Hijinks, Hyperbole, and Spectacle: PSU Students Perform Kabuki, Kyogen, and Dance
Directed by Laurence Kominz, Costumes by Toshimi Tanaka, Photo by Minh Ngo
Also presenting a Special Guest performance and US premiere of new work by shamisen master, Echigo Kakutayu (Seiki Keene).
This is a reserved seating event.
Tickets
General Public: $25
Seniors/ PSU Facutly/Staff: $20
Any Student: $9
PROGRAM DETAILS (Highlight plays from Laurence Kominz' directing career at PSU)
Voices at the Gate (kyogen- short comedy)
A master and his obedient servant, Jiro, try to trick the goldbricking servant Taro into leaving his house and reporting for work. The ruses they employ include impersonating other people and singing to Taro in various musical styles....
The Alimony Bag (kyogen- short comedy)
A loving but domineering wife "bags" her husband, foiling his cowardly attempt to impose a unilateral divorce on her.
The Narrow Road to the Far North (Oku no Hosomichi) (US premiere)
(Vocal & Shamisen concert) composed & sung by Echigo Kakutayu
(In Japanese with supertitles, and with slides of art works)
Matsuo Basho's beloved haiku travel journal is sung by Kakutayu in Bun'ya bushi style. This was the style of music performed at Edo puppet theaters in the 1680s. Oku no Hosomichi was published in 1689.
The Medicine Peddler (Uiro Uri) ( kabuki) (last staged at PSU in 2012)
One of the Eighteen Great plays of kabuki. The medieval avenging hero, Soga Gorô, attempts to approach the man who murdered his father by disguising himself as a medicine peddler and appearing at the villain's New Year celebration. In the middle of his sales pitch the peddler declaims the longest tongue-twister monologue in the kabuki repertory, delighting his audience.
The Adventures of High Priest Kochi (kabuki)
Act One only
Kominz adapted this play from the puppet theater to the kabuki stage for the first time in 2023 here at PSU, and PSU students performed it in Japan later that year. Act One is the opening chapter of a tale of sin, retribution, repentance, and epiphany. The major scene in Act One is set in the Pleasure District, among beautiful courtesans, wealthy patrons, and jealous paramours. The District is a place of glamor and style, dancing, drinking, human trafficking, and violence.
Twenty-two PSU students and one alumna play all the roles in our plays, speaking in English.
Costume designer, Toshimi Tanaka, will showcase a dazzling array of kimono splendor in our kabuki plays.
We feature a variety of musical styles- Ozatsuma shamisen & vocals, Bun'ya bushi shamisen and vocals, koto and percussion.