Kyogen is…
Kyogen is a performing art that began 600 years ago as a people's comedy. It has a deep and special relationship to Noh theater, and the synergistic form of Noh and Kyogen together is called "Nohgaku".
In Noh, classical themes are used as performance material, such as noble society, and the ambience evoked from the performance known as Yugen. Yugen is created on stage through song and dance culminating in various forms of tradgedy. Kyogen on the other hand, takes for its material the daily events of commoners' lives, and looks for expression in the form of laughter, slapstic, verbal and physical, emphasizing witty dialogue and comic, emphatically imaginative content. In short, the comedy.
As it is a classical performing art, there are many rules and structures are preserved as a rule. However, it is an art that came into being with the idea of the average and common viewer, the populus as the audience. As such, traditionally, previous knowledge was not necessary for the appreciation and enjoyment of this living art. Kyogen was created with the frank and unrepentant philosophy "If it's uninteresting nobody will come to watch." enjoyable for the entire audience.
Seeing a performance and feeling it is the easiest and surest way to enjoy Kyogen.
Through Kyogen the essence of humor has transcended a 600 year history of continual refinement without having the feel of being "dated." Kyogen is a wizened and aged "Art of Laughter" and one can appreciate it's vivid character immediately.
Kyogen plays fall into 3 categories.
- Fortune comes towards those who laugh. In this category, laughter is congratulatory and celebratory known as Iwaigoto no warai: Laughter for celebration.
- Laughter from the humorous revelation of universal human weak points. This is known as the laughter of satire and sarcasm, Fushi no warai .
- A laughter deeper than mere comedy and slapstick, laughter that carries enjoyment within, is known as waraku no warai , peaceful, joyful, harmonious laughter.
The cast of characters usually ranges from 2 to 5 members, and the situations presented on stage usually embody types of humor listed above. One play casts a pathetic feudal lord who has only one retainer, and in a comic juxtaposition even the retainer plays an obviously smarter character than his lord. Characters embodying such types of humorous contradictions are prevalent. Examples include monks and lay priests who pretend to know everything, burdened women who have their husbands at their beck and call, and thieves and charlatans that all have an intriguing and imperfect character which is brought to light on stage.
Human imperfection in these characters are is the way of the world. On stage they produce the fundamental gullibility and humor of the human condition, a condition which can be universally appreciated.
One might say that the strength of Kyogen lies in its brightness. This strength is derived from it's rejection and freedom from artifice.
There are no propps or backdrops, which in normal performances, fill up the stage and no curtain is used. As such, performances can take place spontaneously and without effort. The use of even small props is at a minimum, and as such, one fan, through the powers of imagination and gesture is transformed: closed and pointed, it becomes an arrow, and, when opened wide, it serves as a cup for drinking sake.
The dialogue of a Kyogen performance emphasizes spoken Midiveal Japanese, wherefrom today's modern Japanese originated. The costumes and small props as well are selected with the idea of reflecting this period in time. As such, it has the feeling of a live reproduction of the lives of the commoners of the Muromachi era.
a traditional Japanese performing arts “Kyogen-play”
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We would like to introduce a traditional Japanese performing arts “Kyogen-play”. “Kyogen-play” is a Japanese comedy of 600 years ago. Word being used is 600 years ago general public conversation. |
Looking at each program theme is content to pass at the present age, without needing to know Japanese, and nonverbal expressions. Please come to see us from about 3: 00 pm and enjoy a “Kyogen-play”. |
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| Date |
2010.5.16 |
|---|---|
| Place | Chouyou Kaikan Noubutai 【
Access
】 MAP |
| Program | Story is about 600 years ago, a feudal lord call “Daimyo” and his subordinates. Daimyo ordered his subordinates to hire new employees. A new employee is good at Sumo wrestiling, daimyo takes its recruits and Sumo. In the first game easily Daimyo is defeated, and it frustrated him. Daimyo read Sumo Raiders book, and wins the second round. This made a new employee frustrated, and challenge for the third round. This time, Daimyo was cornered and read Raiders book during the round. And… |
| Fee | free |
