The Rose of Versailles , also known as ''Lady Oscar'' and ''La Rose de Versailles'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Riyoko Ikeda. It was originally serialized in the manga magazine '' Margaret'' from 1972 to 1973, while a revival of the s ...

'' has been dramatized for

Takarazuka Revue The is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals and stories adapted from films, novels, manga, and Japane ...

by Shinji Ueda. The show's role in Takarazuka history is particularly notable as it established the "Top Star" system that remains in place to this day. ''Rose of Versailles'' also triggered a large surge in the revue's popularity, commonly referred to as the . The musicals have either played up the importance of the Oscar-Andre relationship, or the Fersen-Marie Antoinette relationship. Shinji Ueda, a Takarazuka producer, asked

Riyoko Ikeda is a Japanese manga artist and singer. She is included in the Year 24 Group, by some, although her status as one of them has been debated due to a focus more on epic stories than the internal psychology of those mangaka. She was one of the most ...

to write new stories with scenes from the manga never before seen on stage and by placing a focus on minor characters. In 2008 and 2009, four new musicals were staged based on the minor characters Girodelle, Alain de Soissons, and Bernard Chatelet, as well as André Grandier.

Takarazuka stage adaptations

* ''The Rose of Versailles'' - The plot of this original performance is said to be the closest to Ikeda's manga 1974, Moon Troupe, top bill:

Yuri Haruna Yuri may refer to: People and fictional characters Given name *Yuri (Slavic name), the Slavic masculine form of the given name George, including a list of people with the given name Yuri, Yury, etc. *Yuri (Japanese name), also Yūri, feminine Jap ...

, Asou Kaoru * ''The Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar'' - The plot focus on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. The show went through several revisions over the course of the years. In later versions, Oscar is typically the lead role. However, in earlier versions, the show is often considered to have a double lead. 1975, Flower Troupe, top bill: Jun Anna,

1975, Snow Troupe, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa,

Rei Asami Rei or REI may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Rei, a story arc of the anime ''Higurashi When They Cry'' *Rei, a shapeshifting godlike dragon in the Australian webcomic series ''Vainglorious'' *Rei I, II and III, List of Neon Genesis Evangelion ...

1976, Flower Troupe, National tour, top bill: 1979, Flower Troupe, National tour, top bill: Akira Matsu 1980, Snow Troupe, National tour, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa * ''The Rose of Versailles III'' - The plot focus on the relationship between

Hans Axel Von Fersen Hans Axel von Fersen (; 4 September 175520 June 1810), known as Axel de Fersen in France, was a Swedish count, Marshal of the Realm of Sweden, a General of Horse in the Royal Swedish Army, one of the Lords of the Realm, aide-de-camp to Rochamb ...

and

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Josèphe Jeanne (; ; née Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child a ...

. The Takarazuka run featured guest stars from other troupes performing in the role of Oscar. The show underwent a quick partial rewrite for the Moon Troupe performance, placing more emphasis on Fersen. 1976, Star Troupe (Takarazuka version), top bill: Ran Ōtori 1976, Moon Troupe (Tokyo version), top bill: Ran Ōtori * ''Fantasy The Rose of Versailles'' - A shortened version of the Takarazuka version of ''Andre and Oscar'' 1977, Flower Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Jun Anna * ''Takarazuka Fantasy The Rose of Versailles'' - A shortened and revised version of ''Andre and Oscar'' 1978, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa * ''The Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar'' - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Andre is given the lead role. 1989, Snow Troupe, top bill: Keaki Mori, Ichiro Maki * ''The Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette'' - The plot focus on the relationship between Fersen and Marie Antoinette. Fersen is given the lead role. 1989, Star Troupe, top bill: Kaoru Hyuuga 2001, Cosmos Troupe, top bill:

Yōka Wao is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (''Otokoyaku''). She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006. Her nicknames are Takako (from her real name: Tak ...

2006, Star Troupe, top bill:

Wataru Kozuki is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1989 and resigned in 2006. She is from Iruma, Saitama . She is the only Otokoya ...

