DECEMBER 2004

2 shows in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 3 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre)!

  • Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Tomijûrô perform at the Minamiza!
  • Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Kankurô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukusuke and the Omodakaya guild perform at the Kabukiza!
  • Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Shibajaku and Ichikawa Somegorô perform at the National Theatre
  • Minamiza (Kyôto)
    Dates 30 November ~ 26 December 2004 (Kichirei Kaomise Kôgyô Kabuki)
    Matinée

    Hakone Reigen Chikai no Adauchi

    Shibaraku

    Migawari Zazen

    Omatsuri

    Evening

    Kajiwara Heizô Homare no Ishikiri
    (Ishikiri Kajiwara)

    Kôjô

    Sumidagawa

    Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura

    Casting

    Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danshirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Kataoka Shinnosuke

    Comments

    Ichikawa Ebizô celebrates his shûmei in Kyôto, playing the roles of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa and Sukeroku in the dramas "Shibaraku" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

    Kabukiza (Tôkyô)
    Dates 2 ~ 26 December 2004 (Jûnigatsu Ôkabuki)
    Matinée

    Komochi Yamanba
    (Yaegiri Kuruwa Banashi)

    Migawari Zazen

    Ume Goyomi

    Evening

    Gozonji Suzu-ga-Mori

    Izumo no Okuni Yume no Hanayagi

    Tanuki

    Ima ha Mukashi Momotarô

    Casting

    Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Kankurô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Shinjirô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Danjirô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Juen

    Comments

    A great December program, with a few classics, whose 2 highlights are:

  • "Ume Goyomi": the rivalry of 2 geisha, played by Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Kankurô, in love with the same handsome man, played by the rising young star Ichikawa Danjirô.
  • "Ima ha Mukashi Momotarô": a new drama written by the actress and playwright Watanabe Eriko, who revisited the myth of Momotarô, a little boy who came to an old man and woman in a giant peach floating down a stream and grew up to vanquish the island of demons with his three companions, a dog, a monkey and a pheasant. Nakamura Kankurô played the role of Momotarô when he made his first stage appearance in April 1959. This play is a way for him to commemorate his last performance under his current name, before taking the name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII next year!
  • National Theatre (Tôkyô)
    Dates 4 ~ 26 December 2004
    Program

    Hana Fubuki Koi no Tekagami

    Kanjinchô

    Casting

    Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Somegorô

    Comments

    Revival of the short drama "Hana Fubuki Koi no Tekagami", commonly called "Chichi Morai" (literally "begging for mother’s milk"), written by the 19th century star Nakamura Utaemon III (under his pen name of Kanazawa Ryûgoku I): "this shows handsome young Kanô Shirojirô who prefers playing with courtesans to spending time with his wife Koyuki. In fact, he’s never slept with her. And he isn’t even ashamed to beg for money from her to pay his mountain of debts. But after she selflessly gives him money, unknown to him, she is abducted. Some months later, Shirojirô is given a baby to care for, because it will bring him some money. But in the Edo Period, it was very difficult for a man to raise a baby, because the only way to feed the baby was to find a woman with extra milk willing to feed the child. Shirojirô finds a woman who will feed the baby and discovers that it is Koyuki and that the baby is hers. This is an opportunity for Shirojirô to be very elaborately jealous before the riddle of the baby’s father and the identity of the man keeping Koyuki is revealed and everything ends happily." (from Earphone Guide website)

     
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