Title: Unbridgeable Gap
Characters: Rui, Tsukasa, Emu, Nene, Sakaki (flashback), Stage Crew, Veteran Director, Actors
| Event Story | Episode 1 ・ Episode 2 ・ Episode 3 ・ Episode 4 ・ Episode 5 ・ Episode 6 ・ Episode 7 ・ Episode 8 |
Unbridgeable Gap
Arcland Workshop Venue
Veteran Director
With that, we will conclude today's workshop.
For those who are interested in the next program-
*Chattering*
Rui
……
(…Boring?)
Sakaki
I'm sure you've got a good head on those shoulders and the skills to back you up. That's why you'll still be able to make it work to some extent even if you remain like that.
Meeting demands is an ability in itself too, after all. But… I feel that you're a slightly different type.
Rui
A different type…
Sakaki
-That being said, this is just my personal opinion. You don't have to take it so seriously.
Rui
(Based on his feedback for the other participants, his critique has always struck the core of what needs to be addressed…)
(It would be a mistake to treat this as a mere opinion.)
…My method of creating for a wide audience itself didn't seem to be wrong.
If so, does this mean there was a flaw in the way I delved into my subject? Maybe it catered too much to the general audience and lacked originality-
Tsukasa
-Oi, Rui?
Rui
Tsukasa…? Why are you here?
Emu
We're here, too~!
Nene
We came to pick you up since our workshop also ended. You're going for the observation too, right?
Rui
Observation…?
Tsukasa
What, did they not provide you guys the info?
Interested participants are able to watch the show rehearsal held at THE CENTER THEATRE as part of our studies later!
Emu
Plus, they said that the lead's gonna be played by Asahi!
Rui
Ahh, now that you mention it, we did get a rundown of the program following this, I think…
(Looks like I missed it while I was deep in thought.)
(I'll set aside the critique and think over it properly later… I need to refocus on this.)
-Thanks for coming over to pick me up. Let's go for the observation right away, shall we?
THE CENTER THEATRE
Emu
Woooow~! What a pretty theatre…!
Nene
It truly lives up to its name as the top stage in the country…
Rui
I heard that only the absolute cream of the crop of Arcland's cast are able to perform at THE CENTER THEATRE…
But looking at it as a theatre facility, a lot of attention was clearly given to its equipment as well.
Rui sees Asahi
Stage Crew
From the audience's perspective, you'll be in the shadow of the set prop here, so we'll switch up where you stand in this scene.
Asahi
Understood. I'll give it a go and look for you if anything feels off.
Stage Crew
Sure thing. Also, for the timing of the lights here-
Tsukasa
Oh, it's Asahi. Apparently today's the dress rehearsal1. Is that why he's meeting with the stage crew ahead of it?
Rui
That looks about right.
He also worked with us for today's director workshop session… I really have to take my hat off to him, he truly is a tough guy.
Stage Crew
That's it from me. Are there any points of concern from on your end, Asahi?
Asahi
Nope, all good.
…Um, is it alright if I step out for a bit before rehearsal starts?
Stage Crew
Sure. Just remember not to eat while you're in costume if you're out to grab a bite.
Asahi
Ahaha, no need to worry! I'm just going to have a quick chat with my friends.
*Footsteps*
Asahi
-Guys! You're here to watch us?
Tsukasa
Yes! The organisers brought this up as an opportunity for us to learn, so we took it.
Asahi
I see. If it's alright with you all, I'd love to hear your thoughts about the show afterwards.
Because this show is special to me in loads of ways too.
Rui
Special? How so?
Asahi
Tom came up with the idea for this show and directed it.
Advance info is still kept under wraps, so it still hasn't been announced officially to the general public, though.
Rui
Really now…!
I have to say… Congratulations.
Asahi
Thanks. I always believed that crossing paths with him somewhere in the world might even be possible if I continued walking down the path of an actor…
But I couldn't react properly when I heard the news for this. The reality of it just wouldn't hit and all.
Rui
…I think I understand how you feel.
Stage Crew
Asahi-! Rehearsal starts in five!
Asahi
Whoopsies, I gotta go now. Well, enjoy the show, everyone!
Tsukasa
We'll be rooting for you from the auditorium!
Emu
Break a leg!
*Footsteps*
Asahi
"Whoa! There are cobwebs all over the place. What an creepy mansion…"
"Eh, whatever. Time to clean this up quick and sell it away."
"…Hm? I could've sworn I heard something pass the hallway just now-"
Actor A
"Who's there…? Which scoundrel dares trespass on this mansion…"
Asahi
"WHAAA-?!"
*Asahi falls down*
Rui
(-The title of this show is Goodbye, Ghost.)
(Luke, the main character who's played by Asahi, is a youth who lost his family at a young age and has no living kin.)
(Although kind at heart, he struggles at building relationships with others. As a result, he's unable to stick to any job for long and leads a life of recklessness and despair.)
(The story begins with Luke inheriting an old mansion left behind by a distant relative all of a sudden.)
Asahi
"-Okay, I get it now. This just means that my distant relative was one hell of a freak and purposely bought a real haunted house to live in."
