Hokaibo -- The Comedy Kabuki at Lincoln Center Festival

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 1:03am

Lucky us!

Lincoln Center is putting on two Kabukis, Renjishi and Hokaibo by the Nakamura family, which has been staging the art since the 1600s. Kabuki is for the masses, popular art, with fun traditions like the audience calling out the performer's name as the performer enters on this ramplike walkway through the audience. Tickets on sale now, shows about to open.

Not only Kabuki is continued by family, but the family house tradition of carrying on the art also applies to the stagings of Noh drama.

You cannot think you are educated in theatre and not be versed in Asian forms of drama. Some of the most famous and world theatre level Western directors make outright steals from Asian drama for their stagings, which you wouldn't realize unless you know Asian theatre.

And not only Japanese, but Chinese theatre is upon us, thank you Lincoln Center! We have Beijing Opera and dance in Second Visit to the Empress by Shen Wei Dance Arts. In Beijing Opera, the dancer does not follow the music, the music follows the dancer! A tough concept for a Western dancer (who waits for the music) to learn.

And from Taiwan, also in the Beijing Opera tradition, we have a duet showing of The Tipsy Concubine (Drowsy Chaperone, anyone?) of the Sung Dynasty and Farewell My Concubine during the Warring States period (not the movie about Communist "Gang of Four" era repression of Chinese artists) which ends with a sword dance. And there is a separate evening showing of a one-man version of King Lear featuring Wu Hsing-Kuo who represents the other characters of Shakespeare's play through the archetype characters of the Beijing Opera, characters who would each have their own mask in the collections of Beijing Opera masks.

And later this month the Mongolian twelve chapter, eight-hour epic Secret History of the Mongols will take place in two parts (two four-hour nights), as the tale from the 13th century poem of the rise of Genghis Kahn. A Mongolian concert will also be presented on three additional nights with traditional instruments and rare dance.

See them if you can! Updated On: 7/22/07 at 01:03 AM

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 2:21am

I've seen the Beijing Opera--in Beijing no less--and I did not enjoy it. I'll stick to european opera, thank you.
Updated On: 7/11/07 at 02:21 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:02pm

It is an acquired taste.

I have performed in Beijing Opera and come to appreciate it very much.

Western Opera is an acquired taste as well.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:13pm

The Taiwanese (Beijing-style) Operas, the amusing The Tipsy Concubine and the elegant and dramatic Farewell My Concubine were a hit tonight at the Rose Theater (houses Lincoln Center Jazz) at the Time Warner Center.

They got a bigtime standing ovation. Great singing and acting, dance, acrobatics and a wonderful sword dance by the actress portraying the Concubine in the latter show. Ah, the costumes, the traditional embroidered silk robes, capes, wild headpieces on all and stellar designs for the lead males' battle dress. The unusual Chinese instruments and sounds from the band. A mere hand-held staff to represent a horse but everyone responding to it such that you would believe a horse was there.

If you're a member, check out TDF to see some of these great Asian theatre performances at the Lincoln Center Festival.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:30pm

Are you going to Corine2's website anniversary party at Raku?

Updated On: 7/11/07 at 11:30 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:50am

oh phanty, "raku" is so hot it belongs in a kiln

say it again Updated On: 7/12/07 at 12:50 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:36pm

Hokaibo at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center is one of the few comedic Kabukis and this one is played to perfection.

While I did miss the usual Kabuki tradition of taiko drums pre-performance beating slowly and building up pace over a long period of time to announce the eminant start of the performance, this troupe is masterful, acrobatic and very fun. The costume, staging and makeup visuals are glorious. From falling cherry blossoms to effects of shooting smoke fireworks in the final musical portion, this Kabuki exceeds expectations to the delight and standing ovation of the audience.

Actors could learn a lot of tricks from master Nakamura Kanzaburo, one of five of the Nakamura men in the family who are in the play. There are no women actors; all the female roles are portrayed by men, and it may be about time that tradition expaned back to women, for the earliest Kabuki was portrayed centuries ago by all-women casts before being hijacked by Japan's males.

Still, Nakamura Kanzaburo knows how to entertain and please a crowd as the misbehaving Buddhist priest Hokaibo with his acrobatics and command of comedy. The stylized violence that erupts in the play is a bit shocking and unexpected as the genre seems to switch mid keel.

And Kanzaburo obviates the need for the free and good quality translation headsets that Lincoln Center provides instead of subtitles. For he tosses many zingy one-liners on the most rediculous and unexpected topics--cholesterol, for example--that update the play to the present as he runs about the theatre addressing individual audience members with his silliness at opportune moments.

Kabuki is theatre for the masses and the audience can participate, calling out the names of their favorite performers, who enjoy the interaction.

Great fun!


© 2007 nomdeplume by pseudonym All rights reserved.
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:36 PM