MAY 2004

5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô, NHK Hall), 2 in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 1 tour (Nakamuraya)!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tomijûrô and Nakamura Shikan perform at the Kabukiza!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the National Theatre!

Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe performs at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

Kabukiza (Tôkyô)
Dates 1 ~ 25 May 2004 (Gogatsu Ôkabuki)
Matinée

Shiki Sanbasô

Shibaraku

Momijigari

Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba

Evening

Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi (Ageya)

Kôjô

Kanjinchô

Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa
(Sakanaya Sôgorô)

Casting

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Shibajaku, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danshirô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tôzô

Comments

This amazing program celebrates the first month of the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô.

Here is the casting for the main roles in the main plays:

plays Roles Actors
Shiki Sanbasô Okina Nakamura Baigyoku
  Sanbasô Onoe Shôroku
  Senzai Nakamura Shibajaku
Shibaraku Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa Ichikawa Ebizô
  Kiyohara no Takehira Nakamura Tomijûrô
  Kamo Jirô Yoshitsuna Nakamura Shikan
  the nyûdô Kashima Shinsai Bandô Mitsugorô
  Katsura-no-Mae Nakamura Shibajaku
  Teruha Nakamura Tokizô
  Narita Gorô Ichikawa Sadanji
Momijigari Princess Sarashina / the ogress Onoe Kikugorô
  The Mountain God Onoe Kikunosuke
  Taira no Koremochi Nakamura Baigyoku
Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba Fukuoka Mitsugi Ichikawa Danjûrô (replaced by Nakamura Baigyoku from the 10th)
  Manno Nakamura Shikan
  Okon Nakamura Kaishun
  Kisuke Ichikawa Ebizô
  Oshika Sawamura Tanosuke
Ageya Miyagino Nakamura Tokizô
  Shinobu Onoe Kikunosuke
  Daikokuya Sôroku Nakamura Tomijûrô
Kanjinchô Benkei Ichikawa Danjûrô (replaced by Bandô Mitsugorô from the 10th)
  Togashi Ichikawa Ebizô
  Yoshitsune Onoe Kikugorô
Sakanaya Sôgorô Sôgorô Bandô Mitsugorô
  Isobe Kazuenosuke Ichikawa Ebizô
  Ohama Nakamura Shibajaku
  Sankichi Onoe Shôroku
  Onagi Onoe Kikunosuke
  Urato Jûzaemon Bandô Hikosaburô
Minamiza (Kyôto)
Dates 3 ~ 27 May 2004 (Minamiza Hanagata Kabuki)
Matinée

Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki (Kumagai Jin'ya)

Fuji Musume

Toribeyama Shinjû

Evening

Imayô Kasane Keshô no Sugatami

Casting

Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukusuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Kamejirô

Comments

The 2 highlights are the third revival of the great ghost play "Imayô Kasane Keshô no Sugatami", which was revived by Nakamura Hashinosuke and Nakamura Fukusuke for the first time in March 2001 at the National Theatre and for the second time at the Misonoza in April 2003, and Nakamura Hashinosuke's performance in the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane using the unusual kata created by Nakamura Shikan IV.

Shinbashi Enbujô (Tôkyô)
Dates 1 ~ 25 May 2004
Program Shin Sangokushi III
Casting

Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen

Comments

Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe of young and talented actors perform a modern style of theater, which they created a few years ago and called "Super Kabuki" (Sûpâ Kabuki in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's lingo): it's spectacular (lots of chûnori), the costums are gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated, the music is modern, the texts are easy to understand and the plots are as twisted as a good Kabuki classic. Usually a big commercial success!

Ichikawa Ennosuke is on sick leave and does not perform in this production.

National Theatre (Tôkyô)
Dates 13 ~ 23 May 2004 (Zenshinza Gogatsu Kôen)
Program

Tsuma Moyô Okitsu Shiranami (Yakko no Koman)

Tomo Yakko

Casting

Nakamura Umenosuke, Arashi Keishi, Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Nakamura Baijaku, Segawa Kikunojô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Yamazaki Ryûnosuke, Yamazaki Kyôka, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô

Comments

Rare revival by the Zenshinza troupe of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Tsuma Moyô Okitsu Shiranami", commonly called "Yakko no Koman".

Nakamuraya Japan Tour
Dates 18 ~ 25 May 2004 (Myôseki Saigo no Shinroku Tokubetsu Kôen)
Program

Fuji Musume

Tomo Yakko

Sannin Renjishi

Casting

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke

Comments

Short tour in several Japanese cities for the Nakamuraya guild, led by Nakamura Kankurô and his two sons Kantarô and Shichinosuke. The complicated tour title means "Special Public Performance for the last new green leaves of Spring under this Name", an allusion to the next year shûmei of Nakamura Kankurô, who is expected to take the prestigious name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII. This special Spring tour is in fact his last performance in "Sannin Renjishi" under the Kankurô name.

NHK Hall (Tôkyô)
Dates 28 May 2004 (Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai)
Program

Kanadehon Chûshingura

  • Teppô Watashi, Futatsudama
  • Kanpei Harakiri
  • Casting

    Onoe Kikugorô, Ichikawa Danzô, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Onoe Matsusuke, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Tôzô

    Comments

    31st edition of a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK. The program includes one kyôgen, one Kabuki play, one traditional dance and traditional music.

     
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