Japanese Theatre Theatre History

Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays Based on ritual Much like the Chinese theatre in content and form Short Serious Philosophical Used poetry and dance

Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays Formal, classic language Meant only for the aristocrats Still done today Remarkably unchanged

Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays Dance style: Used a series of sedate postures Each movement meant something specific Even small hand or finger movements were important

Japanese Theatre-Stage Specific stage size: - 18’ x 18’ square - audience on three sides - performed outside originally - roof like a Shinto shrine - floor supported by 4 pillars - floor is highly polished lacquer

Japanese Theatre-Stage -large hollow jars for support to create a unique sound on stage - actors often thumped floor to get an effect - entered from greenroom along a corridor - each character bowed to audience - chorus of 6-8 - men only as actors

Japanese Theatre-scenery and costumes Usually a tapestry on back wall A tree was always a part of the scene Items suggested symbols/actions Costumes: ornate CHARACTERS: Major actors wore large wooden masks 15 standard masks used in Noh theatre

gigaku Bugaku gyodo Noh masks hannya mask. The person who wears this mask is supposed to play a jealous and evil woman who has turned into a demon gigaku Bugaku gyodo Noh masks The shikami masks are used as the demon masks. Ko-omote is another Noh theatre mask. This represents a young woman who is calm. The Ko-omote mask represents the traditional Heian beauty featuring shaved eyebrows, blackened teeth, and neat hair. Otoko masks are the masks that young men wear chujo mask is another mask worn by a young male. These masks have very light skin and high eyebrows as well as black teeth,-considered beautiful

Full Noh Costume of Shikami

Japanese Theatre-Kyogn Comedic interlude to the Noh plays Farcical No music 5 Noh plays and 3 Kyogen plays were given

Japanese Theatre-Kabuki Theatre for the common man Song and dance used Melodramatic Subject matter: - heavy tension-filled tragedies - realistic suicides, murders, torture - love triangles - demons and grotesque dramas

Japanese Theatre-Kabuki Stage: - a large platform- but no pillars, roof, or bridge - entered from audience on a flowerway - stage had trapdoors Characters/costumes: - lavish costumes - characters wore huge wigs (up to 25 pounds)

Japanese Theatre-Bunraku 17th Century Doll theatre 4 foot tall dolls as actors Very realistic Narrators told story Puppeteers wore black- not seen as part of action

Banraku puppets

Japanese Theatre- Kabuki and Noh actors - acting skill all important - men who were good at impersonating women - few women still involved in this art form - passed along family lines- lifelong passion

Japanese Theatre- Websites: http://www.micheleyounglive.com/costumes.htm Next- Chinese Theatre