the theatre of asia by: seth wilmes, anjuli mostek, kasey laber, suzanne shepherd, michael bissen,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Theatre of AsiaThe Theatre of AsiaBy: Seth Wilmes,By: Seth Wilmes,Anjuli Mostek, Anjuli Mostek,
Kasey Laber,Kasey Laber,Suzanne Shepherd,Suzanne Shepherd,Michael Bissen, Michael Bissen, and John Franceand John France
The Drama of IndiaThe Drama of India
Started from the Middle East RootsStarted from the Middle East RootsBased on Greek Texts Based on Greek Texts
Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Sanskrit Dance-Theatre
Sanskrit dance theatre was achieved around Sanskrit dance theatre was achieved around 200 B.C and remained popular200 B.C and remained popular
The Natyasastra is the most comprehensive The Natyasastra is the most comprehensive study of theatre from the ancient worldstudy of theatre from the ancient world
Two primary genres of Sanskrit TheatreTwo primary genres of Sanskrit Theatre Praka- based on theme of lovePraka- based on theme of love Nataka- based on well-known heroic stories of Nataka- based on well-known heroic stories of
kings or sages kings or sages
Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Continued Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Continued
This theatre was performed indoors within a This theatre was performed indoors within a roofed building that was rectangular roofed building that was rectangular
4 Columns hold the roof or an upper pavilion 4 Columns hold the roof or an upper pavilion up up
Sanskrit drama died out around the tenth Sanskrit drama died out around the tenth century. century.
Kathakali Kathakali
The most widely known dance-drama The most widely known dance-drama Kathakali means story playKathakali means story play The audience could leave anytime, eat, or even The audience could leave anytime, eat, or even
sleep during the performance sleep during the performance Actors had to train from early childhood Actors had to train from early childhood
because it is so difficult because it is so difficult Based on two Indian epicsBased on two Indian epics
Ramayana Ramayana Mahabharata Mahabharata
Chinese Opera: XiquChinese Opera: Xiqu
China = oldest home of Asia’s oldest China = oldest home of Asia’s oldest continuous theatre tradition.continuous theatre tradition.
Provides common metaphors for daily lifeProvides common metaphors for daily life Proverb wentai jiaphua = we learn our real Proverb wentai jiaphua = we learn our real
world behaviors from stage performance.world behaviors from stage performance.
Xiqu’s OriginsXiqu’s Origins
Zaju (“various plays” – in China during Song Zaju (“various plays” – in China during Song DynastyDynasty
Zaju = comedic music-dance-drama; Zaju = comedic music-dance-drama; acrobatics and clowningacrobatics and clowning
By 1644 Zaju succeeded by kunquBy 1644 Zaju succeeded by kunqu
Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu
Xiqu is sceneryless, and presented in a wide Xiqu is sceneryless, and presented in a wide variety of surroundingsvariety of surroundings
Usually outdoors : parks, restaraunts etc.Usually outdoors : parks, restaraunts etc. Audience is free to talk & eat (very laid back)Audience is free to talk & eat (very laid back)
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Plays are almost always anonymousPlays are almost always anonymous Based on well known stories from Chinese Based on well known stories from Chinese
history or myth.history or myth. All plays include both serious and comic All plays include both serious and comic
elementselements
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Serious and Comic not tragedy and comedySerious and Comic not tragedy and comedy Instead…Instead… Civil plays (wenxi)=love, marriage, and Civil plays (wenxi)=love, marriage, and
domestic justicedomestic justice Martial plays (wuxi)=battles, banditry, and Martial plays (wuxi)=battles, banditry, and
armed rebellions.armed rebellions.