* ''The Rose of Versailles: Fersen'' - A variation of ''Fersen and Marie Antoinette''. Fersen is given the lead role. 1990, Flower Troupe, top bill: Mizuki Ōura 1991, Flower Troupe, Ueda, top bill: Mizuki Ōura * ''The Rose of Versailles: Oscar, Andre'' 1991, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Keaki Mori * ''The Rose of Versailles: Oscar'' - The plot focuses on Oscar, her love with Andre and her tragic end. 1991, Moon Troupe, top bill:

Mayo Suzukaze , known by her stage name is a Japanese actress from Ishinomaki. Suzukaze has also done some voice work as a voice actress, namely as the voice of Himura Kenshin in ''Rurouni Kenshin''. She was previously a Takarazuka Revue stage actress and the ...

* ''The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre'' - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role. 2001, Star Troupe, top bill: Kō Minoru * ''The Rose of Versailles'' - An abbreviated variation of ''Fersen and Marie Antoinette'' adapted specifically for the Takarazuka performances in

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. 2005, Star Troupe, Korean Tour, top bill:

2006, Snow Troupe, top bill:

Hikaru Asami Hikaru Asami (朝海ひかる, born January 24, 1972) is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1991 and resigned in 2006. S ...

2006, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill:

Natsuki Mizu Natsuki Mizu (水夏希 ''Mizu Natsuki'', born 1972) is the former top star (otokoyaku) for Snow Troupe of Takarazuka Revue from December 24, 2006 to September 12, 2010. She joined the company in 1993 and became the top star in December 2006 upon t ...

* ''Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Girodelle'' - Focussing on Girodelle's love interest with Sophie, Fersen's younger sister. 2008, Snow Troupe, top bill:

* ''Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Alain'' - Focussing on Alain, his unrequited love for Oscar and his relationship with his younger sister Dianne 2008, Flower Troupe, top bill: Sei Matobu * ''Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Bernard'' - Focussing on Bernard and his love for Rosalie. 2008, Star Troupe, top bill:

Kei Aran , (born October 9, 1970), is a Japanese actress and former top star ''otokoyaku'' (an actress who plays male roles) of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe. She joined the revue in 1991 and became the top star in 2007, five years after he ...

* ''Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Andre'' - Focussing on Andre's childhood and a girl he knew before he fell in love with Oscar. 2009, Cosmos Troupe, top bill:

Yūga Yamato (born August 4, 1977) is a former '' otokoyaku'' (a female playing a male part) for Cosmos Troupe of Takarazuka Revue. She joined the company in 1995 and became the top star in February 2007 upon the resignation of Kei Takashiro, which made her ...

2009, Flower Troupe, top bill: Sei Matobu * ''The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre'' - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role. 2013，Moon Troupe, top bill:

Masaki Ryuu Masaki may refer to: Name * Masaki (given name), a unisex Japanese given name * Masaki (surname), a Japanese surname Places * Masaki, Ehime, a town located in Iyo District, Japan * Masaki Art Museum, a museum in Tadaoka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan th ...

Rio Asumi is a Japanese actress and former leading ''otokoyaku'' (男役, "male role") of Takarazuka Revue. Biography Asumi Rio was born on June 26, 1985 in Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan. Asumi participated in many sports and arts growing up. She did swim ...

* ''The Rose of Versailles: Fersen'' - A variation of ''Fersen and Marie Antoinette''. Fersen is given the lead role. 2013, Snow Troupe, top bill : Kazuho Sou * ''The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre'' - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role. 2014, Cosmos Troupe, top bill:

Kaname Ouki Kaname is a Japanese unisex name, and may refer to the following people: People ;with the given name Kaname * Kaname Harada (1916–2016), Japanese flying ace * Kaname Yokoo (born 1972), a Japanese professional golfer *, Japanese actor *, Japanes ...

* ''The Rose of Versailles: Fersen'' - A variation of ''Fersen and Marie Antoinette''. Fersen is given the lead role. 2014, Cosmos Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Manato Asaka 2014, Flower Troupe, top bill:

2015, Flower Troupe, top bill :

Takarazuka stage adaptations

References

Further reading