Shinohara Ryoko to star in new stage play "Anna Christie" along with Sato Ryuta

Shinohara Ryoko will be starring in the new stage play "Anna Christie" at Yomiuri Otemachi hall from 13 July to 29 July which marks her first leading role in a stage play. The details of the Osaka leg of the performance will be announced later. The play was published in 1921 by Nobel Literature Award winner and American playwright Eugene O'Neill which also won the Pulitzer Prize. It was made into a movie in 1930 starring Greta Garbo.

The story talks about how Chris, the captain of a collier, reunites with his daughter Anna (Shinohara) for the first time in 15 years and the two of them start living together on his ship. One day, they happen to save Mat (Sato Ryuta), a stoker, from a wandering ship. Anna and Mat later fall in love with each other but he leaves her after she tells him about her past. This will be the first time that this story is performed in Japan.

Shinohara who last appeared in a stage play 13 years ago, commented that she wanted to seek a new type of stimulation through this play and was very excited about working with her co-stars and the staff in making this wonderful story a success. With regard to working with Sato for the first time, Shinohara commented that he is very cheerful, considerate and humble guy and she could feel his passion for the play when they were taking photos for the play. As such, she felt that it would be a stimulating experience to be working alongside him.

On the other hand, Sato revealed that he was very nervous about standing on stage and felt like running away as the days went by. He described his character as someone who he has never played before and felt that it was challenging for him to take this on. Although it had been a tough time so far, he hoped to be able to enjoy the experience and make the play a success.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon