The Theaterverse Explained (worldbuilding)

[SparklingBlue]

Basically, the theaterverse is a what if exploration as to what would happen if Ash and the gang were pro actors in an ancient form of Wakunese (Poke-Japan, for the curious) theater that is basically Chinese opera, Japanese kabuki, a dash of the Takarazuka Revue (and shows inspired by it, such as Revue Starlight, Kageki Shoujo!!, and World Dai Star), and martial arts movies, TV shows, and novels ran through a blender.

In addition to that, many European countries also have grand theater traditions (so it makes sense the Europan tours start in Paldea)--and it's just great fun seeing the Pokemon cast as actors!

We've seen on the show on multiple occasions that the characters are very capable performers--so this was the logical next step.

In the stories, the Elite Eight (Ash, Misty, Brock, Serena, May, Dawn, Liko, and Roy), are part of their own theater company, named the Kagayou (shimmering, or sparkling). The company is in turn divided into seven troupes, which are:

--Niji (rainbow)
--Akai (red)
--Toukou (orange)
--Kii (yellow)
--Midori (green)
--Aoi (blue)
--Murasaki (purple)

The Kagayou's home base is in Pallet Town, but the seven troupes of the company travel around the Pokeworld. Our heroes are the eight stars of the Niji (rainbow) Troupe. The other troupes are referred to, but for simplicity's sake, we focus on the Niji Troupe. This is not to say they don't perform with the other troupes--collabs have happened with other troupes and other companies.

 

[SparklingBlue]

What is the Tawame style of theater?


The Tawame style of theater is a larger than life ancient theater that was (and still is) popular across Waku (the super-region that Kanto, Johto, Houen, Shinou, and Kitakami are a part of in my imagined Pokeworld). It is characterized by epic plots (many of which prove that plotlines seen in The Legend of Zelda and similar games actually have ancient origins in this Pokeworld), martial arts with flowery names that border on magic, elaborate sets and costumes, music, dance, stage combat, and acrobatics galore, and even aquatic acts and live Pokemon (though most Pokemon are portrayed as gijinkas by live actors, or puppets)

While many places across Waku have at least one troupe in residence (which may have several subtroupes), many more travel around the world.

The Tawame theater also has a devoted following in other parts of the world, with many of the thousands of known plays translated into English, Kalosian, and other languages every year. There is a growing demand for them to be performed in other languages, but most troupes across Waku will perform them in English.

A Tawame play often runs for much longer than a typical Western musical, so fans should be prepared for a three to four hour experience. Many plays often run longer than that, but many of the longer plays often have abridged versions that cut unimportant or irrelevant parts of the story. Many plays also have school appropriate versions for school Tawame troupes to perform.

High adventure, excitement, and happy endings are the order of the day in the Tawame theater--it is very bad luck to portray tragic endings on the Tawame stage.

 

[SparklingBlue]

The Kagayou Theater


The Kagayou Theater is a Tawame troupe based in Pallet Town, Kanto. The company's name can mean "shimmering" or "sparkling", referring to the lavish dazzling productions they perform. In addition to many successful shows around Kanto, they have successfully toured Waku three times, Paldea, Kalos, Talie, and Galar, with more tours in other regions and at home in Waku to come in the future.

The company is divided into seven troupes--the Niji (rainbow) troupe, where our heroes perform; the Akai (red) troupe; the Toukou (orange) troupe; the Kii (yellow) troupe; the Midori (green) troupe; the Aoi (blue) troupe; and the Murasaki (purple) troupe. This means the company has seven shows going at one time. Each troupe has their own schedule of shows, but there are certain times of year where all seven troupes work together to put on a grand joint production.

When the company is touring, they stay for a week at each theater, allowing each troupe to put on a unique show. However, if the week is very successful, the company will be asked to stay longer.

Our heroes play specific roles within the Niji troupe:

--Ash and Serena are the lead actors for the troupe (the lead male actor is the yuushi; and the lead female actor is the eiyuna.), meaning they will typically play the main parts. Sometimes someone different will play the lead, but they still play an important role in the story.

--Misty tends to play strong heroic female roles (known as bushihime, or "warrior-princess" roles). Sometimes, she will play the lead, but typically her characters are allies, guardians, gods, and spirits.

--Brock will usually narrate the plays, but he is technically a houkaku actor. Houkaku literally means 'wanderer', but in the Tawame theater, it means an actor or actress versatile enough to play many different types of roles. This means that Brock can narrate one play, play a comic role in another, and the hero in a third play.

