I don't know what it is that this mangaka inhales but she's capable of producing some of the trippiest shit and I can't seem to get enough of it. Unlike Harada's school of studying the human mind at its darkest and ugliest by exposing its rawest nature, Ogawa Chise takes a different approach to the same subject matter and transforms it into the most elusive and addictive drug. You always feel like you're in a trance when you're reading her stories; there's this sort of elegance emitting not just from her art that binds and grips at you, leaving your attention mercilessly at her beck and call - it's astonishing just how much power she holds over an audience. No matter how twisted and unpleasant the stuff she comes up with can be she always has a way to present it in the most enchanting and seductive manner; I'm honestly floored by how much talent she has.

And I still haven't moved on to the story this time, which I think is one of her strongest to date. Just what is love, what is attraction, how should one come to express them, and what is the appropriate way to preserve one's love? Do you shield your beloved from being touched by anyone but you, or should you protect their purity by never tainting them with your own hands? What do you do to prevent yourself from being driven to madness by love? Reject it, or embrace it? And how to deal with the inevitable ranges of intense emotions and desires that one will come to learn on the journey of love? Ignore them, or act upon them?
And that's just barely scratching the surface of the layers and layers of hidden meanings that were packed into this compact tankoubon. It filled me with many thought-provoking philosophisical questions, studded with complex characters, and the delivery is equally exquisite. How the crisp yet subtly suffocating tone of the manga was set, how each panel was framed with utmost care to composition and details, and of course the alluring art style itself which elevated the whole thing even further - all of them were superbly executed and of top notch quality.

Not everyone will be able to get this mangaka, and it's fine. Once she gets her twisted gears running her stuff diverts far from the common fluff easily digestible to the shallow-minded mass. I pity those that miss out on her genius; it's a very fulfilling and rewarding experience when you 'click' with an author and understand their line of thinking, and are able to pick up on the little details with deeper connotations that they want to convey. Red Theatre truly is a remarkable creation all around; do not pass up on this one if you're open-minded and ready to be blown away.

Ok... So I wrote a positive review after reading chapter 1, saying that this is a really wierd story which may worth the read just for the sake of curiosity. Screw that.


... Last updated on June 25th, 2017, 4:44am

Oh dear god, I really love Ogawa Chise's work and the art style is unique and her plot with psychological problems makes it even better. But I can't deal with ukes like this, all the bloody time I was in "protect the child" mode on. I don't like when the uke degrades himself just for the sake of his beloved one, this was too much. He's so beautiful and fragile. I'm glad about his happy ending but would have been better if he ended up with somebody else.

This is a twisted, dark and convoluted story. However, what happens in chapter 4 does not mesh with this at all. I think the author was rushed to end this quickly or something...

ETA: But, damn, that extra chapter was smokin! I hope there will be more to Mikhail and Carlos' story.

... Last updated on March 3rd, 2017, 11:47pm

Well it's Ogawa's art, so it's really good. About the story, again, it's Ogawa's story, so, yeah, it is a little fucked up, but in the good way i mean haha. I like it, if you like twisted minded characters, with a sadistic/masochist personality, here's your manga.

This is so dark and so twisted (really, really twisted) but also sweet, it has everything I was looking for, was not disappointed 10/10 would recommend 👌💕

Just when you think that Ogawa-sensei's work can't get any darker, here she is with another even more twisted story. A no-name Vietnamese shoemaker pursues his dream of creating popular high-heeled shoes. To achieve his dream he joins a luxury shoe brand and as the ghost designer, he pimps out their heir (who has a fragile mentality) to rich, influential old-men that help him promote the brand even more. Just because the shoemaker uses fancy words to describe his reasoning doesn't justify his actions or turn this story into a bubbly romance. Please note that in all smut scenes up to ch.2 the only guys who get to do it with the heir are far too ugly and lewd.

Update: I was very harsh with my previous critique BUUUUUT I read the ending and reconsidered... I loved how they left everything behind to achieve happiness together in the French countryside.
What I loved the most, though, was the last story about Yuriy's uncle and the only male lover he had in his life. Their story was short but impactful, the smut scenes were delicious (!!!!!!) and I wish Ogawa-sensei could make a whole volume just for these two. I can't put into words how happy this last chapter made me...

... Last updated on March 15th, 2017, 1:29pm

It's so sad , everything about it so sad , twisted and tragic. so the happy ending of them just spoiled whole story and so unfit, basically ruined the story for me.
+ I love extra more than main story fr, so good and they got chemistry unlike main couple, so hot I want moreee. bc of them I give it a high rating.

... Last updated on August 26th, 2022, 12:49pm

Great. Totally into this rendition of the The Red Shoes ballet, I totally love what artists do with this ballet's story because is such an exploration into characters obsession's and how far we are wiling to go.

... Last updated on November 16th, 2021, 6:15pm

Thank you for another one work that is far from what I already saw. I'm tired of average plotless stories with shitty art and dumb characters so thank you for bringing me joy. It's a wonderful manga made for rather older audience.