Asian Theatre

Noh Theatre

1375

Created to influence and teach ultimate peace and that individual desire must be overcome, and that nothing in earthly life is permanent (Brockett 304).
Noh Theatres used today hold 300 to 500 people.

Noh Plays and Dramas

1375

The plays consist of protagonist ghosts, demons, obsessed human beings whose souls cannot find rest (Brockett 304).
The dramas consist of God plays, warrior plays, women plays, madness plays, and demon plays (Brockett 304).

Performers of Noh Theatre

1375

Three groups: Actors, chorus, and musicians. The actors were trained from childhood and expected to devote 20 years or more to performing.
There are two divisions: Waki (secondary character) and Waki's followers (introduce the drama and lead main characters to the climax).
All performers are male.
Each play has two or three drummers and one flute player. No other instruments used (Brockett 305).

Noh Stage

1375

Raised three feet.
Two principle areas: The stage proper (butai) and bridge (hashigakari) and are both roofed like shrines.
Four pillars- first one the actor tells character's name and background while facing the opposite pillar, the third pillar marks the place where the Waki sits when not on stage. Fourth pillar is where the flute player positioned.
Three areas-main stage, rear stage, wakiza (chorus)
Two entrances, Three pine trees: heaven, earth, humanity (only scenery) (Brockett 306)

The Shrine in the Fields

1400

It is in the category of Woman's play and is based on the Tale of Genji.
Set in a specific season of the year.
"The Shrine in the Fields does not seek to tell a story or to develop character so much as to cap-ture a mood, to distill a powerful emotion, and to express an attitude about the physical world and human existence" (Brockett 308)

Bunraku

1700

Plays that had puppets to represent the characters.
The puppets originally only had heads with drapery for a body. Now they have hands, feet, moveable eyes, eyebrows, and fingers. They stand three to four feet tall with elaborate costumes.
To operate one it takes three people.
1.The head and right arm
2.The left arm
3.The feet.
The stage is long and shallow and the scenery is changed as the action requires.
These are the most complex puppet shows in the world (Brockett 308-309).

Kabuki

1700

The stage was 90 ft. wide and 20 ft. high. The auditorium was wide and shallow.
Exits were made along the walkways where some major scenes were played. Actions were played within the audience. There was a lot of scenery.
Divided in several acts that connected with loose episodes.
Also starts training at childhood and is dedicated for at least 20 years or more.
Appeals to Westerners and modern Europeans (Brockett 309-310).

Chikamatsu Monzaemon

1724

Japan's greatest playwright.
Wrote both Bunraku and Kabuki. (Brockett 309)

Theatre In China

1767

"The traditional Chinese stage was an open platform, usually almost square, covered by a roof supported by lacquered columns. The stage was equipped only with a carpet, two doors in the rear wall" (Brockett 313).
Actors had lavish and colorful costumes.
Female and male roles.
Have a Grand Theatre in Shanghai that cost about $150 million and includes main seating up to 1,800 people and smaller halls up to 600 people. This opened in 1998 ( Brockett 313-315).

Playwrights

1970

Kobo Abe (1924- 1993) and Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) were the best known playwrights in Japan.
The also wrote Kabuki plays and modern Noh plays.
Japan Playwrights Association published a ten-volume anthology of plays in the Western Style from 1950s-1990s (Brockett 311).