Yukio Ninagawa's "Electra" has been long-awaited by many people for quite different reasons -- as was clear from the diversity of its opening-night audience last Saturday.

On one hand, generally occupying the best seats were phalanxes of eminent folk from the nation's drama world -- critics, directors, kabuki actors and the like -- drawn to this renowned director's new production in part, at least, by its leading lady Shinobu Otake who, at age 46, is among Japan's undisputed stage elite.

On the other hand, droves of young women -- many probably attending a play for the first time -- were excitedly lining up for standby tickets to enter this play's unknown (to them) world of Greek mythology. Their main aim wasn't, of course, to broaden their classical education -- but to be close to the leading man, 22-year-old Junichi Okada, a member of the pop-idol group V6, who was about to make his theatrical debut.