Bold and Brash: Samurai Restaurant Time
When I travel, I try to find unique experiences. While researching my current trip I came across a couple of reviews to a show called Samurai Restaurant Time. I was intrigued. The more I read, the more I knew I had to see this myself!
Red light district
All of the articles began with the location of the venue. Immediately, I saw the words “red light district.” Then I saw “girls bar.” To make it clear, most of you probably understand “red light district,” but a “girls bar” is a strip club. The articles went on to say, “you may encounter scantly clad ladies and suggestive themes.”
The name of the club is GiraGiraGirls and is located in the heart of the red light district in Tokyo. Since I was going alone, I was concerned about the location. When I arrived, by taxi, there was a young man out front greeting guests as they arrived. They do not open the seating area until 1:30pm and you are welcome to explore the surrounding neighborhood as well as wait in the lounge. He assured everyone that it was safe and to enjoy looking around.
Stroll through the neighborhood
Since I had the time, I took a walk around the neighborhood. It wasn’t what I expected. Other than photos of the entertainers lining the buildings, you would not realize where you were. There were restaurants and shops. Even a gaming facility.
According to the young man who waited on me, he said things are pretty relaxed during the day time. He said if you want to see what it’s all about to come back after 6:00pm!
The waiting area was really over the top! But fun in a way. They also had lockers available for free to store your bags if you did not want to bring them in. I can see how that would be an advantage, especially if they had a full house. The tables were cramped and you sat low to the floor. They can probably get 6 – 8 people to a booth. I had one to myself. Just to add, photos and videos were allowed during the performance and they said photos were allowed in the waiting area. There were several people who had tabletop tripods and either their phones or cameras set-up to photograph and video the performance. I used my cell phone for the performance photographs.
Show time
When it was time to be seated, they called the number on the ticket received at the entrance. I do have to say they were very accommodating. My friend had to cancel at the last minute and I had tickets for two. I could receive her meal or exchange it for another option on their list. I chose the two drink option to go along with my sushi appetizer. It was nice because I did not have to spend more money on beverages.
To get to the viewing area you had to walk down a series of stairs. It was crazy! You could not tell where the stairs ended and the walls began!
Talk about sensory overload! The Bento Box with my sushi was served; I forgot to take a photo of it. What beverage did I choose? Well sake of course!
I had fun photographing my One Cup Ozeki!
Samurai Restaurant Time
First of all, if you are expecting an Andrew Lloyd Webber production, you may want to choose something else. Second, if you love kitschy, over-the-top, high techno entertainment, this is the place you want to be! It is loud, brash, bold, action from the start. There is fighting, romance, death, and comedy. It is the whole package in a 2 hour and 30 minute production.
They have frequent intermissions between acts, lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. It also gives them time to bring out the souvenirs for purchase. They have a menu for snacks and drinks. If you think about it, being it is a “gentleman’s club,” they have expanded their revenue source to bring in crowds for entertainment. Really, it is brilliant!
Did it match up to the hype?
Absolutely! In addition to what your ticket included (a meal with water), they gave complementary bubbling sake and a tricolor dango with matcha tea for dessert.
Samurai Restaurant Time was definitely a great way to spend the afternoon. One article said, “you will leave wondering WTH did I just see?” I have to admit, that was true, but it was fun and entertaining. I recommend the experience!
JAX Theatre: Hansel & Gretel: The Musical
We all know the Grimm’s fairy tale about Hansel and Gretel; they leave a trail of bread crumbs to find their way out of the forest, only to have the crows eat the crumbs and they stay lost, then happen on a gingerbread house owned by a witch who wants to cook them…
JAX Theatre has it’s own adaptation of this classic tale. Jordan Nickles is the creative mind behind the characters and the song lyrics in his adaptation of Hansel and Gretel: The Musical. If you have followed JAX over the last 4 years you have seen Jordan transform himself from a “young Scrooge” to the “elder Scrooge” for A Christmas Carol: The Musical. For this, we need to start from the beginning.
Jordan Nickles
In 2011 JAX Theatre had it’s first production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Nickles portrayed “young Scrooge”, Marley’s ghost, and Ol’ Joe. Marley and Ol’ Joe required extensive make-up applications and removals between scenes. Jordan designed his own make-up for the parts and applied and removed one character’s features to transform himself into another character. Jordan brings such energy to his performances and each production is bigger than the previous. In 2012 and 2013 JAX brought in the talent of RJ Haddy to transform Jordan into the “elder Scrooge”. (See blog post:https://pamdecampphoto.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=101&action=edit) Other plays produced by JAX Theatre have been Steel Magnolias, Sleepy Hollow, and Alice’s Wonderland.
In 2013, not only did Haddy transform Jordan into Scrooge he applied his creativity to transform actors into Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Marley’s Ghost.
Standing L to R: Christmas Past (Hannah Noel); Christmas Present (Adam Lucas); Marley’s Ghost (Ethan Lawson); Seated: Scrooge (Jordan Nickles)
For the JAX production of Hansel and Gretel: The Musical, RJ Haddy’s talents were called upon again to transform the lovely actress, Eva Martin, into Beatrix the Witch who lures the Hansel and Gretel into her home.
Eva Martin before her transformation to Beatrix
Eva was thrilled with the opportunity to work with RJ. During the time in the make-up chair Eva sat very still and RJ was amazed at her patience while he glued, sponge painted, and airbrushed her features on. The process began with Eva having her beautiful locks of hair covered with a bald cap.
RJ & Eva during the bald cap application.
RJ applied a layer of white on Eva’s face. He used his signature Shadow airbrush to apply the contours and fine details to give her face dimension and depth.
RJ adds contours to Eva’s face to give her character dimension and depth.
During the play the Beatrix takes on her own transformation so cracks are painted onto her “skull” and some of Eva’s own hair is pulled through the bald cap to add to the witch’s realistic appearance. After all Beatrix is 900 years old!
Cracks are added to Beatrix’s skull
A long flowing wig was added to complete the look.
RJ touches up around the wig so it blends with the rest of the make-up.
RJ adding highlights to the wig.
When RJ is working he attracts on-lookers. These are not they typical on-lookers though. Stacey Morrison and her fiancé Jerod Walker both enjoy crafting sets and experimenting with special effects make-up. They helped to design and build the set for Hansel and Gretel plus provided make-up design for the ballerina Petra.
Stacey Morrison, Jerod Walker, Edward Warren watch as RJ transforms Eva into Beatrix.
Below Jerod provides his talent to bring Petra to life.
Jerod applies features to Petra (Sami Matthews)
RJ Haddy and Beatrix (Eva Martin)
Below are scenes from Hansel and Gretel: The Musical.
Beatrix gives Rosalinde (Baylee Martin) her opinion on Hansel and Gretel’s fate.
The clan of witches decide the fate of Beatrix. Pictured are: Sami Matthews (Petra); Adam Lucas (Udolf); Ethan Lawson (Admiral Theodoric); Rosalinde (Baylee Martin); Bastian (Micah Simmons); Yvonne (Lana Percell); and Klaus/Felix (Jordan Nickles)
Pam DeCamp Photography 
