Interview Akira Abe | Stage "Rabbit Hall"

――This time, Mr. Abe appeared in the PARCO Theater for the first time. Please tell us your impressions when you decided to perform.

I was very happy and honestly surprised. About 7 years ago. Mr. Koki Mitani's work and directed by Katori (Shingo) and Kusawa (Go)-kun (2015, "break! I've been going to the PARCO Theater to see [Dangerous Two]). That's really interesting, and we can do this kind of amazing! I thought I was a teenager. I can't see myself in the theater. I'm really happy just because I know it's not a place to do so.

――What kind of reaction do you have to do with 7ORDER?

Probably, I think it was over, but there was a balance with the live schedule, so when the members were all together, I told everyone from my mouth. Then everyone was pleased, "It's amazing," and said, "I'll do my best" and "I'll definitely go to see it." I really appreciate it.

――Performed by American playwright David Lynzay-Abeer's masterpiece "Rabbit Hall". What kind of image did you come up with when you heard the title first?

It started simply by saying, "What does rabbit hole mean?", And it felt like "Rabbit is a rabbit" or "What does rabbit hole mean?" After that, when I read the script and found out what the word meant in the story, I was a little shocked or surprised. I think that even those who come to see it will feel the same feeling as me.

――It has also been turned into a movie, but do you see Mr. Abe?

Yes. I hope it will be helpful. But Mr. Fujita, the director, also said, "I can think of it as a different thing," so I'm not very conscious. There are differences between film and stage scripts, and in Japan, we will create a stage with Mr. Fujita's direction, so I think it will be different from nature.

――What kind of impression do you have on the director Fujita?

In fact, before we started practicing, Mr. Fujita made several times and gave individual lectures on the background of the work and how to read the script. I'm really happy and thank you. It was a great study. I also thought myself what my role meant to say this line, but Mr. Fujita was thinking much deeper and wanted to be like Mr. Fujita. I thought. I would like to absorb Mr. Fujita's attitude toward the play and the ability to read scripts more and more during the training, and to know this work even deeper.

――What is the impression of the co-stars, including Ema Miyazawa, the role of Bekka?

I thought it was a crisp air, so I went to the rehearsal hall with preparedness, but everyone had a very soft atmosphere and enjoyed talking from the first day of the lesson. So, now, I feel that I can do it happily in a blessed environment. Mr. Narukawa is the only male cast other than the double cast Yamazaki (Hikari), but I think that something seems to be in touch with him (laughs). In other words, even if I and Yamazaki-kun are included, there are only 6 casts, and everyone is concerned, so I would like to have a personal interview for about 30 minutes one by one! (laughs)

――What do you think of Jason, a high school student who plays, at the moment?

It's a complicated position that couldn't help avoid a child who ran out after chasing a dog. In terms of age, I think it's about the border between a boy and an adult, but I think the point is that it's pure and solid like a boy and has a slightly different feeling from a person. When I was reading the script myself, I felt that I wasn't malicious, but when I was talking to Mr. Fujita, he said, "Jason has a place where I can't read the air as an original character." That's right. It's difficult, but I don't want to play like a child, but I want to try while exploring.

――What kind of place do you feel the charm of the work itself?

Of course, there are some serious places, but I like and interesting places in my family's daily life where laughter is quite scattered. When we read the script together, I was usually laughing with bare hands. On the other hand, there are many scenes where things progress in a situation where pins and threads are stretched so that if something happens only in a very delicate work, if everything happens, everything will collapse. I want to take care of it and play it delicately.

――During the performance of the stage, there is also a live tour of 7 @RDER, and it is likely to be a big success spring, but is the change of head earlier?

When one work starts, it is a type that gets into it, so I want to be able to switch as soon as possible. But now, when I enter the rehearsal hall and feel the atmosphere, my head is naturally switched, so I'm sure it's okay. Well, I've completely forgotten about another job (laughs).

――How do you manage your physical condition while you are busy?

I've been to Jim quite a bit. Because it is only one person's time, I can think about various things and it also emits stress. Also, at a herb specialty store, I take tea that was blended in full order according to my body to the rehearsal hall every day in a water bottle and drink it. At home, I drink another herb pickled in sake little by little every day, but it's quite fun to make it, and in fact, I'm in good physical condition.