Actor A
"Freak? How rude… I'll have you know that they were a good roommate to us."
Actor B
"Yeah! And it's so much fun because we've got loads of friends here~♪"
Asahi
"…How many of these so-called friends are there altogether?"
Actor C
"If you're asking about the number of ghosts, there's about a hundred of us."
Asahi
"There's no way that many ghosts could fit in here!! …I'm not stepping on one now, right? Right?!"
Nene
Hehe…!
Emu
It's funny and not all that scary even though it's a ghost story!
Tsukasa
Yeah. People of all ages should be able to watch it with a peace of mind since there are lots of humorous scenes.
Rui
……
(All of the ghosts living in the mansion are whimsical and free-spirited. Their disdainful new tenant tried all sorts of means to chase them out.)
(Luke, who is being stretched financially, wants to sell the mansion as soon as possible… However, he realises that at this rate, he'll be forced to slash his asking price no matter what.)
(After dwelling on it extensively, Luke comes up with a plan.)
(Ghosts remain in this realm because of their lingering attachments. So, by dispelling all of their attachments, the ghosts will disappear from the mansion.)
Rui
(Although it was an uphill battle, Luke asked the ghosts about their lingering attachments and proceeded to fulfill their wishes one by one…)
Actor B
"What I wanna do?"
Asahi
"Tell me everything you can think of. I'll do whatever I can to make them come true."
Actor B
"Umm… There's a lot, but…"
"…I wish I could hold Mommy and Daddy's hands and go out together."
"Because I was always sick and stayed in bed all the time…"
Asahi
"……"
Rui
(To meet their significant other once more… To apologise to a friend they'd argued and parted ways with…)
(Those are the kinds of humble, earnest wishes the ghosts all had.)
(Even for those who appeared to be consumed by hatred, underneath that-)
Actor C
"-You have my gratitude for your cooperation, Luke. I feel refreshed thanks to you."
Asahi
"But all I did was bring the man who used to be your lover to the mansion… Is that really enough for you?"
Actor C
"It's fine. I pretended to be an evil spirit and scared him. Even a century's worth of love would be smothered in a heartbeat by that."
"And in reality, I am an evil spirit of sorts… I felt so good seeing him weep for the rest of his life, unable to forget me."
Asahi
"…But, is that truly evil?"
"Anyone would feel lonely if their significant other forgot about them…"
Actor C
"Indeed. But even then, I'm okay with that. Because that's just how much I love him."
Nene
…It's amazing.
Tsukasa
…Yeah. This is a given for Luke who's played by Asahi,
But images of the ghosts' lives which aren't shown on stage practically flash before your eyes too.
Rui
(The ghosts' expressions are hidden from the audience because of their masks.)
(The mask represents the impassable barrier between the living and the dead, and by leaving their expressions to the audience's imagination, it becomes easier to empathise with them…)
(I am able to analyse and understand the directing techniques.)
(But-)
Asahi
"Looks like it's just you and me left."
Actor A
"Yes… Well done dispelling the lingering feelings of that many ghosts."
Asahi
"Ah, is this bottle of liquor supposed to be a reward for that? Looks like a really expensive antique, though."
Actor A
"Nay. I'd hidden it while I was alive and lost my chance to drink it…"
"But thanks to you, I came to realise my lingering wish: to enjoy a drink with a friend. So I too, shall leave this mansion tonight."
Rui
(Because of the boisterous life he led with the ghosts, the once lonely Luke felt more at peace than he ever did before.)
(But as he bade each ghost farewell, he knew that the return to his days of solitude crept closer in turn.)
(And this will be the final farewell… The most critical scene in this story - its climax.)
Asahi
"…Will you laugh, if I said I'll miss you?"
Actor A
"Nay. A good parting is one which is mourned so."
Asahi
"I see… Yeah. You're right."
"…Even though I never even so much as felt lonely back when I was all alone…"
"It's so painful now it's as if my throat is clenching up… I don't wanna cry, but the tears wouldn't stop."
"But still… Even then, I'm glad that I could meet you and this haunted house."
"-Thank you all."
Sakaki
It's a pity, because I do like family-oriented works myself. They appear so simple, yet have so much depth to them, don't they?
Rui
(…As the ghosts disappeared one after another, the stage that was once so crowded gradually becomes more spacious, and the gaping loneliness in the audience's hearts grows.)
(But in the finale… Everyone understands deeply as they watch that smile under the thin spotlight.)
(This story is about life itself - about its meetings and partings.)
(And they can feel with their whole body and heart…that happiness truly does exist even in the wake of all those farewells.)
Rui
(…The difference between my scripting and directing and his is plain to see.)
(No matter how inspired I am by his staging and mimic his techniques,)
(The depth of the world, the weight of the spoken lines, everything…)
…Is still so far away.
Rui
(What can I do to bridge this gap…?)
(I still have no idea. But still-)
Notes
通し稽古can also mean run through but they are in costume and are also running with lights, so this is translated as dress rehearsal here (Return to text)