Understanding Human Nature Through Theater

Asian theater originated from ritualistic dance drama.

Dance and music play an important role in Asian theater, which is intensely

symbolic.The actors wore mask and highly

artificial mask-like make-up, whose color and appearance indicate the

character’s social statues and qualities.The design and color of costumes are

also symbolicThe stage is simple.

Female roles are normally undertaken by males.

The two most popular theatrical presentations in Asia are from Japan and Indonesia.

JAPAN HAS 3 INDIGENOUS FORM

AND THESE ARE:

NOH:The actors of the Noh theater wear

masks and speak and sing in a monotonous manner.It is usually accompanied by a chorus and traditional Japanese music. The stage is constructed outdoors, with a roof supported by four columns.

KABUKI Is the best known form of Japanese theater and the most loved by people around the world.

The individual Kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing (歌 ), dance (舞 ), and skill (伎 ). Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as "the art of singing and dancing“. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.

The three main categories of kabuki play are jidai-mono (時代物 , historical or pre-Sengoku period stories), sewa-mono (世話物 , domestic, or post-Sengoku stories) and shosagoto (所作事 , dance pieces).

Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami(Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy) is based on the life of famed scholar Sugawara no Michizane(845–903), who is exiled from Kyoto, and upon his death causes a number of calamities in the capital. He is then deified, as Tenjin. kami(divine spirit) of scholarship, and worshipped in order to propitiate his angry spirit.

Kanadehon Chūshingura (Treasury of Loyal Retainers)

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)

A traditional Japanese puppet theater. There are 3 kinds of performers. These are the puppeteers, the chanters, and the Shamisen players. 3 stringed instrument played with a pectum or bachi. They also used other instruments such

as taiko drums.

BUNRAKU: