Don Juan (musical)

Don Juan
Don Juan (Comédie Musicale)
Curtain call in Taipei (May 2024)
MusicFélix Gray
LyricsFélix Gray
BookFélix Gray
BasisDom Juan by Molière
PremiereFebruary 18, 2004 (2004-02-18): Théâtre Saint-Denis
Productions2004 Canada tour
2005 Paris
2012 Canada & South Korea
2024 Canada tour & China

Don Juan is a musical written by Félix Gray in 2003. Don Juan was directed by Gilles Maheu and presented in Canada (mainly Quebec and Ottawa) in 2004 and in France in 2005 with a total of 600,000 viewers worldwide. The soundtrack of the musical saw sales of more than 300,000 copies.[1] The cast also went to South Korea. The show had a run until 2006. In 2024, on the 20th anniversary of the original production, the cast went on the national tour.[2] They also went to China (Guangzhou)[3] and Taiwan (Taipei). The musical was also staged in Japan under the direction of Hirokazu Ikuta.

The original cast included Jean-François Breau in the role of Don Juan and Marie-Ève Janvier in the role of Maria, as well as the 2012 revival. In 2024, Gianmarco Schiaretti played the role of Don Juan and Cindy Daniel (who previously portrayed Elvira) played the role of Maria.

Other productions

[edit]
  • In 2016 Japanese all-female theater troupe Takarazuka Revue staged the musical.[4] It ran from June 18 to 26 in Kanagawa and from July 2 to 12 in Osaka. The production was directed by Hirokazu Ikuta, and featured Snow Troupe's Fuuto Nozomi as Don Juan and Michiru Irodori as Maria.[5] It was the last lead role of Fuuto Nozomi before becoming the leading actress of the troupe (top star). DVD was released in 2017 and Blu-ray was released in 2020.[6]
  • In 2019 the musical was staged in Japan again and ran from August 30 to September 18 in Tokyo and from October 1 to 5 in Aichi.[7] It was directed by Hirokazu Ikuta and featured Taisuke Fujigaya as Don Juan and Misako Renbutsu as Maria. It was the first musical of Taisuke Fujigaya, a member of jpop boy band Kis-My-Ft2.
  • In 2021 the musical was staged in Japan again and ran from October 7 to 17 in Osaka and from October 21 to November 6 in Tokyo.[8] It was directed by Hirokazu Ikuta and featured Taisuke Fujigaya as Don Juan and Kiho Maaya as Maria. This was the first performance of Kiho Maaya after leaving Takarazuka Revue as a leading actress (top musumeyaku). Hirokazu Ikuta and Kiho Maaya later got married.[9] The DVD got released in 2022 under Takarazuka Creative Arts, including a discussion between main cast and Hirokazu, additional star angles and a footage of the set construction.[10]
  • In 2024 Japanese all-female theater troupe Takarazuka Revue staged the musical again.[11] It was directed by Hirokazu Ikuta, and starred Flower Troupe's Sea Towaki as Don Juan (who played Raphaël in 2016 production) and Misaki Hoshizora as Maria. It was their first performance as leading actresses of the troupe (top combi).[12]

Changes in the production

  • Many new characters introduced: Juanita (one of the previous Don Juan lovers); Mayor of Seville and Sganarelle (Don Louis' servant); a few men (soldiers and Raphaël's friends) and women (soldier's lovers and Maria's friends). Ghost of the Commander and Don Louis are more active in the story. Hence, many additional scenes between the characters connect the musical numbers.
  • The Ghost of the Commander has many appearances. After his death, he threatens Don Juan by saying "love will be your end". After Mon fils Don Juan once again meets him. After Reste encore Don Carlos confronts Don Juan, but the latter is distracted by the Ghost; while Don Carlos left confused, they sing L'amour quand il vient and the Ghost leads Don Juan to Maria. In Qui he reminds Don Juan of the curse once again. Later, he leads Elvira to meet Raphaël, who just returned from the war. He appears once again in Pitie pour personne. Lastly, before and during Duel à l'aube, talking to Don Juan while he fights with Raphaël.
  • Elvira appears earlier. During Cœur de Pierre, she comes in with Don Carlos, asks Don Juan why he left her after a promise of marriage and is mocked by other women, including Isabel and Juanita.
  • Maria and Raphaël appear earlier. After Mon Nom, a few soldiers and women gather on the square, where Raphaël asks Maria to marry him after he comes back from the war and she accepts; they sing Departure of the Soldiers (兵士たちの出発) / Farewell to a Lover (恋人との別れ) after which Maria is approached by the Mayor of Seville to build a statue of the deceased Commander. Raphaël asks Maria to stop working as it may injure her hands, but she accepts the job; Raphaël makes her promise that she wouldn't work after marriage. They briefly cross paths with Elvira and Don Carlos.
  • After Le Sang des soldats there is an additional scene. Don Juan comes to the opening ceremony for the statue of the Commander. He is forced to leave the square, but he came to meet the sculptor and will not move until he does. Maria appears and to stop the guards from carrying Don Juan away, destroys her own statue. Everyone is shocked, including Maria. The two share their feelings and promise to change to be together.

