Title
Persona 3: the Weird Masquerade -Ao no Kakusei- (ペルソナ3 the Weird Masquerade 〜青の覚醒〜, lit. Blue Awakening) is a stage play based on Persona 3.
Release
- Japan: January 8-12, 2014 (Performance)
- Japan: May 14, 2014 (DVD Release)
Profile
The Weird Masquerade is a stageplay that saw a limited release from January 8-12, 2014 in the Theater G Rosso and was first announced during the August 2013 Persona Music FES. Music was composed by Shoji Meguro. Casting was performed by Oku Shutaro. The script was written by Jun Kumagai, who was responsible for scripts for Persona 4 The Animation and Persona 3 The Movie.
It was based on the original game and double-casts the male and female versions of the protagonist. They do not appear in the play together, but instead the performances are divided in between male and female performances. Both male and female performances were released in a live broadcast on NicoNico. In the DVD release, the male and female performances each received a separate disc in the two DVD set.
Plot
Male Route
In the past, where the news report a mysterious catastrophe during the Moonlight Bridge, where they spotted a sole survivor , in which it was a child.
Ten years later, a young man named Sakuya Shiomi arrive at Tatsumi Island as transfer student. Meanwhile Yukari, Akihiko, and Mitsuru fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. During the fight, Yukari attempt to summon her Persona, but she hesitated as the Shadow taunted her, but Mitsuru managed to defeat it. After Yukari return to dorm, Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Ikutsuki unexpected meet Junpei, who was panicking and don't know what was doing on, so Akihiko punched him back to his sense. Although he was settle down, Junpei still hyper slightly in which Akihiko was annoyed, he knocked him unconscious.
As Sakuya arrive at the dorm, he encounter a mysterious boy, who asked him to signed a contract, in which he did. Before the mysterious boy disappear, he give him advice. Back to reality, she meets Yukari and suddenly unknown Shadow attacking the dorm. As Yukari lead Sakuya on top of the dorm, the Arcana Magician appear. As she tried attempt to Persona again, he was knocked out by the Shadow and accidently dropped her Evoker, he grab a Evoker and begun to hesitated, but he heard a mysterious boy's voice, telling him to go on, Sakuya summoned his Persona, Orpheus for the first time, but something went wrong as he clutched his head and he screamed in pain as his Persona changed to Thanatos and defeats the Arcana Magician. After that with his Persona revert back to Orpheus, Sakuya lose conscious.
The following day, he regain conscious, he encounter the mysterious boy, and he explains to him that he awakened his Persona and ordeal he will be facing in the near future. Later, with Sakuya joins SEES, he started to attend Gekkoukan High School. Before starting class, Sakuya meets Junpei, who in which revealed he can summon his Persona and be new member of SEES, much of Yukari's displeased. He meets another student named Fuuka Yamagishi, and befriend her quite nicely. Junpei decided to give everyone movie tickets so that they would get to know each other better. Although Sakuya doesn't want it, but Junpei gave to him anyway. After Fuuka left, Junpei tried to befriend Sakuya even invading his personal space, but he didn't enjoyed it.
In the evening when the Dark Hour struck, everyone except Mitsuru and Akihiko were shocked to see their school transformed into Tartarus. They explain to them about Tartarus, and Their reason for being them so that will help them to get stronger.As the days went by and after defeating Arcana Priestess, Junpei quickly left due to his jealousy toward Sakuya.
With Akihiko and Mitsuru managed to catch up with him, Junpei decide tells scary stories of Junpei's believe or don't about the rumor about a ghost. After he finished, Junpei decide give his remaining extra movie tickets to them. With everyone gather at the Screen Shot theater except Fuuka. Although they wondered where was Fuuka since Junpei invited her. Luckily, they were surprised to see Ikutsuki at theater, he informs them that Fuuka went missing and haven't been in school for days.