――It's wonderful to be careful about your health.

I'm concerned about what I put in my mouth. That's why I'm worried about the ingredients and calories of the food, and I try to eat brown rice. In that way, if you manage your physical condition regularly, when you want to eat it, I think it's okay to eat your favorite tonkatsu (laughs).

――I see (laughs). Like a couple depicted in Rabbit Hall, each person has a way of dealing with sadness and painful events. What kind of type is Mr. Abe?

After all, I'm a human, so I can be depressed, but basically I have a positive personality and I'm confident in myself, so I don't fall to a very negative one. However, when I fall, I think I'll try to fall. If you fall a lot, you'll just go up. The important thing is not to deny depressedness, or to accept it without denying your painful condition. If you reject it, I feel that fun things will not be accepted. In the past, there was a moment when I thought that if I shut out my painful feelings, I wouldn't be able to feel fun. So now, I'm worried about accepting as much as possible.

――Abe, who can say "I'm confident in myself," is cool. When did you become confident in yourself?

After all 20 years old……No, I'm about 23 years old. In my late teens, I myself had a lot of experience and my feelings were blurred. I think there is now because of that time.

――"Rabbit Hall" is the story of the family. Could you tell me the episode that Abe realized the love of his parents?

During this time, I was in Osaka for about 5 to 6 days, and while I was away, my mother and aunt came to my house to stay. I'll get in touch with you at any time. Photos such as "I eat rice" or "I've cleared up my room" were sent (laughs). In such a case, I still feel love.

――"Don't go into a person's house and clean it!" That's not the case.

There was such a time. When I first lived alone at the age of 18, I felt like "Don't come." But now I don't have that feeling at all. My mother told me, "I also made miso soup and rice" (laughs). I said, "I don't need it because I can't eat rice at home," but I said, "No, I've made it too much, so I'll leave it." That's convenient! Do you have any leftovers? I thought it was, but I laughed something (laughs). Thank you very much.

――It's a wonderful parent-child relationship. Please tell me what you would like to try in the future.

There are a lot of things. For example, my name, Ken Arashi, can be used as it is overseas, so I would like to work overseas. So I've been taking English lessons all the time. Of course, I want to do a lot of work in Japan. I want to do anything so that I can't mention one of them. In addition, I would like to take on the challenge of auditions overseas.

――Finally, once again, please give us your enthusiasm for the stage "Rabbit Hall" and a message to our readers.

If you don't usually have much opportunity to watch the stage, you may think that the threshold is high, but I would be glad if you could feel free to come and feel various things. To be honest, saying, "It's a fun work," it's a lie, and it might not be flashy. But I'm sure there are characters who can move emotions, so I think you can look back on yourself. I also want to find the meaning of doing this right now during the training and pass it on to my work. I'm really happy if the daily life of the person who watched this work changes a little or triggers me to start something.

――It is a real pleasure unique to the stage to be able to give your thoughts directly to the audience.

That's right. On the other hand, we also have a lot of things we get from our customers. The theater is a place where you can hand over and get it. It is very easy to see, and red chairs and carpets are cool, please come to the PARCO Theater.

PARCO Theater Original Goods [Theatre Note (signed)] Present

During the period from March 28 (Tuesday) to April 4 (Tuesday), 2023, a gift campaign will be held on Shibuya PARCO official SNS.
Please apply for the present by the following method.

<How to apply>
①Follow the official Instagram account "@parco_shibuya_official"
②If you are applying from Instagram, please comment "Like" on the official SNS PARCO Theater Original Goods [Play Note] posted on March 28 (Tuesday).

A total of 3 people will be presented by lottery from among those who participated. Winners will be contacted by DM, so please follow the official Shibuya PARCO Instagram.

<Announcement of winning>
After a rigorous selection process, around mid-April 2023, only the winners will be notified via Instagram direct message, and the prize will be sent out and replaced by winning. In addition, prizes are scheduled to be shipped in late April 2023. Please note that it may change depending on various circumstances.

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