Pray Speak What Has Happened (もしもこの世が舞台なら、 楽屋はどこにあるのだろう)

"Do not, for one repulse,

forgo the purpose that you resolved to effect."

The Tempest.

HAPPUNZAKA SHRINE

Hurry, we're late!

Coming!

Hey! Slow down!

We'll now have a purification ceremony.

After that, cleaning.

At 4:30 p.m., we'll do a sound check and adjust the lighting.

Doors open at 6:30, and the play starts at 7:00 p.m.

And the manager has bought boxed lunches for us all.

Yes!

- All right! - That's pretty rare.

Everyone, this is the start of Kube Theater Company.

Let's enjoy Shakespeare.

I'm counting on you guys!

We're a theater company?

Everyone, remember what our director has taught you

and let's do our best.

Ready?

Yes!

- Yes! - Yes!

THE BEAUTIFUL DANCERS OF WS THEATER

Hello. I'm Horai, the assistant director.

Thank you for wait--

This way, please.

Thank you.

Oh, sure.

Oh, right. Here.

That will be used for the offering.

I'm happy to help.

I'll take that.

Wow, that look really does suit you.

You look nothing like the usual perverted old man.

- We'll be starting soon, so please sit. - Okay.

- I'm going to the bathroom. - Okay.

Mountain offerings go here. Sea offerings go there.

May I ask a question?

What is it?

Do you eat those vegetables?

We gratefully will, yes.

Like in a salad?

No, game-ni .

- What's game-ni ? - It's a stew, right?

A stew?

Purification ritual.

Stop it.

Please stop!

Take this seriously or get the hell out!

For those who practice their craft in this place.

Haruo Oji,

Tony Ando,

Rika Koda,

Mone Kezune,

Folmon Suisei,

Daimon Asano, Urujii,

and Kento.

May they be safe

and healthy.

As for the incident in Los Angeles…

3 P.M. PONY

…it appears it will take some time

before the truth comes to light.

Shakespeare, huh? That's quite the shift in direction.

It's all or nothing.

Will things not go back to normal?

Now that the laws have been revised,

we can't do whatever we want anymore.

- Times have changed. - It really is a shame.

However,

I feel like someday, the law may once again change in our favor.

When it does, we can go back to our normal shows.

- Please do! - Sure.

I know you're a fan.

Excuse me.

- Hey, Patra is here. - Oh, right.

What is it?

During the purification ritual,

my name was not mentioned.

- What? - That can't be right.

I'm certain of it.

I was left out completely.

Really?

I'm not going to be cursed or anything, right?

I wasn't even screwing around.

You were!

It was clearly you.

Being scolded like that as an adult

must really sting.

You forgot this.

Have you been there the whole time?

The director has nothing to do on opening night.

I have an interview with the media later.

I'm just killing time until then.

This was left by the stage.

Thank you.

You're coming to watch, right?

I haven't decided.

I want to hear your thoughts.

- Really? - Absolutely.

- Are there tickets left? - I'll get one.

Then I'll think about it.

The show starts at 7:00. Doors open at 6:30.

Can I use the stage?

You should ask Ban.

Goodbye.

I already asked Ban. He said I could use it for ten minutes.

Oh, okay.

Don't practice too much before the show.

It means nothing if you're too tired to act.

DANKAN, RIKA, MONE, PATRA, MARIA, LUCIENNE, EMILIA, BIANCA

They're all really good people.

I wonder what they're up to.

Thank you for today.

I've seen you many times before.

You always had a placard.

I was touting.

I just can't understand this.

Getting naked in front of people for money.

How can they do that?

You see, us entertainers

tend to be capable of anything

if it will please our audience.

I think that applies to these ladies as well.

In the end, they just enjoy making others happy.

And they get money for it! What could be better than that?

It sounds great when you phrase it like that,

but aren't they just selling their bodies?

You are mistaken there.

Sure, they undress in front of people,

but they aren't being forced to.

They strip of their own volition.

You must not conflate the two.

Yes, but…

did he really have to get that angry?

Okay. I get it.

Oh, wow.

This looks like a totally different place!

Oh, what's this?

Asao drew it.

He really has good taste.

Tony, you should be helping out too.

- What have you been doing all this time? - What?

These are my lines.

Just in case I forget.

Crib notes?

Just in case.

Does he even have that many lines?

To be honest, I was shocked.

I did not expect

that this is how you would start over.

I've been through a lot,

but things are progressing

in the right direction, I think.

On top of that, doing it at a strip club is amazing.

I'm planning on making WS Theater

the cultural center of Shibuya.

I'll say this as a fan.

- That's great news. - Thanks.

To start, may I take a picture?

Of course.

Since we're here, let's…

get a picture with a dancer.

Excuse me.

- Yes? - Can you bring a dancer here?

Preferably, Rika.

CONTE OF KINGS

People from the TV station are coming?

They should be. We invited them, after all.

Won't that be a lot of people?

Looks like we'll have to give them a good show.

Hello.

Bring it over here, please.

- Here it is! - Where should I put it?

CONGRATULATIONS MONE KEZUNE

- Let's see… - Make it stand out.

Like here.

It will be in the way there.

Maybe there. No, not here.

What is this?

Excuse me.

In the center.

- No, not there. - Put it in the center, please.

Put it here, please.

- I'll help! - No, hold on.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

Could we please make this quick? I would like to warm up before the show.

How about a victory pose?

- Okay? - Sure.

Sorry, Rika was busy.

Let's hurry this up.

Excuse me, miss. You're in the frame.

Ready? Time to pose!

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM NOW PLAYING

WS THEATER

- I'll head there now. - Okay.

What's going on?

Asao needs a reversible cap for his sports day.

He waited until the day before to tell me.