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Eastern Theatre
One of the immediately visible appeals of any form of theatre is the lure of the sound and the color
Easter theatre seems to have perfected thisLarger than life costumesExpressive masksLife-like puppetsContagious, rhythmic beat
NOH Pronounced “no” Oldest form of Eastern theatre Deeply rooted in religion and ceremony Combination of acting, dance and music, rhythmically entwined in
a strict form that was passed to each generation in rigid training Training starts in childhood Short plots generally deal with myths and legends Stock characters symbolized on-stage by masks Each Noh also has a kyogen (a comic interlude)
○ Like the Greek satyr play
Performance combined gliding movements, chanting and stomping in unison with a flute and drum accompaniment
Strength of performance is the fluid beauty of the combined movement, sound and speech.
Bunraku Form of Japanese theatre Uses intricately hinged wooden puppets Puppets stand four feet tall and have moving
fingers and facial expressions Three puppeteers for each figure Puppeteers are masked in all black but are
visible to the audience Once the story begins they seem to disappear This form originated in Korea but migrated to
Japan in the sixth century AD
Kabuki Most influential of Asian theatre Employs singing, dancing, and acting ka=singing, bu=dancing, ki=acting Originally produced by women Newest of the three Eastern forms was an imitation of Noh and the
Bunraku Plots based on historical tales or stories about everyday life Kabuki actors do not wear masks Characterized by
dramatic face paint Stylized movement Elaborate costumes
Today only men act in the plays They spend most of their lives studying their art, starting as
children and are loyal actors until they die.
Kabuki Stage
Raised wooden platform Because of rhythmic stomping is such a
prevalent part of the style, amplifying wooden sections are often laid on top of the stage
The hanamichi (flower path) is a raised passageway that extends from one corner of the stage through the audience
Kabuki Stage cont. Like Greeks, Kabuki audience will hear narration
and dialog from a chorus of twelve to eighteen members
The chorus members are uniformly dressed and carry a fan
This adds to the beauty of the performance The orchestra sits at the back of the stage
DrumsA fluteStringed instrument (samisen)
They are dressed like the chorus
Kimono
Traditional, floor-length robe with draping sleeves
Worn by both male and female characters
Distinguished by a variance in color, fabric, or accessories
Kabuki performance Stylized wigs are worn to add size and color Unrealistic make up is painted with brightly colored,
sharply contrasting lines meant to show expression The actors do not try to achieve realism. Kabuki is fantasy storytelling Actor‘s movements look more like dancing than acting Props are brought on stage by crew members dressed in
all black Speeches are told with rhythmic musical accompaniment May be told by several actors in unison or speaking in
turn. Very ceremonial theatre
China Peking Opera
Harmonious blend of song, dance, dialog, and acrobatics Subjects of the operas come from fiction, legend, and
history Superb costumes serve to enhance the performance Color is used to indicate rank and temperament Originally acted by men, women were later introduced to
the Chinese stage Unfortunately, after the establishment of the People’s
Republic in 1949, new plays were saturated with military propaganda
Some new playwrights occasionally surface, and when they do, the entire world has reason to celebrate.