Last month, we studied a little bit about Kabuki theater. These photos illustrate another famous style of Japanese drama. Let me give you some clues:
It is an older style than Kabuki.
It is said to be a companion to Noh theater.
It is usually funny and always has a happy ending.
Masks are used only about 30% of the time, and when they are used they are much simpler than Kabuki.
The costumes are simple and the actor's face is often seen.
The short play we saw was entitled, "The Inherited Cramp."
Well, let's see if anyone can figure out the name of this genre of drama.
It is an older style than Kabuki.
It is said to be a companion to Noh theater.
It is usually funny and always has a happy ending.
Masks are used only about 30% of the time, and when they are used they are much simpler than Kabuki.
The costumes are simple and the actor's face is often seen.
The short play we saw was entitled, "The Inherited Cramp."
Well, let's see if anyone can figure out the name of this genre of drama.
7 comments:
those masks look awesome!! the last mask near the bottom reminds me of a baby's face...
<3,
victoria
Hi Mr.Lhar all the masks are really cool I injoyed all of them they look very real I hope you are injoying japan I wish I can go some day and vist japan. :) haha see you later
Hello Mr. Lahr,
I found this cool article online about the Noh drama. Here it is:
In Japan masks belong to a highly developed theatrical tradition. Its purpose used to be strictly religious but this has long since changed. Of all the Japanese masks the Noh mask is said to be the most artistic one. The origins of Noh theatre go back to the thirteenth century. At that time a very popular performance was 'Dengaku no Noh' which translates as 'Field-music Performance' and it had its root in rustic acrobatic and juggling exhibitions. By the fourteenth century, however, Noh had become a kind of opera in which the performers recited while sitting next to each other and then danced. As the fourteenth century went on, another type of Noh, Sarugaku, which used a lot of buffoonery, developed into a serious dramatic performance.
In 1647 the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (the Shogun was the Japanese military ruler) ordered that no variations were allowed in Noh performance. At that time stage directions were written down, costumes and masks were clearly defined and actors were allocated fixed positions on stage.
Masks and other stage accessories in Noh theatre
Elaborate costumes are a very important part of creating a striking performance. If a play begins rather slowly it is likely that the audience will get bored, therefore the Noh actors choose bright and colourful costumes. Costumes can also help to communicate a special context, so a broad-brimmed hat made of bamboo would suggest country life. These expensive costumes were often gifts to a famous actor by his admirers, something that still happens today.
Stage props on the other hand were hardly needed at all. More important than the costume was the Noh mask. Masks are only worn by the main character, his mask would stylise the person it represents and show them in a truer light than reality could do by depicting only the absolutely essential traits of character. There are five categories of Noh masks: gods, demons, men, women and the elderly.
The masks used in Noh theatre generally show a neutral expression so it is up to the skill of the actor to bring the mask to life through his acting. The parts are all acted by men, so the task of performing as a young woman is one of the most challenging for any actor. The masks are comparatively small and they only cover the front of the face having only small holes for eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Gregory Irvine describes the dressing of an actor in his book as follows: "After donning his sumptuous costume the actor seats himself before a mirror and studies the mask, becoming one with the character he is about to perform. The mask is then tied onto his head, any wig or necessary headgear is put on and he stands before a full-length mirror letting the mask take over his own personality before he is led to the stage."
Noh masks have to be very light because they are worn throughout a performance that lasts for several hours. They are carved from one piece of cypress wood. After the masks has been carved to the desired thickness, holes for eyes, nose and mouth have been cut, it is then coated with layers of gesso mixed with glue. This coating is then sanded down, giving the mask its final shape. Finally it is painted in the colours prescribed for the particular character and some parts of it might be gilded. Some of the masks' eyes are inlaid with metal leaving a tiny hole. The hair and the outlines of the eyes are traced with black ink.
Noh masks on display in the museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum has a collection of 54 Noh masks. It is a complete set from the North East of Japan, bought from a theatre in Tokyo probably in the 1870s. Buddhist priests made them in their leisure time. One of these was Zekan, who lived in the early Edo period, about 400 years ago. The masks in this collection are all from the Edo period (1600-1867), with singular masks dating from the early 17th until early 19th Century. The style of these masks has barely changed in several centuries.
I read it several times, but didn't find anything about genre in which it belongs to. Anyway, there is a ton of information there, so yeah. Hope you are enjoying your stay!
Your EPIC Student,
Akash Salam
Ultimate Math Matician
U.M.M. is the BOMB!
P.S. Those masks are really awesome! I had to make some like those in 6th grade for my ancient Greek theather project. It was pretty cool!
P.S.S. I'll come back to this later and see if I can find that genre. I just have to go quickly!
Mr. Lahr,
Those are awesome masks! Are the Noh plays almost like the Kabuki ones?
My guess is that the short play you saw is a type of Kyogen theater. It is usually done during an intermission of another play, and is meant to be short and funny.
Hi Mr.Lhar
Hi I extremly hated the red picture/mask cause it looked like the devil but I injoyed looking at the puffy check baby. Anyway i hope you injoy you wounderful trip to japan.:) hahaha
The mystery has been solved by Wendy. This type of comedy is called Kyogen theater. Good job, Wendy!
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