Kabuki: The Japanese Art Of Song, Dance, And Skill

Image source: theguardian.com

On a recent trip to Japan, I finally had the chance to witness a Kabuki play. Clearly, it was the highlight of my trip and I couldn’t have spent the holiday any other way than watching a good cultural performance.

I learned a lot about Kabuki through books and the net, but witnessing the performance first hand was a totally different experience. Here’s what I can share about Kabuki, from what one of my Japanese friends told me.

Kabuki is one of the three major classic theater performances in Japan, alongside noh and bunraku. Kabuki means song (ka), dance (bu), and skill (ki). The performance is designed to showcase dramatic and spectacular artistry, unlike the solemn and ritual-like noh.

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Kabuki performances are accompanied by musical instruments like shamisen, chanting, drums, and flutes. The stage is often set in green, black, and reddish stripes. Actors wear jidaimono or sewamono, which were famous in the Edo period. Traditional kabuki plays ban female artists on-stage because back in the day, prostitution was a wide side business in some kabuki troupes. Since then, male actors do “onnagata” or female impersonation, which requires them to train for years. Common themes of kabuki include filial piety, giri-ninjo (love and duty conflicts), and Confucian thought.

The performance was undoubtedly long (five hours with intermissions), but I enjoyed every part of it. Luckily, I had an English ear-piece so I had an idea of what was happening during the long display of talents.

Hi, Joshua B. Eaves here! I’m a big fan of the Blue Man Group and all things related to theater. Let’s explore the colorful world of performance arts together when you follow me on Twitter.

Forgive And Forget: What To Do When You Mess Up Your Lines

One of the worst things an actor can do is to forget his or her lines. However, it's not as uncommon as some may be led to believe. Forgetting your lines is fine, as long as you keep your composure. As they say, the show must go on! Here are some tips in order to handle these situations:

Practice regularly

To address the problem before it arises, practice is key. Rehearse your lines alone or with a partner so you can be confident about knowing your lines. Sometimes, confidence is all you need to overcome stage fright and help you deliver your lines smoothly.

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Keep calm and don't panic

Obviously, this is easier said than done but it's sound advice. Panicking will get you nowhere and will only alert the audience of your blunder. Instead, take a deep breath and think about your next line.

Ad lib

A good habit to practice is ad lib. You don't have to say the lines in your script verbatim, especially in cases where you forget them. If you find yourself struggling for the exact words, c0nsider rephrasing your lines or doing an ad lib to avoid dead air on stage.

 Image source: examiner.com

Move

Find an excuse to walk around or do something on stage while thinking of the lines you've forgotten. Walking on stage will give the illusion that you know what you're doing rather than forgetting what your lines are.

Hell there! I am Joshua B. Eaves, a big fan of theater and the Blue Man Group. Subscribe to my blog for more stories about stage plays and other related topics.