>Let's size up those present, and see their potential for roles.
>Your ability to gauge the acting potential is rather limited by the fact that you've never seen any of them act before. But your intuition has seldom let you down before (not often, anyway) so you let that guide your impressions. Leraije certainly has a good acting voice- at least, she'd have no trouble making herself heard. And she seemed animated in her description of her duel with Ranka. There might be an actor lurking in that one.
>Nyx has a pleasant enough voice, but that by no means she could make a good actor or singer. She does have musical talent, at least with instruments, so even if she isn't the sort to be on stage, she would do well in an orchestra.
>As much as you'd like to be able to work with Rei, if you're honest with yourself, you doubt she has the focus and emotional control for any sort of stage work right now. You know she would definately try, if Eriza ordered her too, but that doesn't mean it would be a successful experiment. Especially when you consider that proximity to you is plainly causing her a great deal of discomfort.
>Youmu is a bit too stiff, too serious, to be an actor, nor can you really picture her as a singer. The other samurai, the Countess' Sei, is likely cut from the same bolt of cloth, so that probably rules her out as well. Likewise with Honoka. She has a passion for fair fights, but how you could turn that to the stage, that baffles you.
>Ranka has potential, you think, if you can get her to stay still and focused long enough. Opera, though, might not be her forte, you have to admit. She strikes you more as the 'pop idol' type than the 'opera' type. Still, it may be worth investigating.
>Reisen.... now she has potential. Despite her claim, you have the impression that she has a perfectly lovely singing voice. But she is somewhat modest, so getting her involved in an opera might take a bit of work on your part. Perhaps you could go through Eirin. Dealing with that Lunarian wouldn't be your first choice, but considering Reisen's evident loyalty to her Master, Reisen would go along with it if Eirin ordered her to.
>Shou herself may or may not have the opera in her, but her presence does remind you of something Byakuren said when you were at the Myoren temple before. That organization seems to have made it their mission to help all youkai however they can. That would certainly include helping Eriza and her crew acclimate to Gensokyo. They'd certainly see the value in a show of this sort.
>Chuckle slightly. "Opera's little more than singing spiritedly in a way really, even a child could do it. But I suppose you could say that I do like moving from one goal to the next. What better way to get the Keep integrated quicker, without needing to wait for Eriza to recover much? Opera's a low-exertion task after all, you simply need to be able to sing."
>"Opera is, simply put, telling a story via song. That sort of thing is common throughout the outside world, in the form of Chinese Opera, and various Oral Traditions. In fact, it is from those roots that what is now known as Modern Opera sprouted."
>Smirk a bit. "A lady like myself would simply have to know these things after all. I'm sure you know how it is, Eriza?"
>"Sing and act, and dance, as I recall." Eriza adds. "Depending on the show, of course. And operatic singing is a bit more demanding than your average English ballad, let us be fair, Remilia."
>Eriza smiles somewhat wistfully. "The opera was always more of my husband's interest, and my sire's, as well. I haven't seen an opera myself since... I believe it was 1797, when I saw a production of The Barber of Seville. A friend of mine was one of the performers."
>"It was 1795, Countess." Sei corrects absently, the first words you've actually heard her say. "When we were in Sofia."