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
A second terminology seperates them into…A second terminology seperates them into… Great plays (daxi)Great plays (daxi) Small plays (xiaoxi)Small plays (xiaoxi) Determines the degree of seriousness in the Determines the degree of seriousness in the
dramatic treatmentdramatic treatment
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
All actors are proficient in:All actors are proficient in: Individual skills (gong)Individual skills (gong) Singing (chong)Singing (chong) Speech (nian)Speech (nian) Acting and Movement (zuo)Acting and Movement (zuo) Martial Arts and Acrobatics (da)Martial Arts and Acrobatics (da)
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Parts are played by a person who is special Parts are played by a person who is special only at the one part desiredonly at the one part desired
A person may spend their whole life only A person may spend their whole life only doing one thing in every playdoing one thing in every play
Types of roles:Types of roles: Male (sheng)Male (sheng) Female (dan)Female (dan)
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Roles of male and female broke down even Roles of male and female broke down even moremore
Male roles (sheng):Male roles (sheng): Old man (lao sheng)Old man (lao sheng) Young man (xiao sheng)Young man (xiao sheng) Warrior (wu sheng)Warrior (wu sheng) Painted face ( always a man) (Jing)Painted face ( always a man) (Jing)
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Female Roles:Female Roles: Quiet and Gentle (quing yi)Quiet and Gentle (quing yi) Vivacious and dissolute ( hua dan)Vivacious and dissolute ( hua dan) Old women (lao dan)Old women (lao dan) Warrior Princess (wu dan)Warrior Princess (wu dan)
Clown characters (male or female) – white painted Clown characters (male or female) – white painted face (chou)face (chou)
Staging cont’dStaging cont’d
Costuming is according to time honored Costuming is according to time honored conventionsconventions
Actors both sexes wear multilayered robes Actors both sexes wear multilayered robes patterned with multi-bold colorspatterned with multi-bold colors
Some even wear headressesSome even wear headresses
Staging cont’d Staging cont’d
What certain colors mean:What certain colors mean: Bright yellow = emperorsBright yellow = emperors Apricot = foreign rulersApricot = foreign rulers White = generalsWhite = generals Bronze and bean paste = old officalsBronze and bean paste = old officals
Theatre in AsiaTheatre in Asia
Indian, Chinese, and Japanese drama are the Indian, Chinese, and Japanese drama are the most noticed in Western Theatremost noticed in Western Theatre
Never spoken, but danced, chanted, mimed, Never spoken, but danced, chanted, mimed, and sungand sung
More concerned with performing arts than More concerned with performing arts than dialoguedialogue Dance, song, mime, gesture, acrobatics, puppetry, Dance, song, mime, gesture, acrobatics, puppetry,
music, sound, costume, and makeupmusic, sound, costume, and makeup
Chinese Opera: Chinese Opera: XiquXiqu
Sung more than spokenSung more than spoken XiquXiqu means tuneful-theatre means tuneful-theatre
We translate it as Chinese Opera We translate it as Chinese Opera Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins
ZajuZaju- “various plays”- “various plays”
Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins
Zaju- “Zaju- “various plays”various plays” First form appeared in Song dynastyFirst form appeared in Song dynasty Comedic music-dance-dramaComedic music-dance-drama
KunquKunqu Appeared in Ming dynastyAppeared in Ming dynasty Poetic and aristocratic operaPoetic and aristocratic opera
Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins
““Clapper Opera”Clapper Opera” Characterized by rhythmic beating of drumsticks Characterized by rhythmic beating of drumsticks
on a hardwood blockon a hardwood block Jingju Jingju
a.k.a. Beijing Operaa.k.a. Beijing Opera Most famous todayMost famous today Singing, music, and acrobatics and martial artsSinging, music, and acrobatics and martial arts
Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu
First, performed outdoors, on temporary stagesFirst, performed outdoors, on temporary stages Later moved into tea gardens and restaurants Later moved into tea gardens and restaurants Today it is in international–style Chinese Today it is in international–style Chinese
theatretheatre InformalInformal
Free to talk, eat, and move during perfomancesFree to talk, eat, and move during perfomances
Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu
Based on well-known stories from Chinese Based on well-known stories from Chinese history or mythhistory or myth
Actors must be proficient in Actors must be proficient in Singing, speech, acting , and movement, and Singing, speech, acting , and movement, and