--May tends to play sweet natured and softspoken hime roles; but she can also play comical, or doukeshi roles, and the occasional heroic role.

--Dawn is also a houkaku performer, like Brock; but she tends to gravitate towards strong female roles like Misty.

--Liko lies somewhere in between a hime role type, and heroic role type, but leans more on the heroic side of the spectrum, similar to May. There are some that would argue that Liko is a shidou, or "wisdom" role type, as she has played a lot of wise characters, mystics, oracles, and sages.

--Roy tends to play bodyguard, or shinpei roles, which can sometimes overlap as a heroic role. As the yang to Liko's yin, he is a fan favorite actor with his agile unarmed fighting skills (combining elements of Western fighting arts with Eastern martial arts), agility, and comical skills.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Ash, The Yuushi

As the yuushi, or lead actor, of the Niji Troupe along with Serena, Ash is easily one of the faces of the troupe, often appearing with Brock and Serena to promote the company. He enjoys playing bold and brash characters, as much as he enjoys comical and energetic characters. But for all the power his roles tend to bring, he knows when his role has to be quiet, reflective, and/or serious. But even in the quiet moments, his courage and joy in making people happy shines through in every role he plays, recurring character or not.

Many say that Ash is the very picture of the yuushi in the Tawame theater--powerful, yet gentle, brave and yet wise; and an unflinching commitment to doing the right thing--even if that means stepping on a few toes along the way. He has a powerful voice, wields the bansi (the ancient Wakunese flute similar to the Chinese dizi) as easily as the knuckle, the sword and the bow, and his characters will do everything they can to see truth, justice, light, and goodness prevail, often alongside the eiyuna or some other kind of sidekick.

Ash's skills as the yuushi include:


--voice (high tenor)
--flutes (both the side blown bansi and the end blown kidi)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, sword, and bow)
--acrobatics (his signature move is a trampoline leap he calls "the fireball", but fans have nicknamed "the Sonic" due to its resemblance to Sonic the Hedgehog--or Sonic the Zoroark, as he is called in this Pokeworld; gathering speed)
--Pokemon skills (his faithful Pikachu Tintri will occasionally appear in a show, in addition to a few of his recurring characters being Pikachus)


Some of Ash's recurring characters include:

--Ruby Phoenix, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Scarlet Phoenix, a major character in the "Jade Mountain" series of novels
--Suzaku the Red Phoenix (one of the Four Guardian Gods of mythology)
--Son Goku (the Infernape trickster of 'Journey to the West' fame)
--Tachigami, the sword wielding Noble Pikachu of the Zodiac
--Kongou, a sword wielding Shiny Pikachu
--Chun, the Red Dragon (an incarnation of the red dragon mahjong tile)
--Touki, an energetic and happy-go-lucky member of the Demon Slaying Corps who is as skilled with a flute as he is with a sword
--Kakusei, the hero from the Wakunese epic martial arts novel "The Travels of Kakusei and Kouyou"
--Kaname, a ninja of the Fire Clan
--Taira no Koremochi, a samurai remembered in Wakunese history as "The Demon Slayer" for slaying many monsters and evil people

Ash has also tried his hand at writing and directing a play, successfully writing and staging the play "Silver Sorcerer of the Song". While he did enjoy directing, he won't be giving up acting anytime soon.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Misty, the Bushihime

Within a Tawame play are girls that would rather fight than wait to be rescued, and prove handily that a girl can be a hero as much as a guy--they are the bushihime. Literally meaning "warrior-princess", this role type is a specific subtype of the eiyuna, usually serving as a companion, sidekick, or some other kind of major support role. In some plays, they may be the female lead. But not all bushihime are bold and brash roles, like the yuushi and eiyuna--some of them are gods, spirits and larger than life guides to the rest of the cast.

For Misty, she relishes playing the bold and brash form of the bushihime, but also knows better than to upstage Ash, Serena, or anyone else playing the lead parts. She also enjoys playing dragons. and dragon-born characters, many of which prefer to wield the twin blades, in addition to fighting unarmed and with one handed swords. Some bushihime roles may also require archery proficiency too. Thanks to her love for the water, she tends to also play water gods and spirits.

