The Show Must Go On (1994)

Plot Summary

Recorded on 15th April 1994 at Kinokuniya Hall, Tokyo. This play is what brought media fame to Koki Mitani back in 1991, performed by his theatre group Tokyo Sunshine Boys. It was adapted into a television special in 1992 and then in 1994 (the run the released DVD recording captures) they did another run. It was broadcast on NHK-BS2 on 26th May 1994, identical to the TV release but with differences in music. It is Mitani's typical farcical comedy where the characters follow only one rule: 'No matter what happens. Once that curtain rises. It must not be lowered until we finish our performance.' Koki Mitani said of the play 'They are outrageous people, but deep down, there is a firm principle running through their veins: "Once the curtain rises, no matter what happens, there is an ironclad rule." For stage performers, the phrase "the show must go on" essentially means you can't take the show off.'

Full Cast & Characters

Masahiko Nishimura

Shindo (Stage Manager)

Toshihito Ito

Kido (Assistant Stage Manager)

Rieko Takahashi

Noe Banba (Assistant Stage Manager)

Yoshimasa Kondo

Koichiro Ose (Owner of the Lodge)

Kazuyuki Aijima

Junichi Kuribayashi (Author)

Kenji Anan

Heiji Yashiro (actor)

Isao Nonaka

Azusa Kuno (actress)

Takashi Kobayashi

Takio Sadojima (Father of Governer)

Masahiro Komoto

Tatsuo Nakajima (Yakuza Lookalike)

Naoto Hori

Shichiemon Kuroki (Master Prop Maker)

Saito Kiyoko

Asako Shindo (Shindo's Wife)

Masato Obara

Johnny (Assistant)

Director & Crew

Where to Watch The Show Must Go On Online

Frequently Asked Questions