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| September 4(Sat)-20(Mon) |
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| Program T (from 11:00AM): |
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ROBEN SUGI
NO YURAI yThe Story of the Priest Robenz
Earphone-Guide Commentator: Jean Wilson
This play deals with the legendary origins of the priest Roben, one
of the founders of the great Todaiji temple in Nara. A woman wanders
in madness after her son was stolen away by a giant bird. In the scene
that will be presented, finally she comes to Todaiji where the head
priest considers a certain tree very precious since that is where
he was found as a child. A Buddhist priest took care of him and now
he has risen to this great status. When she realizes that Roben is
none other than her long lost child, the mother recovers her senses
and there is a happy reunion.
IWASHIURI KOI NO HIKIAMI yThe Princess and the Sardine Sellerz
Earphone-Guide Commentator: Laurence Kominz
The first Bunraku presentation of a modern kabuki dance play by novelist
Mishima Yukio. This play recreates the leisurely, comic atmosphere
of early 18th century kabuki. A sardine seller famous for his vigorous
chanting falls in love with a beautiful courtesan and disguises himself
as a wealthy patron, only to discover that she is actually a princess
that ran away from her family after falling in love with the call
of a sardine seller. |
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| Program U (from 4:00PM): |
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SEISHU AKOGI
GA URA yThe Bay of Akogiz
Earphone-Guide Commentator: Mark Oshima
This is the first performance in 26 years of this play. Based on Noh
play gAkogih about a fisherman who is sentenced to death for fishing
in the forbidden waters of Ise, this tells the story of a fisherman
named Heiji who catches a fish for his sick mother, and in the process,
finds a precious sword that his lord is searching for. There are all
sorts of plot twists showing the conflict of greed, family love and
feudal loyalties.
KATSURAGAWA RENRI NO SHIGARAMI yOhan and Choemonz
Earphone-Guide Commentator: Mark Oshima
One of the most famous love stories in kabuki is the love of the young
girl Ohan for her middle-aged neighbor Choemon, finally culminating
in a love suicide between the two. Choemon is the proprietor of the
Obiya and his wife is very understanding, but the pressures of his
family and the lustful jealousy of the boy apprentice next door finally
drives Choemon and Ohan, the beautiful young daughter of the family
next door, together. This eventually leads to tragedy. |
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