AmBitious and Boys be, and others from Kansai Juniors embark on a whimsical journey set in "Minami Shopping Street." The play is currently running from February 27th to March 31st at Osaka Shochiku Theatre.

In the peaceful days of Minami Shopping Street, where crowds gather on the day of a once-in-a-century meteor shower, a UFO suddenly descends. From within emerges aliens, and the people of the shopping street decide to protect them. However, an evil organization is scheming to capture the aliens. What will be the fate of the aliens and the people of the shopping street?

The stage comes to life with the energy of 43 Kansai Junior members, showcasing their singing and dancing talents. The story begins with a police officer, played by Takeyuki Mayumi, being joined by a "newcomer" elderly officer portrayed by Shintaro Sumi. Shop clerks and the handsome boy with rose, Yukiya Ikegawa, make their entrances, bringing with them one-liner and unique characters that immediately captivate the audience. Kotaro Sakimoto, portraying a "girl in love with a handsome boy," skillfully combines his good looking with a comedic "awkwardness," demonstrating a commitment to each character.

The hilarity of Taro Yoshikawa, the alien from the UFO, and the cuteness of his younger brother played by 8-year-old Eito Motoshige, are irresistible, leaving the audience brimming with smiles. When Yuri Oka, leading the evil organization targeting the aliens, performs the "Drill suna!" the quick skit from Yoshimoto Shinkigeki (Japanese famous comedy), the audience erupts in laughter due to the high accuracy of the reenactment.

In the segment where Kansai Junior members displaying their individual talents, Sukoyaka Okano impresses the audience with fluent English and a performing cups. Gaku Kawashita and Yuri showcase their full-powered stand-up comedy, revealing the depth of comedy skills from Kansai-born idols. In the following "Funny Gag Word Game Showdown," each member instantaneously crafts jokes, displaying remarkable adaptability.

In the latter part, the Kansai Junior's traditional song "BIG GAME" is performed with Taro adding rap elements, filling the stage with the cool presence of the Juniors. Following that, starting with Gaku's beautiful singing, their senior group SUPER EIGHT's “Osaka Romanesque” created a serene atmosphere. The finale delivers a solid punchline, and the all-star singing and dancing performance blankets the venue in laughter and emotion.

After the main performance, the stage transforms into showtime, with a setlist devised by Rikuto Ura, including songs from their seniors, the theater transformed into a concert venue. The lineup of 20 members fills the stage with an impressive line dance. They descend into the audience, engaging every corner, making eye contact with each person and waving at them. Their performance in singing and dancing was a testament to their professional skills.

Finally, representing AmBitious and Boys be, Takeyuki and Atsushi Ito share their thoughts on the performance. Takeyuki expresses his determination by saying, "I have no experience in comedy, but I received a lot of advice. I want to make a thousand audience, everyone at Shochiku Theatre laugh." Atsushi, who challenged cross-dressing as a girlfriend of the handsome boy, admits, "Honestly, it was extremely challenging. I struggled, but I did my best with my own style of gestures.”

Each role is well-defined, and the story is clear. Even in scenes without dialogue, the characters emerge through gestures and actions. The combination of singing, dancing, and comedic skills, unique to Kansai Juniors, provides an entertaining experience. In this stage, with many elementary school and underage participants, director Ken Kojima successfully orchestrates the 43 Juniors, shining a light on their future.

Furthermore, Ken Kojima's band Ae! group will have their first ever solo show at the Kyocera Dome Osaka this weekend, March 16th and 17th. Called "Aeǃ group Fan Festival at the Kyocera Dome Osaka ~Thank You Everyone~", the show on the 16th (Saturday) will be globally live streamed as an additional chance to see the skills of Kansai Junior talent following this "Come visit! Minami Laughing Street" stage show. The certainly future looks promising for them all, and their activities continue to garner attention.

Photo Credit :[© SHOCHIKU Co.,Ltd. All Rights Reserved/ © STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.]

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