Misty's skills as a bushihime actress include:

--voice (alto)
--fiddle/violin (it is becoming increasingly common to see the modern violin on the Tawame stage in place of the tikin, the traditional Wakunese three stringed fiddle. Misty is not opposed to playing a number from her vast repertoire of traditional tunes if there is a delay in the performance)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, sword, twinblades, and bow)
--acrobatics (mainly to add flair during fights)
--aquatics
--Pokemon skills (some of her Pokemon seen in shows include Ariel the Vaporeon, Mele the Primarina, and Ami the Marill)

Some of Misty's recurring characters include:

--Sapphire Dragon, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Jade Dragon, one of the two main characters in the "Jade Mountain" series of novels
--Seiryu the Blue Dragon (one of the Four Guardian Gods in mythology)
--Toyotama (the daughter of Seiryu that serves as the Noble Gyarados in the Pokemon Zodiac)
--Sha Gojyo (the water-priestess from 'Journey to the West')
--Mizuka, a wandering warrior from the Wakunese epic martial arts novel "The Travels of Kakusei and Kouyou"
--Kotomi, the brave and charismatic leader of the Demon Slaying Corps (her most iconic role)
--Minami, a ninja of the Water Clan

Misty has also tried her hand at writing and directing a play, successfully writing and staging the play "The Journey to Twin Dragon Mountain". She enjoyed the experience, and would happily direct again if the right play presented itself.

 

[K_S]

The sheer amount of nod to the anime in misty's profile alone is amazing, thanks for sharing all your hard work its fun to go over.

 

[SparklingBlue]

@K_S

Thanks--all eight will eventually be profiled (although I will have to write up Liko's and Roy's from scratch, since Horizons hadn't yet been announced when I made these)

Brock's profile is up next!

 

[SparklingBlue]

Brock, the Versatile Storyteller

As the leader of the Niji Troupe, Brock often appears to promote the troupe alongside Ash and Serena. He will usually narrate the plays, but he is also a houkaku actor, meaning he can play many different kinds of roles.

As narrator of the troupe, Brock is one of the few allowed to play the vina, the ancient Wakunese harp that has long been revered as a solo instrument and as the narrator's instrument on the ancient stage. He is an accomplished vina soloist, and has won many prizes for his beautiful and exquisite playing. He also voices any male puppets used an a play (someone else voices female characters).

Onstage, he tends to gravitate towards musicians, hunters, guardian gods, mystics, leaders (not just kings and emperors, but officials, sect leaders, and magistrates too), and sometimes heroic roles. While his characters are typically quiet and softspoken, he can play a bold and brash arrow slinging hero if a play requires it. He doesn't mind if he has the lead role or a bit part--he will give his all to any role he is asked to play. Many of his characters function as both the narrator and a character.

Brock's skills as a houkaku actor include:

--voice (a true tenor with some baritone range)
--mimicry (this is why some fans have nicknamed him "The Boy of a Million Voices")
--vina (a skilled narrator and three time champion soloist)
--suji (an ancient Wakunese lute similar to a guitar)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, bow, and one handed sword)
--acrobatics
--trick archery
--Pokemon skills (his normal Vulpix Hinata, his Alolan Vulpix Yuki, and his Dusk Lycanroc Rocky are most likely to appear in plays, but his Decidueye Kia'i and his Leafeon Willow have made appearances too)


Some of Brock's recurring characters include:

--Emerald Raikou, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Golden Raikou, one of the two main characters in the "Jade Mountain" series of novels
--Genbu the Black Torterra (one of the Four Guardian Gods from mythology)
--Gekigami, the bow wielding Noble Raikou of the Pokemon Zodiac
--Triptaka, the heroic monk of "Journey to the West" (playing the straight man to Ash's Son Goku)
--Haku, the White Dragon (an incarnation of the white dragon mahjong tile)
--Kotoya, the minstrel from the Kantonian epic martial arts novel "The Travels of Kakusei and Kouyou" that is often both the narrator and a character
--Denji, a third dan black belt Raikou kung fu master (which he admits was based on himself)
--Niko, an archer character that usually draws on Raikou's power
--Haru, a scout for the Demon Slaying Corps
--Reiji, a ninja of the Earth Clan

Brock has recently had a chance to write and direct a play, successfully writing and staging the play "The Rainbow Prince and the Golden Beautifly" not long after a trip to the Lental region with Ash and Misty. He has said he loved the experience, and looks forward to being able to direct again in the future. He is also in the process of writing a second play inspired by a memorable encounter while in Lental--"Fire of the Sacred Volcarona ".

