What is similar about Yama Bushi and Kamabara? I was surprised to see the exact same set design! They also flowed in an organized sequence of events. The body movements and costumes were similar – quick steps and a lot of color respectively. I enjoy the color in the Asian culture. There doesn’t appear to be any hesitation with the use of color. Both plays made good use of props – a blind man’s stick, rope, knife, etc. And, the props connected to strong traditions typically found in Japanese culture – suicide (with a knife) is often seen as a code of honor. Similar to Busu, both plays demonstrated similar bodily movements that were often repeated – the “suicide” and the blind man attempting to escape for example. Both plays obviously demonstrated comical aspects – often seen through the repeated behaviors and scenes. Finally, both were short which is typical in a Kyogen play.
What is different about Yama Bushi and Kamabara? Kamabara seemed to use more “American” speaking language…while both plays were in English, I didn’t pick up on a Japanese accent in Kama as I did while watching Yama. Perhaps this was an accident but definitely something I noticed as a difference. Another difference was the overall content or theme of each play. In Yama, we see more of a religious tone; in Kama we see domestic and social issues being addressed. This brings another difference – in Yama there are only male characters; in Kama we see a strong female character. Although she is “downsized” with a traditional husband tone, she does provide initial comedic moments because she appears out of character within a Japanese play. Another difference is that Kama had singing – the husband/lead character ended the play while singing his lines vs. speaking them.
I don’t have the best memory. I don’t recall any jokes that relate to either play. However, the mischievous characters and bantering between husband and wife reminded me of a Shakespearean play such as Much Ado About Nothing or Taming of the Shrew. In Shakespeare’s comedies you can find the comedic nature between the characters…the language is strong and often plays the leading role.
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4 comments:
I enjoyed the quick steps, use of props, and color that you pointed out. I had not made a connection or even thought about the connection of suicide to the Japanese culture; thanks for pointing that out.
Noelle,
My first thought regarding the suicide was that the husband was no Samurai and was too weak, in general, to ever have a Samurai-type fortitude. While I realize the domineering female role was not supposed to be appealing, I could relate more to her than to her lazy and ultimately cowardly (by Samurai standards) husband. Or maybe I'm taking a comedic situation too seriously. :>
I hadn't thought about how the props would have been "household" items, but since the wife wanted her husband to cut brush, the sickle makes sense. And, of course, the mountain priest probably would have had prayer beads. It's interesting that neither man really used them as they were intended. The husband didn't want to cut brush, so he was going to use the sickle to kill himself, and the priest didn't pray with the beads but rubbed them together as a scare tactic to ward off the crab. I wonder if that says something about each man's failure to succeed.
Hi Noelle! Good point about the singing at the first in the one play...that was so different to the others we've watched. It surprised me at first and I wonder what the actual intent was with having that start of the play?
Gina- excellent connection with the purposed misuse of the props by each character, the husband and the priest.
Best, Lachlan
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