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Yesterday afternoon I was treated to the theatre by one of my sons. Not just any old theatre but a stunning three-act performance of an epic Japanese Kabuki play at Sadlers Wells.
The 46-strong, Tokyo-based Shochiku Company presented a two-and-a-half hour taster of the 18th-century drama, ‘Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees’, in which the mistress of the fugitive General Yoshitsune, fleeing from his brother who has established himself as Shogun, is barred from following him. She, Shizuka, is protected by a shape-shifting companion, Tadanobu, a mythical fox in disguise, who journeys with her through the cherry-blossom strewn landscape of Mount Yoshino.
The star of the show was Ebizo Ichikawa XI, who is a direct descendant of the 17th century Ichikawa acting dynasty. He took on the dual role of Yoshitsune’s loyal retainer and the enigmatic fox spirit, performing to a most wonderful scenic, vocal and musical background.
Kabuki theatre is highly stylised and ritualistic, and yesterday’s play was one of the theatre’s three most favourites which normally runs to five acts. The actors, beautifully dressed in traditional costumes were just staggering in their variety of moods, expressions, grace and, at times, their agility.
Maybe Kabuki theatre is not everyone’s cup of tea, but what I saw yesterday was just breathtaking and a tremendous Sunday treat.
.
Yesterday afternoon I was treated to the theatre by one of my sons. Not just any old theatre but a stunning three-act performance of an epic Japanese Kabuki play at Sadlers Wells.
The 46-strong, Tokyo-based Shochiku Company presented a two-and-a-half hour taster of the 18th-century drama, ‘Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees’, in which the mistress of the fugitive General Yoshitsune, fleeing from his brother who has established himself as Shogun, is barred from following him. She, Shizuka, is protected by a shape-shifting companion, Tadanobu, a mythical fox in disguise, who journeys with her through the cherry-blossom strewn landscape of Mount Yoshino.
The star of the show was Ebizo Ichikawa XI, who is a direct descendant of the 17th century Ichikawa acting dynasty. He took on the dual role of Yoshitsune’s loyal retainer and the enigmatic fox spirit, performing to a most wonderful scenic, vocal and musical background.
Kabuki theatre is highly stylised and ritualistic, and yesterday’s play was one of the theatre’s three most favourites which normally runs to five acts. The actors, beautifully dressed in traditional costumes were just staggering in their variety of moods, expressions, grace and, at times, their agility.
Maybe Kabuki theatre is not everyone’s cup of tea, but what I saw yesterday was just breathtaking and a tremendous Sunday treat.
.
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