 

[SparklingBlue]

Serena, the Eiyuna

As the eiyuna, or lead actress, of the Niji Troupe, Serena is one of the faces of the troupe, often appearing with the boys for publicity. As is traditional with a yuushi and eiyuna, she and Ash are never apart for very long. But her most iconic role isn't one of her recurring characters or one of the many leading ladies she has played--it is Kitsune, the divine Delphox in Pokeworld lore that is both a guide and a trickster.

Strong and agile, Serena's best known and favorite act to perform as the eiyuna is the ribbon dance, and many of her characters often channel magic through dance. But while her characters may also wield a ribbon as a whip-like weapon, she is also adept in swordplay and archery, with many calling her fights "poetry in motion". In addition to heroines, she also enjoys playing tricksters, and comic roles. She has also tried her hand at narrating a few plays, so Brock could play a character.

Serena's skills as the eiyuna include:

--voice (a strong and heroic soprano)
--mandolin (it is becoming increasingly common to see the modern mandolin on the Tawame stage in place of the moji, a small lute in Wakunese traditional music that along with the mandolin-like kanegen, were the traditional heroine's instruments)
--fiddle/violin (she has successfully worked gypsy jazz from her adopted home of Kalos into several plays--she has found that the suji and the modern violin sound good together.
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, ribbon, war fan, bow, and one handed sword)
--acrobatics
--Pokemon skills (her faithful Braxien Krystal will often appear with her in plays.)

Some of Serena's recurring characters include:

--Golden Delphox, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Violet Delphox, a major character in the "Jade Mountain" series of novels
--Kitsune, the divine Delphox that serves as envoy to Arceus and a guide to heroes
--Byakko the White Raikou (one of the Four Guardian Gods from mythology)
--Kouyou, the heroine from the Kantonian epic martial arts novel "The Travels of Kakusei and Kouyou"
--Hatsu, the Green Dragon (an incarnation of the green dragon mahjong tile)
--Kannon, the goddess of goodness and mercy in mythology
--Otora Gitsune, a warrior Delphox from mythology said to protect all who fight for peace and justice
--Maria, a foreign born (but implied to be what is today Kalos) swordswoman in the Demon Slaying Corps; who considers ancient Kanto her adopted home--a skilled dancer, martial artist, and tactician.
--Konoha, a wise scholar Delphox from mythology
--Kazegami, the Noble Ponyta of the Zodiac
--Hitomi, a ninja of the Sun Clan

Serena has said she would jump at the chance to write or direct a play.

 

[SparklingBlue]

May, the Heroic Hime

One of the newer members of the Niji Troupe, May has proven herself a versatile actress, playing everything from princesses in need of rescue to heroic roles, such as Moegami, the Noble Combusken of the Zodiac. But she tends to gravitate towards the sweet and softspoken characters in a play, making her less of a houkaku and more of a hime, or "princess" actor. While she has only been part of the troupe for a short time, she has already started building up a stable of recurring characters for herself.

But sometimes, a princess has to fight, and May has proven herself highly agile, drawing on her skills as a coordinator to create fights that are both exciting and beautiful. So while she does tend to play dancing princesses with ribbons and fans, sometimes the dance is deadly to the forces of evil! Many of her characters are Beautiflies, or have Beautifly motifs, in honor of her free spirit and quiet strength. When she does get a chance to play the hero, her heroes are energetic and joyful, like the Combusken. But one of her most famous roles is Jirachi, the Wish-Maker Pokemon, which she dedicated to Max, and her adventure with Ash and Brock in reliving the story of the Millennium Comet.

May's skills as a hime actress include:

--voice (a sweet and beautiful soprano)
--mandolin (it is becoming increasingly common to see the modern mandolin on the Tawame stage in place of the moji, a small lute in Wakunese traditional music that along with the mandolin-like kanegen, were the traditional heroine's instruments)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, ribbon, war fan, dagger, one handed sword--is open to learning archery)
--acrobatics
--Pokemon skills (her Beautifly Niji and her Glaceon Neva are known to appear in plays)

Some of May's recurring characters include:

--Jade Beautifly, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Kichou, a Beautifly goddess that often serves as a guide
--Jouga, the Lunar Beautifly in mythology
--Moegami, the Noble Combusken of the Zodiac
--Chirin, a Shiny Beautifly spirit who gets her name from her sparkling wings
--Souna, a mystic in the Demon Slaying Corps who can channel magic through music
--Jirachi, the Wish-Maker Pokemon (she dedicates each time she plays this role to Max)
--Risa, a ninja of the Flower Clan

She has said she would love to write or direct a play one day.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Dawn, the Versatile Heroine

Another relatively new member of the Niji Troupe, Dawn eagerly joined the company for its first Shinou tour, and never looked back. Since the tour, she has come into her own as a versatile actress that sometimes moonlights as a director. But her most beloved and iconic role is Kanade, the warrior-miko of Wakunese mythology. Like Ash, she prefers to play strong roles, but is not opposed to playing princesses if need be--her portrayal of Princess Kinari in 'The Princess of the Gold Palace" put her name out as one to watch for Tawame fans across the world.

