| Comments |
A special Kabuki program staged in Tachikawa at the Tachikawa Stage Garden sponsored by the Tachihi Group.
Goaisatsu | Kaisetsu: a kind of kôjô.
Soga no Taimen: this is one of the oldest and most classical of all
Kabuki plays. In the Edo period, every January, plays appeared about the vendetta
carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô after eighteen years of hardship.
In "Soga no Taimen" the brothers confront Kudô Suketsune, the man responsible for
their father's death. More ceremony than play, it features each of the important
Kabuki character types, including the bombastic aragoto
style of Gorô and the soft wagoto style
of Jûrô. This month features a cast headed by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Kudô
and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Ichikawa Danko as Gorô and
Nakamura Kazutarô as Jûrô.
Featuring Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya and Ichikawa En'ya as
Kobayashi no Maizuru, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover),
the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).
Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Ichikawa Chûsha) has been exiled to Devil's Island for
plotting against the dictator Kiyomori. A pardon is given to his fellow conspirators, but
Shunkan is only saved by an additional pardon given by Kiyomori's compassionate son. Even so,
he gives up his place on the boat to freedom so his companion's new wife can accompany
her husband back to the capital. The boat leaves and Shunkan is left watching is disappear
in the distance, knowing he will be left on the island forever.
Featuring Ichikawa En'ya as the evil emissary Senoo and Ichikawa Emisaburô as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon.
With Nakamura Kazutarô as the island girl Chidori, Ichikawa Seiko as Taira no Yasuyori and Ichikawa Danko as Fujiwara no Naritsune,
Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.
Kumo no Hyôshimai:
(The Dance of the Spider-Woman)
One of the
favorite themes for the gala performances that would open a theatre year was the
general Yorimitsu and his work in vanquishing ghosts and mysterious creatures.
This particular dance is one of the oldest classics in the repertory,
but only the music remains and what is presented today is a spectacular modern
staging. The general Yorimitsu and his retainers Sadamitsu and Kintoki are keeping
guard over the palace over the Kazan retired emperor and are astonished to find
a mysterious woman in the mansion. She wants to see Yorimitsu's precious sword
and they dance rhythmically to the names of famous sword makers,
and with beautiful branches of cherry blossoms. But she is actually the spirit of the
earth spider who is trying to capture Yorimitsu and make him her retainer and
the dance ends with revealing her true form and fighting with magical spider webs.
Starring Nakamura Kazutarô in the role of the spirit of the earth spider.
Featuring Ichikawa Emiya in the role of Minamoto Raikô. Featuring also
Ichikawa En'ya and Ichikawa Danko as the shitennô Sakata Kintoki and Usui Sadamitsu.
Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
|
