Noh is a kind of opera which blends dance, music and poetic speech into a highly stylized and formulaic art form. It is a very old form of traditional Japanese theater with its origins in the

Japanese Theater

Noh

Noh is a kind of opera which blends dance, music and poetic speech into a highly stylized and formulaic art form. It is a very old form of traditional Japanese theater with its origins in the fourteenth century. Commoners were forbidden to watch or take part in noh performances and it was only for the autocracy. It became open to the general public after World War II. Noh was first performed in Kyoto and Nara with the support of Buddhist and Shinto temples. It also drew on older elements of performing arts such as kagura dance music, gigaku masks and bugaku court dances. The noh stage is based on Shinto architecture. Both the roof and the stage are made of cypress wood.

There are no stage sets, only a backdrop is used. There is also a bridge, (hashigakari) which extends sideways from the changing rooms to the stage so that the walk to the stage is part of the drama. The Itsukushima Shinto Shrine on the Island of Hiroshima is a good example of an outdoor noh theater. These days noh theaters are housed in concrete buildings such the National Noh Theater in Tokyo.

All the parts in noh theater are played by men. There are two types of actors, the shi-te who is the main actor and the supporting actors known as waki. The actors also have companions. Noh actors do not wear make up instead the shi-te and his companions wear painted wooden masks. There are many different masks for different characters and the shi-te may wear a second mask to reveal his true identity or character.

The costumes are elaborate (разрабатывать) and bulky (громоздкий) with many layers. The musicians and chorus called jiutai, usually consisting of eight persons, sit at the side of the stage and function to narrate the background and the story itself. It also sometimes describes the character’s thoughts and emotions or even sings lines for the characters. Instruments used are nohkan (a flute), tsusumi (hand-held drums) and taiko(floor- standing drums)

Example of the plot: On March 14, 1701, for reasons unknown, Asano Takuminokami, a young samurai lord, attacked Kira Kozukenosuke, a high shogunal official, during a ceremony at the shogun's palace. The shogun was furious and Asano was forced to commit ritual suicide that very day and his domain confiscated. On December 15, 1702, forty-seven of Asano's retainers avenged his death by attacking and killing Kira and immediately became heroes showing that even after a century of peace, the samurai value of loyalty was not yet dead.

In 1748, the puppet play "Kanadehon Chushingura" appeared and since that time has been the single most popular play in all Japanese theatre.

The names of the original characters were changed due to censorship and all kinds of incidents created, but still, as the history of the original event and the portrait of the suffering of the people around the event, it provides vivid human drama that is alive and vibrant even today.

· Even the nuances have the deep meaning which we must understand if we want to understand the whole plot.

· The performance always last 3-5 hours and consists of several plays which are connected.

Kyogen

Kyogen, Japan’s oldest form of spoken drama is the comic interlude between noh plays and is a type of pantomime. Kyogen is a light relief for the audience watching a noh play it also tells the audience in plain language about the events and characters in the main noh play. While noh themes are mostly solemn, kyogen presents a humorous or satirical view of everyday situations, making it easier to enjoy. Since kyogen is part of the Noh play it uses the same stage and setting as the noh play. The costumes date back to those worn by medieval Japanese commoners and kyogen offered insight into medieval lifestyle. Kyogen also had a big influence on kabuki.

Kabuki

· Democratical theater for people of each money level. Took its` beginning from the ritual dances, wich were organized for pleasure un Idzumo castle.

Kabuki was insprired by kyogen in its use of dialogue, its acting techniques and its realism. It took its stage layout from noh, however, it added a different a bridge called a hanamichi it also added the curtain and removed the roof that is used in noh theater. (Добавил занавес и снял крышу, кот. Используется в НО). One of the unique features in kabuki is the mawaributai (revolving stage) (вращающаяся сцена). It allows instant scene changing in the play.

The costumes and wigs worn by high-ranking (высокопоставленные) character are very luxurious and elaborate, and those worn by the low ranking character, portray the everyday dress of Edo Japan. Kumadori makeup is used on the face to express the mood and nature of the character. A well known pattern is sujiguma which is red raged lines across the face, with the eyebrows and eyes heavily accentuated in black. Kabuki performances are still held regularly and can be seen at the National Theater and Kabukiza in Ginza. However, the crowd today is mostly older audience members

(Юные девушки в тонких накидках поверх белых кимоно и алых хакама, с распущенными волосами и красиво загримированными лицами танцуют в зале храма. Из числа таких храмовых танцовщиц была и девушка по имени Идзумо-но Окуни, дочь кузнеца. В старинных хрониках говорится, что она была красавицей с волосами мягкими и длинными, как ветки ивы и обликом походила на цветок персика. “Её танцевальная манера была величественной, - отмечали хроники, - а звонкий голос поражал всех, приходивших её посмотреть”. Она была известна также своим нежным сердцем и ей в равной степени восторгались и мужчины и женщины. Примерно на рубеже XVII века Окуни прибыла в Киото и начала исполнять некоторые из ритуальных танцев в высохшем русле реки или на шумных улицах древней столицы. Первым она исполнила “Буддийский танец возглашения”, сопровождаемый буддийскими молитвами (танец изобрёл буддийский священник Куя, отвечая вкусам народа, танец стал очень популярным). Её красота и прекрасные танцы принесли ей симпатии множества поклонников и покровительство феодальных князей. Юки Хидэясу, сын Токугава Иэясу и приёмный сын Тоётоми Хидэёси, был покорён её красотой и исполнительским мастерством. Рассказывают, что однажды он подарил ей свои драгоценные коралловые бусы, сказав, что стеклянное ожерелье, которое она носила “слишком холодно и не вызывает радости”. Начав с раскованного неофициального развлечения киотской толпы, Окуни постепенно добавляла в репертуар романтические и светские танцы, исполнявшиеся вначале под аккомпанемент флейты, старомодных барабанов, в которые надо было ударять пальцами, и других инструментов театра Но. Со временем она приобрела популярность во всей столице и её появление на маленькой открытой сцене привлекало многочисленных зрителей, жаждущих после долгой эпохи войн эстетических развлечений. Она умело совместила различные традиционные танцы, народные баллады, стихотворные импровизации и другие элементы в одно гармоничное целое и таким образом создала театр Кабуки (слово “Кабуки” состоит из трёх китайских иероглифов, буквально означающих “искусство пения и танца”), в котором выступали молодые танцовщицы.)

Bunraku

· Was opened in 1872 in Osaka.

This is the oldest form of theater and it is known as Puppet Theater. Bunraku puppets are one-third (треть от натуральной величины) life size, string less marionettes which are animated by three handlers. One supports the puppet and works the head and right hand, another the left hand, and the third works the feet on male puppets and the skirt on female puppets. The two assistants appear in black but the main puppeteer may appear in a more elaborate costume. Three elements: the puppet movement’s, vocals and shamisen accompaniment are very important to banraku. (Движение куклы, вокал и аккомпанемент сямисэн очень важны для banraku.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04