Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Spooky Kabuki



Watching Kabuki was absolutely the most impressive theater experience I've ever had. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend it."

English speakers were offered headphones with some translation, mostly the type of stuff you'd get from a helpful buttinski (Example: an actor recites two minutes of visibly angry dialogue and then spends ten minutes slashing opponents with a samurai sword. The translation follows, "Jirozaemon expresses outrage." Oh gee, ya think?!)

Really though, the productions were all so stunning and engrossing that I couldn't take my eyes off the stage. Watching these characters take their entrance, magnificent in full make-up and costume, was something I will never forget. Oh, I'm getting chills just thinking about it.