Everyone decide to go to the school before Dark Hour, however they got separated from each other. Sakuya woke up and the mysterious boy, who inform him the this ordeal will be stronger than her last one, and he will need find the certain person he's looking for because she will be important to help him with the ordeal. After he disappeared, Sakuya found Fuuka, but suddenly she senses stronger Shadow than the Shadow she avoided. Meanwhile, Yukari and Mitsuru encounter the Arcana Emperor and Arcana Empress, who have hard time defeated it and unable to find it weakness. Yukari attempted to summoned her Persona, in which she succeeded, but that wasn't enough to damaged it. With Junpei and Akihiko helped them. Kotone managed to find them, only to find they there heavily wounded and exhausted by the Shadows attack. After he realized everyone determination, Sakuya decide to fight with Shadows alone and tried to protect his friends even it means the cost of his life. Everyone including Junpei and Yukari, begged him not fight alone or force himself because their sake. Suddenly Fuuka appear, and Akihiko asked Mitsuru to give her Evoker to her since she can possible summon a Persona, she agrees and give it to her. With Fuuka successful her Persona, Lucia and was able to analyze the Shadows weakness and everyone summoned their Persona at the same time and defeat it together. After that, Fuuka realized she has friends who supported and helps each other that she not alone.
With Fuuka joins SEES, Sakuya encounter mysterious boy again, as he was able regain some of his memories, he requested him if he can be his friend, he let out his hand, and he decide to shake his hand. The mysterious boy introduced himself as Pharos.
Female Route
In the past, where the news report a mysterious catastrophe during the Moonlight Bridge, where they spotted a sole survivor , in which it was a child.
Ten years later, a young women named Kotone Shiomi arrive at Tatsumi Island as transfer student. Meanwhile Yukari, Akihiko, and Mitsuru fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. During the fight, Yukari attempt to summon her Persona, but she hesitated as the Shadow taunted her, but Mitsuru managed to defeat it. After Yukari return to dorm, Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Ikutsuki unexpected meet Junpei, who was panicking and don't know what was doing on, so Akihiko punched him to his sense. Although he was settle down, Junpei still hyper slightly in which Akihiko was annoyed, he knocked him unconscious.
As Kotone arrive at the dorm, she encounter a mysterious boy, who asked her to signed a contract, in which she did. Before the mysterious boy disappear, he give her advice. Back to reality, she meets Yukari and suddenly unknown Shadow attacking the dorm. As Yukari lead Kotone on top of the dorm, the Arcana Magician appear. As she tried attempt to Persona again, she was knocked out by the Shadow and accidently dropped her Evoker, she grab a Evoker and begun to hesitated, but she heard a mysterious boy's voice, telling her to go on, Kotone summoned her Persona, Orpheus for the first time, but something went wrong as she clutched her head and she screamed in pain as her Persona changed to Thanatos and defeats the Arcana Magician. After that Persona revert back to Orpheus, Kotone lose conscious.
The following day, she regain conscious, she encounter the mysterious boy, and he explains to her that she awakened her Persona and ordeal she will be facing in the near future. Later, with Kotone joins SEES, she started to attend Gekkoukan High School. Before starting class, Kotone meets Junpei, who in which revealed he can summon his Persona and be new member of SEES, much of Yukari's displeased. She meets another student named Fuuka Yamagishi, and befriend her quite nicely. Junpei decided to give everyone movie tickets so that they would get to know each other better.
In the evening when the Dark Hour struck, everyone except Mitsuru and Akihiko were shocked to see their school transformed into Tartarus. They explain to them about Tartarus and their reason for being them so that will help them to get stronger. As the days went by and after defeating Arcana Priestess, Junpei quickly left due to his jealousy toward Kotone.
With Akihiko and Mitsuru managed to catch up with him, Junpei decide tells scary stories of Junpei's believe or don't about the rumor about a ghost. After he finished, Junpei decide give his remaining extra movie tickets to them. With everyone gather at the Screen Shot theater except Fuuka and Kotone, who revealing she was volunteering at the theater. Although they wondered where was Fuuka since Junpei invited her. Luckily, they were surprised to see Ikutsuki at theater, he informs them that Fuuka went missing and haven't been in school for days. They realized maybe that Fuuka somehow got trapped at Tartarus, and need to save her.
