Japanese TraditionalTheatres
andA Shakespeare
adaptation
Theme
Brief Introduction of Japanese Traditional Theatres ; Kabuki, Noh and Kyogen
Noh Stage and the Globe theatre
Introducing a Shakespeare Adaptation in Traditional Theatre Style (Kyogen)
Traditional Theatres
Kabuki 歌舞伎
Noh & Kyogen 能と狂言 (They are played on the same stage)
Bunraku 文楽 , Joruri 浄瑠璃 (Puppet) etc..
The oldest preserved Kabuki theatre in Japan: 金丸座
Kabuki- Specific features
Famous Popular Culture
Flamboyant
Started in EDO era (1606-)
Early Girls Theatre banned by Government
Turned to the play by males
Noh 能
Left: 小面( Woman’s Mask ) Right: 般若 (Transformed Woman :Devil)
Noh- Specific features
Tragedy (Gods, Fighter, Love&Woman, Mad, Ghost)
Family Business
Ritual, Use Masks, terd by Edo King
Started 700~800? – (Origin: China)
Sophisticated to the present style by Zeami (1363-1443) in Medieval Era
Stage position; Centre actor measure his position by the 4 pillars (columns)
Noh- Stage
Itsukushima Shrine, a Noh stage build by 1680 on the beach
The ancient style open-air stage, Nara, 芝舞台
Noh Stage Roof
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Hakusan_Shrine_Nogakuden.jpg
The Globe theatrein London
https://jtwebber2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/noh-japanese-theatre/
Kyogen 狂言
Neongyoku 「寝音曲」(ねおんぎょく)の一場面
Kyogen- Specific features
Comedy (Funny, Family Drunk Episode, Lord and Sevant, Dance, etc..)
Entertainment, sometime Serious
Separate from Noh-Gaku
Clown Role =“Taro-Kaja”
Rarely use Masks
A Shakespeare adaptation
Played by a Kyogen Family
Comedy of Errors
in a Modern Theatre
the dance became famous in TV show (yayakoshiya!; How complicated!)
間違いの狂言
An adaptation of “Comedy of Errors”
狂 = Errors
狂言 = Comedy
Syracuse = Shira ( 白=White)
Antiphoius
Nanosuke White island and Black island
Dromio
Taro-Kaja of White island and Black island
Mask as representing “another man” (double act)
Mask as representing “another man” (double act)
2 worlds separated by sides
Watch Video
DVD Play(1h22m46s to 1h24m41s)
Scene of the twin brothers meet each other.