Everyone’s favorite lovestruck guardian of the moon comes alive in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live. After reading about the 2.5D feature of the event, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. There would be live actors performing on stage, so how were these 2D effects going to be executed?
This question was answered as soon as the performance began at Hartford, Connecticut’s Bushnell Theater on April 19 for the sold-out show. The entire live event was presented in front of a giant screen, along with other set pieces, which displayed different backgrounds as well as the magical attacks by the Sailor Guardians. Though the show utilized this tech for flashy imagery, it also provided subtitles for the entire show, allowing an easy viewing experience to the entire audience on their North American tour.
The performance featured the loveable protagonist, Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) navigating the difficulties of her schoolwork as well as her love life, all while protecting the universe from the wicked Queen Beryl. Fans of the source material will be delighted to find that this live adaptation of the first arc of the anime and manga perfectly captures the zany hijinks Usagi encounters, as well as the action-packed sequences in which the Sailor Guardians must protect the universe from Queen Beryl and the legendary silver crystal. As an avid fan of the guardian of love and justice myself, I was extremely pleased with this adaptation of the anime into a one act stage play.
The costumes were both stunning and accurate to the source material. All of the Sailor Guardians donned their signature sailor suits, as well as anime-accurate hairstyles (Sailor Moon stunned in her iconic space buns and pigtails). Tuxedo Mask looked dashing in his black tuxedo and velvet cape. Queen Beryl looked hauntingly beautiful in her long purple gown and flowing red hair.
Not only did the brilliant costuming and hair styles fully immerse the crowd full of “Pretty Guardian Super Fans”, but the songs and the stellar portrayals of the characters also contributed to the dazzling nature of the show. Featuring song titles like “Good Morning! (Sorry I’m Late…)”, “Welcome To Dark Kingdom”, “School! School! School! School!”, “Hey, Bunhead”, and “We Are the Sailor Guardians”, the zaniness of the anime is properly conveyed. Little touches such as Usagi’s awful grades terrorizing her, and Sailor Venus having a stint as Sailor V onstage characterizes the source material perfectly. The hot-headed nature of Sailor Mars, the pure strength of Sailor Jupiter, and the intelligence of Sailor Mercury were all featured in the performance as well. In addition, the rocky romance between Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask was conveyed in a charming manner, and I found myself rooting for them to finally get together by the end of the musical. Even with the lack of a physical set, the performances of the actors as well as the musical numbers and choreography allowed for a sublime live performance.
The end of the show featured a medley of different original songs by both the lead girls as well as Tuxedo Mask and The Dark Kingdom performing one-off numbers. The Sailor Scouts performed various songs about their school lives, friendship to each other, and what they love about being girls. There was even a number that took place at a summer festival where all the girls and Mask changed into yukatas for the occasion. Queen Beryl even did a reprise of her biggest moment from the main show, to which the audience responded with uproarious applause.
For the grand finale to this already fantastic show, Sailor Moon herself announced to the audience that we were allowed to take photos and videos (which were prohibited up to this point in the show). After one last use of her signature catchphrase “In the name of the Moon, I’ll punish you!”, the crowd was more than happy to join in even after an hour and a half of non–stop cheering, and the last song began. A complete rendition of the iconic, original Sailor Moon intro, “Moonlight Densetsu” with every member of the night’s show coming back to the stage for one last number. During the instrumental break the Guardians even walked off of the stage and down into the isles, giving all of the fans a chance to wave and greet their favorite Sailor.
If this show were to come back to the States again, I would not hesitate to go see it again. It was a delightful experience for fans of Sailor Moon, and those who are looking for a vibrant and authentic stage show.
Diana Banks also contributed to this review.
