◆ Asanuma Shintaro reprising his role as the ‘Editor’ in AD-LIVE 2020
His character appeared before in AD-LIVE 2018, and is seriously one of his best to date
They even expanded upon the story from the 2018 play into this one (while maintaining idiosyncrasies like the unknown character name)
-- Asanuma Shintaro and Tsuda Kenjiro (ft. Suzumura Kenichi)
Summary:
Kuroda (TsudaKen) is a 17 year old who enters a mansion for a party, and meets Date (AsaShin) who is a hired magician. They hear a radio broadcast about the Earth ending in ten years due to the trajectory of an asteroid; but what will they do next?
[For the (Day Session) please click on this post]
For plot and more pictures (on stage and backstage), please keep reading below:
The stage opens with the narration of a writer about the New Earth years from now, and the asteroid which is on a collision course towards it. What we see acted out is part of the writer’s story.
(continued from summary) Date had shown Kuroda some magic tricks and wowed both him and the audience, but confesses that the news they heard unsettles him more than just the thought of dying. His grandfather was a person who had super abilities (superpowers), but all he can do is multiply objects or change their position. He feels useless in the face of such imminent danger.
Disappearing water magic trick where Date doubly tricks both Kuroda and the audience into thinking he drank the water. Both cups are empty of water (though he only drinks from his own cup).
A real burger from the picture trick
Switching and multiplying objects trick
Kuroda, who is pure of heart and a bit slow to catch up to things, reassures Date that his abilities are amazing already; he is so impressed by it! He is sure that Date can do anything if he puts his mind to it. Encouraged, Date tries to extend the same motivation towards Kuroda as well; he urges him to try something in entertainment if he’s interested in it, and when they meet again he would love to see Kuroda’s growth. They agree that a party will not happen now thanks to the sudden news, and plan to meet each other again in the next ten years.
Date leaves a simple white flower on the windowsill as a marker, promising to give it to Kuroda after 10 years when they’ve both made something of themselves. Date is broke, and borrows some money from Kuroda, promising to repay him in ten years; though Kuroda is insistent that he can have the money. They shake hands and say goodbye.
There is an interlude where we go back to the writer, now with his Editor (SuzuKen), who is obsessed with the colour white and ‘purity’. They have VR technology now which allows people to view each other’s imaginative worlds, and the editor uses it to delve into the world the writer has created. The editor gives a long monologue about the process of writing a story and his life (where SuzuKen fishes so, so, so many of the ad-lib lines and manages to form a coherent story -- kudos to his skill). They exit to give the characters space to resume.
Editor SuzuKen with white mania
10 years later, Kuroda and Date meet up again. Kuroda virtually hasn’t changed, he’s still stuck in high school, and hasn’t improved intellectually; but his heart is still pure and strong.
Date however, has undergone a massive change. After the broadcast, he sought out the person who was spearheading the efforts to use super abilities to save the earth (named: Nakaya) in an attempt to do so as well. Certainly, he has accumulated more power, but he has killed people under Nakaya’s orders. He hates that the world is full of weak, ignorant people; people like Kuroda. He still performs a simple magic trick to return the money he borrowed to Kuroda despite his words.
However, Kuroda manages to convince him that his actions though wrong, does not condemn him as a bad person. Kuroda believes that Date is a good and amazing person still.
Nakaya appears, and Date is bent on killing him; but when Kuroda is placed in danger, Date sacrifices himself for him. Nakaya steals all his magic powers with a gun, and is about to defeat them, when the Editor chimes in. He suggests that the ‘pure of heart’ Kuroda be given the chance to defeat Nakaya, and enters the scene via VR to help the writer with this. It goes according to plan: Nakaya is defeated, but the asteroid is still on its way.
Nakaya appears
Kuroda making fun of Nakaya with 0 fear
Date sacrifices himself for Kuroda
Editor Intervention
The first debris hit Earth, and Date takes a stand. He decides to absorb all the magic power from the gun which houses the stolen power of many other magicians to save the world, knowing that he will die in the process, but doesn’t tell Kuroda his plan. When Kuroda tries to stop him, Date says he’s only doing this because he wishes for Kuroda to live 10 years more. He promises Kuroda that they’ll see each other again in 10 years, with Kuroda saying he’ll be mad if Date doesn’t keep his promise.