Everyone decide to go to the school before Dark Hour, however they got separated from each other. Kotone woke up and the mysterious boy, who inform her the this ordeal will be stronger than her last one, and she will need find the certain person she's looking for because she will be important to help her with the ordeal. After he disappeared, Kotone found Fuuka, but suddenly she senses stronger Shadow than the Shadow she avoided. Meanwhile, Yukari and Mitsuru encounter the Arcana Emperor and Arcana Empress, who have hard time defeated it and unable to find it weakness. Yukari attempted to summoned her Persona, in which she succeeded, but that wasn't enough to damaged it. With Junpei and Akihiko helped them. Kotone managed to find them, only to find they there heavily wounded and exhausted by the Shadows attack. After she realized everyone determination, Kotone decide to fight with Shadows alone and tried to protect her friends even it means the cost of her life. Everyone including Junpei and Yukari, begged her not fight alone or force herself because their sake. Suddenly Fuuka appear, and Akihiko asked Mitsuru to give her Evoker to her since she can possible summon a Persona, she agrees and give it to her. With Fuuka successful her Persona, Lucia and was able to analyze the Shadows weakness and everyone summoned their Persona at the same time and defeat it together. After that, Fuuka realized she has friends who supported and helps each other that she not alone.
With Fuuka joins SEES, Kotone encounter mysterious boy again, as he was able regain some of his memories, he requested her if he can be his friend, he let out his hand, and she decide to shake his hand. The mysterious boy introduced himself as Pharos.
Music
Here are the list of songs/tracks that were used during the stage play:
- Soul Phase (-P3 the Weird Masquerade ver- (Male version)) sung by Shouta Aoi (Sakuya Shiomi)
- Wiping All Out (-P3 the WM ver.) sung by Asami Taro and Yuuki Fujiwara (Mitsuru Kirijo and Akihiko Sanada)
- I am no HERO sung by Genki Ookawa (Junpei Iori)
- Brand New Days (-P3 the WM ver-) sung by Maho Tomita and Shouta Aoi (Yukari Takaba and Sakuya Shiomi)
- Watashi no ibasho sung by Marina Tanoue (Fuuka Yamagishi)
- Kimi no Kioku (-P3 the WM ver-) by Shouta Aoi (Sakuya Shiomi) and the rest of the cast
- Soul Phase (-P3 the Weird Masquerade ver- (Female version)) sung by Kana Asumi
- Brand New Days (-P3 the WM ver-) (Female version) sung by Maho Tomita and Kana Asumi (Yukari Takaba and Kotone Shiomi)
- Kimi no Kioku (-P3 the WM ver-) (Female version) sung by Kana Asumi ( Kotone Shiomi) and the rest of the cast
- Interstice of Time (-P3 the WM ver-)
Cast
- Male Protagonist (汐見朔也, Shiomi Sakuya): Shouta Aoi
- Female Protagonist (汐見琴音, Shiomi Kotone): Kana Asumi
- Yukari Takeba: Maho Tomita
- Junpei Iori: Genki Ookawa
- Mitsuru Kirijo: Asami Tano
- Akihiko Sanada: Yuuki Fujiwara
- Fuuka Yamagishi: Marina Tanoue
- Shuji Ikutsuki: Shouichi Honda
- Pharos: Keisuke Ueda
Adaption Differences
There are difference between the game and stage play:
- The 2009 calendar was not featured, which makes it impossible to know what happens on what day.
- In both version, Sakuya/Kotone arrive at the dorm during the Full moon operation on April 9 instead of April 6.
- Around the same day, Junpei for the first time experiences the Dark Hour and meets Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Ikutsuki.
- Fuuka befriends Sakuya/Kotone, Yukari, and Junpei before being trapped in Tartarus.
- Akihiko does not get wounded by the Shadow during April's Full moon Operation.
- Natsuki doesn't appear although it's possible she appears as one of the girls who were bullying Fuuka, but she does not go after her as she was feeling guilty about what and her friends did to her.
- Since Shinjiro was not present as in the game, Ikutsuki provides information to SEES about Fuuka.
Gallery
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Trivia
- Shinjiro Aragaki does not appear in the stageplay even though he has important role like in the beginning of the game and Persona 3 The Movie first film. He only made his official appearance in the sequel of Persona 3: the Weird Masquerade -Gunjou no Meikyuu-. (It possible that couldn't find the role to play him.)
- It seems in the male route appear to be extended longer than female route stage play version.
- It's presumably because a special guest, Kana Asami, who played Kotone Shiomi appear after the stageplay.