Like her friend and fellow coordinator May, Dawn draws on her skills as a coordinator to create fights that are both exciting and beautiful to watch. Even though she still has a lot to learn, she is combining Ash's love for brave and heroic characters with the gentle and softspoken heroes with an occasional bite that Brock tends to play, creating a style and voice all her own. She and May are never apart for long, so it is no surprise they tend to play best friends.

Dawn's skills as a houkaku actress include:

--voice (a strong soprano, but not as powerful as Serena)
--vina (as sometimes Kanade or another miko character will narrate a play)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner.)
--stage combat (unarmed, one handed sword, bow)
--acrobatics
--Pokemon skills (her Piplup Kori is known to appear in plays)

Some of Dawn's recurring characters include:

--Pearl Deerling, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Kanade, the brave warrior-miko of mythology
--Yumigami, the Noble Buneary of the Zodiac
--the Jade Empress, one of the rulers of the heavens in Wakunese myth
--Mihou, a miko in the Demon Slaying Corps who has extensive knowledge on all manner of yokai
--Mizuki, a spirit of the moon and the name of a ninja character in the Moon Clan

Dawn has also tried her hand at writing and directing a play, successfully writing and staging the play "The Ten Jade Heroes". She has said that she still has more ideas, and looks forward to directing again.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Liko, the Heroine With Heart

One of the Niji Troupe's two newest stars, Liko has come into her own as an actress, drawing on her experience in the Naranja Academy's theater department to create some memorable characters of her own. While she considers herself a houkaku actress with emphasis on heroic roles, there are some that would argue that Liko is a shidou, or "wisdom" role type, as she has played a lot of wise characters, mystics, oracles, and sages.

She is never without her cherished heart pendant--which has come to be seen as the troupe's good luck charm. The prop crew noticed this, and made Liko a full set of heart pendants--sho she would always have one to match any role she had to play, (it helps that a lot of her roles have pendants that are important to the plot, similar to her's and Roy's adventures offstage)

Liko's skills as a houkaku actress (so far)

--voice (a strong mezzo soprano on the soprano side)
--music (flutes, including the Western concert flute, tin whistle, and her ocarina. She is also known to play guitar)
--dancing (both alone and with a partner)
--stage combat (chakrams, one handed sword, and some archery skill)
--acrobatics
--Pokemon skills (her Sprigatito partner Fern is known to appear in plays)

Some of Liko's recurring characters include:

Amethyst Braviary, one of the Eight Noble Spirits of folklore
Suzune, a bell goddess
Exalted Snow, a recurring sword-dancer character
Wandering Braviary, a mystic dancer
Yukina, a ninja of the Snow Clan
Violet Braviary, one of Liko's recurring swordswoman characters
Mikaze, the Hisuian Braviary goddess in Wakunese mythology
Verdant Braviary, a recurring acrobatic role
Bright Aurora, one of Liko's recurring swordswoman characters
Chirei, the heroine of a well known folktale
Master Radiant Snow, her martial master character
Kaori, a new recruit to the Demon Slaying Corps that is eager to prove herself as a capable demon slayer.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Roy, the Energetic Guardian

One of the Niji Troupe's two newest stars, Roy easily made a name for himself in the Naranja's theater department playing both energetic and serious roles. He tends to play bodyguard, or shinpei roles, which can sometimes overlap as a heroic role. While he is nowhere near Ash's skill level yet in music, comedy, and battle, he is quickly becoming one of the Niji Troupe's fan favorite actors, and a name to watch in the wider Tawame world.

But when this happy-go-lucky Mightyena has to fight, he needs nothing more than his fists. fans and critics alike have raved about Roy's powerful and athletic fighting, combining Western boxing with Eastern martial arts to make a style all his own. Roy is quick to point out that he is not actually harming the fight actors--it is the effects and sound that sell his lightning-fast punches to audiences.

