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So I don't know if any of you remember Kiva, but it's a site I mentioned way back when that works to improve the living conditions of people in low income countries by way of microfinance. Basically, people in these countries who are hoping to start or improve their business ask for a loan, through Kiva you can help to lend them the money they need, and then when they pay the money back you can either lend it again or take it back. I've been using Kiva for a few years now and just made my seventh loan. My preferred sponsorship organization doesn't work in Peru, so I like to lend to small Peruvian businesses through Kiva as a way to stay connected to my favourite South American country. :) Anyway, the reason I mention all this now is because apparently they are offering ~free trials~, where you can make a loan of $25 without having to use any of your own money. Check it out if you are interested: Kiva Free Trials!

this post doesn't half do justice to how excited I am

So I am seriously in love with living weekend-trip distance away from several major cities. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THIS. Recently I was like, hmm, I should Google the titles of plays and musicals I've always wanted to see, just in case they're going to be performed in Japan any time soon. Well I've already seen Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, both of which were amazing. And soon after that I discovered that Roméo & Juliette, a French musical whose music I have enjoyed since early high school, will be in Tokyo later this year. So I am most definitely looking forward to that. But just now I have seriously hit the jackpot and no number of exclamation marks will be able to express my fangirl glee.

So a long time ago Shakespeare wrote a play set during the Trojan War called "Troilus and Cressida." It's considered one of his problem plays and usually is pretty thoroughly ignored. I managed to find a made-for-TV production the BBC did but I've always moaned about how I would probably never get to see it live.

TURNS OUT IT IS BEING PERFORMED IN SAITAMA THIS SUMMER

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys, you guys. This in itself is amazing. But please also note:

It is being directed by Yukio Ninagawa, who in the past has directed "Orestes" and "The Greeks" - one of my favourite things ever despite the fact that I've never posted about it. I mean I own five DVDs' worth of this guy's work. In the past I have looked at his web site to see if he was working on anything I'd be able to go see. I AM STOKED!!!!!!!!

It will feature an all-male cast led by Yusuke Yamamoto, an actor I actually recognize because I have seen him in both Puzzle and Atashinchi no Danshi. I really liked him in both of those roles and am looking forward to him taking on something less comedic!

IN CONCLUSION I AM GOING TO GO SEE THIS EIGHT TIMES

AT LEAST!!!!!!!!!!

Also oh man I totally forgot until just now that this play includes my favourite ridiculous Shakespearean dialogue evar:

Pandarus: That's Helenus. I marvel where Troilus is. That's
Helenus. I think he went not forth to-day. That's Helenus.

Cressida: Can Helenus fight, uncle?

Pandarus: Helenus? no. Yes, he'll fight indifferent well. I
marvel where Troilus is. Hark! do you not hear the
people cry 'Troilus'? Helenus is a priest.

AAAAAAAAAUGH THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME I SEE HELENUS PORTRAYED IN ANYTHING EVER

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!!!!!!!!