martial arts and acrobaticsmartial arts and acrobatics
NNōō
Japans most revered and cerebral theatreJapans most revered and cerebral theatre Oldest continuously performed drama in worldOldest continuously performed drama in world Almost always portrays supernatural events and Almost always portrays supernatural events and
characterscharacters
NNō characters: ō characters: ShiteShite
All plays focus on a single characterAll plays focus on a single character Shite (doer)Shite (doer) Shite is usually gods, ghosts, women, animals, or Shite is usually gods, ghosts, women, animals, or
warriorswarriors Shite character always has a maskShite character always has a mask
Nō charactersNō characters: Waki: Waki
Waki character also usedWaki character also used Waki is a secondary characterWaki is a secondary character Interrogates, prompts, and challenges shiteInterrogates, prompts, and challenges shite Always represents a living maleAlways represents a living male
Usually ministers, commoners, or priestsUsually ministers, commoners, or priests
NNō actorsō actors
Always maleAlways male Train for only one role typeTrain for only one role type Normally perform this role for their careerNormally perform this role for their career
NNō stageō stage
Highly polished Japanese cypress flooringHighly polished Japanese cypress flooring Earthenware jugs supporting floor resonate with Earthenware jugs supporting floor resonate with
foot stompingsfoot stompings Hashigakari – bridgelike runway providing access Hashigakari – bridgelike runway providing access
to stage right, characteristic of styleto stage right, characteristic of style Ornate, curved roof covers stageOrnate, curved roof covers stage
NNō overallō overall
Never been a mass entertainment, mostly produced Never been a mass entertainment, mostly produced for enthusiastsfor enthusiasts
In Japan however, number of In Japan however, number of NNō supporters ō supporters growinggrowing
Remains a national pastimeRemains a national pastime Sublime mystery and serenity is reflective of Sublime mystery and serenity is reflective of
Buddhist and Shinto valuesBuddhist and Shinto values
KabukiKabuki
Created during the Edo EraCreated during the Edo Era Themes consisted of conflicts of humanity and Themes consisted of conflicts of humanity and
the feudalistic systemthe feudalistic system
Kabuki Origins/HistoryKabuki Origins/History
Invented by Izumo Okuni around 1600Invented by Izumo Okuni around 1600 Started as an all women ensembleStarted as an all women ensemble In 1629 the Government banned women from In 1629 the Government banned women from
the stage because the behavior was against the stage because the behavior was against moralsmorals
Catamites (boy prostitutes) were hired to play Catamites (boy prostitutes) were hired to play the rolesthe roles
Kabuki Origins/History Cont.Kabuki Origins/History Cont.
In 1652 the government outlawed the boy In 1652 the government outlawed the boy performers as wellperformers as well
Adult males became the leads in the playsAdult males became the leads in the plays Still all male ensemble to this dayStill all male ensemble to this day Kabuki became more sober and dramatic as a Kabuki became more sober and dramatic as a
resultresult
Kabuki PlaysKabuki Plays
Most fall into 3 categoriesMost fall into 3 categories History plays (jidaimono)History plays (jidaimono)
Dramatize political eventsDramatize political events Domestic plays (sewamono)Domestic plays (sewamono)
Deal with affairs of townspeople, merchants or loversDeal with affairs of townspeople, merchants or lovers Dance dramas (shosagoto)Dance dramas (shosagoto)
Among most popular deal with spirits and animalsAmong most popular deal with spirits and animals
Kabuki TheatresKabuki Theatres
Kabuki-za theatre in TokyoKabuki-za theatre in Tokyo Minami-za theatre in KyotoMinami-za theatre in Kyoto Shinkabuki-za theatre in OsakaShinkabuki-za theatre in Osaka
Kabuki SceneryKabuki Scenery
Stage sets 2 or 3 stories highStage sets 2 or 3 stories high Revolving stagesRevolving stages Rolling stage wagons provide 3-D backgroundRolling stage wagons provide 3-D background
Kabuki MusicKabuki Music
Music room called the GezaMusic room called the Geza OrchestraOrchestra
Chief instrument is samisen banjo like 3-string Chief instrument is samisen banjo like 3-string instrumentinstrument
Almost always continuous music and sound Almost always continuous music and sound effects from the Gezaeffects from the Geza
Kabuki Actor TrainingKabuki Actor Training
Train for much of lifeTrain for much of life Actors work up from small parts to larger onesActors work up from small parts to larger ones People say actor doesn’t develop Kabuki face People say actor doesn’t develop Kabuki face
until their 50’suntil their 50’s