Music

[edit]

Musical numbers

[edit]

Songs not appearing in the show marked by *; songs not found in the soundtrack marked by **

2012 revival change

  • "Deux à aimer" was replaced by "L'amour est plus fort" (Maria & Elvira)
  • "Changer" in encore was replaced by "Nous on veut de l'amour" (Don Juan, Maria, Elvira & Raphaël)

2016 Takarazuka change

  • "L'Homme qui a tout" becomes an ouverture performed by all of the main cast except Don Juan.
  • New song "Departure of the Soldiers (兵士たちの出発) / Farewell to a Lover (恋人との別れ)" (Raphaël and others) appears after "Mon Nom".[13]
  • "L'amour quand il vient" is performed by Ghost and Don Juan.
  • New song "The Quarrel between Don Louis and Elvira (ドン・ルイとエルヴィラの諍い) / A Message from the Lord (Un message de ton pere)" appears after "Qui?".[14]
  • "Je pense à lui" is merged with "Seulement l'amour" in one scene.
  • "Deux à aimer" or "Nous on veut de l'amour" are not included.
  • "Demain à l'aube" appears after "Maria".
  • "Les anges", "Vivre" and "Tristesa Andalucia" are not included.
  • "L'enfant du diable" is not included (Don Luis calls Don Juan "the devil's child" when talking to Elvira).
  • Encore includes "Les fleurs du mal" and "Changer".

Soundtrack

[edit]

In 2011 a double album was released containing the songs from the production. The songs were composed by Félix Gray and the orchestra was conducted by Guy St-Onge. Singers included Guy St-Onge, Antoine Cortes, Chico Castillo, Dominique Faure, Jorge Heredia and released on Cloutier.

In 2016 a recording of Takarazuka production was released under Takarazuka Creative Arts. New music was composed by Takeshi Oota. Act I and Act II were released separately with 16 songs each featuring all of the main cast.

Actors

[edit]
Role Original (2004) Paris (2005) Revival (2012) National tour (2024)
Don Juan Jean-François Breau (René Lajoie) Jean-François Breau Jean-François Breau Gianmarco Schiaretti
Maria Marie-Ève Janvier (Geneviève Charest/Marie-Pier Barnabé) Marie-Eve Janvier (Anne-Celine Lopez) Marie-Ève Janvier Cindy Daniel
Don Carlos Mario Pelchat (Dany Laliberté) Mario Pelchat (René Lajoie) Étienne Drapeau Olivier Dion
Elvira Cindy Daniel (Marie-Pier Barnabé) Cindy Daniel (Anne-Céline Lopez) Natasha St-Pier Alyzée Lalande
Raphaël Philippe Berghella (Benoit Miron) Philippe Berghella (Stéphane Neville) Jonathan Roy Philippe Berghella
Isabel Cassiopée (Geneviève Charest) Geneviève Charest (Amandine) Amélie B. Simard Roxane Filion
Don Luis Claude Leveillée / Claude Gauthier (René Lajoie) Claude Lancelot (René Lajoie) Normand Lévesque Robert Marien
Japanese productions
Role Takarazuka (2016) Tokyo/Aichi (2019) Osaka/Tokyo (2021) Takarazuka (2024)
Don Juan Fuuto Nozomi Taisuke Fujigaya Taisuke Fujigaya Sea Towaki
Maria Michiru Irodori Misako Renbutsu Kiho Maaya Misaki Hoshizora
Don Carlos Sakina Ayakaze Kohei Ueguchi Kohei Ueguchi Raito Kinami
Elvira Hitomi Arisa Yuri Tsunemasu Ai Tensho Ai Mihane
Raphaël Sea Towaki Soichi Hirama Soichi Hirama Rein Amashiro
Ghost Shizuru Karyou Keigo Yoshino Keigo Yoshino Hikari Ayaki
Isabel Keiko Miho Sumire Haruno Sumire Haruno Keiko Miho
Don Luis Naoki Ema Shingo Tsurumi Shingo Tsurumi Naoki Ema
Beauty of Andalusia Reo Kiraha Yuka Oishi Mizuka Ueno Yuriya Shimon
Juanita Rin Maisaki Mion Sakino

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Canoe: Jean-François Breau et Marie-Ève Janvier – De retour dans Don Juan en 2012[usurped]
  2. ^ "Don Juan (2024)". donjuan2024.ca. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "French musical "Don Juan" to premiere in Guangzhou in April". Foshan China. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Don Juan". Official Takarazuka Revue Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Don Juan (2016)". TAKAWIKI. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "MASTERPIECE COLLECTION 【Blu-ray版】 『ドン・ジュアン』". Quatre Rêves. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "ミュージカル『ドン・ジュアン』開幕！藤ヶ谷太輔「抱かれる気持ちで来て」". Enter Stage. NANO association. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "藤ヶ谷太輔が再び稀代のプレイボーイに！「ドン・ジュアン」ヒロインは真彩希帆". Natalie. Natasha, Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "元宝塚雪組トップ娘役・真彩希帆、演出家の生田大和氏と結婚発表". Sanspo. SANKEI DIGITAL INC. September 18, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "ミュージカル『ドン・ジュアン』". Quatre Reves. Takarazuka Creative Arts. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Don Juan". Official Takarazuka Revue Website. Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Don Juan (2024)". TAKAWIKI. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "雪組 シアター・ドラマシティ「ドン・ジュアン」 ACT I". MORA. Sony Music Solutions Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "雪組 シアター・ドラマシティ「ドン・ジュアン」 ACT II". MORA. Sony Music Solutions Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
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