Roy's skills as a shinpei actor include (so far):

--voice (almost a high tenor, but not as high as Ash)
--music (he has used his own acoustic guitar in plays, mainly to accompany Liko dancing)
--comedy
--athletic skills
--stage combat (is a skilled unarmed fighter, but has some sword skill--wants to learn archery)
--Pokemon skills (his Wattrel Relam has made a few appearances with him onstage)

Some of Roy's recurring characters include:

--Garnet Mightyena, one of the Noble Spirits of Pokeworld folklore
--Brave Thunder, one of his recurring guardian characters
--Raiki, a thunder god
--Virtuous Thunder, one of his warrior characters
--Great Mightyena, one of his recurring companion characters
--Hiiro, an imperial prince
--Scarlet Mightyena, one of his recurring guardian characters
--Moro, a Mightyena guardian character
--Brave Mightyena, one of his warrior characters
--Azuma, a ninja of the Thunder Clan
--Noble Mightyena, one of his recurring guardian characters
--Heavenly Thunder, one of his warrior characters
--Ginrou, a Mightyena god character
--Araki, a former ninja that was recruited to the Demon Slaying Corps
--Master Enlightened Mightyena, his martial master character

 

[SparklingBlue]

Tawame Theater Superstitions: Averting Tragedy

Like any theater tradition around the Pokeworld, there are always superstitions said to bring good luck or ward off bad luck, and some unfortunate actions or events that portend bad luck. The most well known in the Tawame tradition is the play "The Two Heroes" (or "The Hero From Near and the Hero From Afar" in its more tragic variations).

In most versions of the story, the girl is foretold to "grow up fairer than the children of men. Her beauty shall shine as the beauty of an earthly deity. Every man who looks upon her shall pine with love and longing, and when she is fifteen years old, two heroes will seek her, and both will win her. There will be great rejoicing because of her, loud and joyous, so that the sound of it shall reach even heaven itself."

Some versions take a more tragic slant to the prophecy, saying that "there shall die for her sake a mighty hero from near, and a valiant hero from afar. And there shall be sorrow and mourning because of her, loud and grievous, so that the sound of it shall reach even heaven itself."

Not surprisingly, the happier version is more popular with audiences, but the tragic version has its fans as well. Many say that the tragic version of the story is "one of the hardest plays in the Gekijou canon to perform and watch." But those troupes that can perform the tragic version well are often revered as a great troupe (although there are many that don't perform the tragic version out of respect for superstition--as it is seen as the Gekijou and Tawame equivalent of "Macbeth")

There are ways to tell both versions apart--the happier versions are often titled "The Two Heroes" or "The Quest of the Two Heroes", while the tragic version often has a longer title--"The Hero From Near and the Hero From Afar". Much like Pokeworld actors often refer to "Macbeth" as 'that North Galarian play' or 'the North Galarian play' to avoid bad luck, Gekijou actors (who are often more willing to perform tragedies) refer to this story's tragic version as 'the play of the faithful heroes'. to avoid bad luck. (Tawame troupes, such as the Kagayou, will not even perform the tragic version at all out of respect for the supposed curse, and that tradition's general avoidance of tragedy).

History has hundreds of documented accounts of real life tragedy because of the tragic version of the story, from ruined productions, to ruined troupes, to actors and actresses cut down in their prime, all because they tried to stage this version of the story.

The group is very well aware of the tragic version's dark history, and are very careful to only name the play as 'the play of the faithful heroes' when telling audiences and theater fans about the tragic version. If someone does slip and say "The Hero From Near and the Hero From Afar", the best way to ward off and prevent the curse is to submerge themselves in water, clothes and all (symbolically drowning the curse like the characters in the story). If a pool or a body of water is not available to do this, then pouring a bucket of water over the offender is an acceptable alternative. Most Gekijou actors that perform tragedies refer to this process as "dunking".

Of the group, only Brock has been "dunked". Both times he was dunked were accidents--each time when he slipped and accidentally named the play during a lecture (Ash and the girls waited to do the dunking until after the lecture was over)

In the happier version, the two heroes each go on two separate quests to prove their love for the girl--so rather than fight over who "rightfully" won the girl, the three main characters form a mutual friendship instead of a romantic relationship. In many versions of the happier version, the girl is an equally capable fighter herself, and the three characters usually go on a grand quest to save the land (usually to slay some evil dragons, or take down an evil sect.)

When the Kagayou does perform the happier version of the story, Ash and Ethan play the two heroes to Serena's heroine.