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Part
I (from 11:00 AM):
ONAGORI KOBIKI NO DAMMARI 【A Dammari
in farewell to Kabuki-za】
Earphone-Guide Commentator: Dixon
A dammari is a fight in the dark where all the characters
grope in the dark over some key object. This particular dammari
is filled with the larger-than-life characters of kabuki and
features Living National Treasure Shikan and the younger stars
of kabuki to say farewell to Kabuki-za in this final month of
performances before it closes for rebuilding.
from ICHINOTANI FUTABA GUNKI
KUMAGAI JINYA 【Kumagai’s Battle Camp】
Commentator: Cavaye
This play is a dramatization of the clash between the Genji
general Kumagai and the Heike warrior Atsumori at the battle
of Ichinotani, one of the most famous passages of the epic "Tales
of the Heike." In the kabuki version, on the cryptic orders
of the Genji leader Yoshitsune, Kumagai must kill his own son
in Atsumori's place. Things become worse when his wife Sagami
and Atsumori's mother Fuji-no-kata arrive at his camp. In the
highlight of the play, he tells them the story of his mortal
battle with Atsumori, keeping Atsumori's well being and his
own sacrifice a secret. He then shows the head of "Atsumori"
for inspection by his leader to see if he has interpreted his
orders correctly.
RENJISHI 【Parent and Child Lion Dance】
Commentator: Griffith
This is one of the most popular dances in kabuki, but usually,
it is a dance with father and son, in this special version,
there are two sons. In Asian tradition, the shishi is not really
a lion, but a kind of mythical creature that guards the mythical
stone bridge to heaven. There is also a tradition that the way
a parent shishi teaches its child is very severe and in this
dance, the father lion throws his sons into a valley, hoping
that he will have the strength to climb back up on his own.
Part II (from 3:00 PM)
from SUGAWARA DENJU TENARAI KAGAMI
【Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy】
TERAKOYA 【The Village School】
Commentator: Griffith
The climactic act of one of the most famous historical plays
from the Bunraku puppet theater, this play shows the tragic
struggles of various retainers of the court noble Sugawara no
Michizane, exiled due to the vile rumors spread by a rival.
The young son of Michizane is in hiding in a village school,
protected by Genzo, the teacher out of loyalty to Michizane,
his former master. But Matsuomaru, a retainer of the enemy is
led to sacrifice his own son out of loyalty to his family's
old lord, and, in the climactic moment of the play, must examine
his own son's head and declare that it is that of Michizane's
heir.
SANNIN KICHISA TOMOE NO SHIRANAMI
【Three Thieves Named Kichisa】
Commentator: Oshima
The late 19th century playwright Mokuami excelled at portrayals
of thieves and this short scene, with its music and poetic lines,
is one of his most famous. A beautiful young woman helps out
a woman who is lost on the road. But she is actually Ojo Kichisa,
a male thief who is disguised as a woman. He steals an immense
sum of money that the woman is carrying and this leads to an
encounter on this riverbank of three thieves, all with the name
Kichisa. Though they start out as rivals, they decide to become
blood brothers and form a gang.
FUJI MUSUME 【The Wisteria Maiden】
Commentator: Griffith
The spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of
a beautiful young maiden. One of kabuki's most famous and colorful
dances, it will feature the dancing skills of Living National
Treasure Sakata Tojuro.
Part Ⅲ (from 6:20 PM)
JITSUROKU SENDAI HAGI 【True Report
of the Troubles in the Date Clan】
Commentator: Dixon
In the late 17th century, there was a dispute over leadership
in the Date clan that led to the villainous head retainer
Harada Kai being interrogated in the mansion of the highest
advisor to the shogun and killing his accuser Date Aki there
before being killed himself. This incident was reported in
“jitsuroku (true record)” books that laced reportage with
lurid fiction. This was then dramatized in the popular play
“Meiboku Sendai Hagi.”
This is a rare performance of a dramatization of this jitsuroku
version and shows the nurse Asaoka caught between her duty
to protect the young lord of the clan while the investigation
is being conducted and her love for her own son, who comes
from the home clan far away to see her.
SUKEROKU YUKARI NO EDO ZAKURA 【Sukeroku,
the Hero of Edo】
Commentator: Okamoto
A play filled with the leisurly, comic and romantic atmosphere
of old-style kabuki, Sukeroku is a great showpiece for the top
stars in kabuki. The dandy Sukeroku is the most famous patron
of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters. But his reputation as the
lover of the highest ranking courtesan Agemaki is matched by
that of his tendency to pick fights. In fact, Sukeroku is the
samurai Soga no Goro in disguise and he uses the fights to find
a lost heirloom sword. His search takes place in the midst of
the colorful atmosphere of Yoshiwara, where the processions
of beautiful courtesans compete with the splendor of cherry
blossoms in full bloom.
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