Date does one final simple magic trick, much to Kuroda’s awe with him saying “That’s it! That’s the type of amazing thing I wanted to see!”
Date transforms the white flower from the windowsill into a rose, bestowing it to Kuroda. He bids him goodbye, and urges Kuroda to sit still, reasoning: “I’m going to try to do something really amazing. The most amazing thing I’ve ever done. So if you see me do something amazing, then please give me a standing ovation.”
Though he does not fully understand, a teary Kuroda nods and wishes him all the best. Date drapes a cloth over himself and disappears. Kuroda stands up slowly, clapping with all his might.
BONUS BACKSTAGE PICS:
Suzuken: -praises AsaShin on a job well done, even better than rehearsal-
-- Asanuma Shintaro and Tsuda Kenjiro (ft. Suzumura Kenichi)
Summary:
A man (TsudaKen) is suddenly transported to a mansion, and has lost his memories. He meets a boy named Nakaido (AsaShin) who comes to the mansion on an errand for his “master”. There’s a banner saying “Happy Millennium” above them, and there’s celebration in the streets, but what does it all mean?
[For the (Night Session) please click on this post]
For plot and more pictures (on stage and backstage), please keep reading below:
The stage opens with the narration of a writer about the New Earth years from now, and the asteroid which is on a collision course towards it. What we see acted out is part of the writer’s story.
(continue from summary) The man recalls that his name is Ogawa, he is 47 years old, but not much else. Nakaido is supposedly 6 years old (played for laughs), but he is unsure of his purpose in the mansion either, only knowing that he has to investigate. The two chat, Nakaido revealing his insecurities and Ogawa kindly reassuring him.
“6 year old” Nakaido using chopsticks
Things are revealed as they continue chatting. When Ogawa removes his jacket, the side of his shirt is stained with blood, and there are the words ‘Don’t Give Up!’ scrawled on his back. They try to puzzle over these, but come to no conclusion.
Ogawa realises the book he has in his hands is one that he has written, all about the impending asteroid. He gives it to Nakaido before the boy has to leave, saying that they should meet back here in 10 years to see how their lives have progressed, and Nakaido agrees.
Asteroid VS Earth
Their characters have no idea what they’re doing here
There is an interlude where we go back to the writer, now with his editor (SuzuKen). They have VR technology now which allows people to view each other’s imaginative worlds, and the editor uses it to delve into the world the writer has created. The editor gives a long monologue about the process of writing a story and his life (where SuzuKen fishes so, so, so many of the ad-lib lines and managed to form a coherent story -- kudos to his skill). They exit to give the characters space to resume.
American-vibe Editor SuzuKen
Writer and Editor
10 years later, Ogawa and Nakaido meet up again. It is a shocking reveal that Nakaido isn’t actually human, but had merely assumed human form; he is in fact Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (no joke), and that his age is in reindeer years so he’s actually older than humans (he’s about 80 now though h looks 16 in human years).
Nakaido the Red-nosed Reindeer
Nakaido laments that his “master”, Santa Claus, has fired him since this is the last Christmas ever; Earth will shortly be destroyed by the asteroid. Nakaido cries, he wants to continue delivering presents and bringing happiness to everyone; but Ogawa takes the end of the world in stride, saying that the time they have now is precious. Ogawa brings Nakaido burgers, but spills ketchup on himself.
Just then, Nakaido’s fellow reindeer Pokakarin shows up, and there is a sequence where they demonstrate their special skills. For Nakaido, though his skill takes time and looks ridiculous at first, he is able to produce snow (very Christmassy), and this wows Ogawa. Nakaido wants to be able to use his skill for everyone, but since Earth is ending, there’s no possibility of that now.
Ogawa being stunned by the flurry of snow
Ogawa has a change of heart, refusing to give in to fate. He decides to travel back in time the way he came here, to warn the them of the past to change things. Nakaido helps scrawl the words on his back. The stage is set. Ogawa leaves to go back, and Nakaido bids him farewell, good luck. The lights fade to black.
Magical girl Ogawa to save the day
Then the lights pop on again, with Ogawa in the same position and confusion as he exhibited in the first scene.
Backstage BONUS:
SuzuKen booping AsaShin’s nose to brighten your dash
