Student Organizations

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY

Kabuki, Noh, Puppetry, Physical theater, Slapstick comedy, Stage Combat

PLOT

“Tales from Rashomon” is an original dramatic adaptation of several of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s short stories, made famous by Akira Kurosawa’s award winning, 1950 film, “Rashomon.”

A colorful band of refugees from natural and man-made disasters gather under civilization’s ruins to wait out a storm.  To pass the time, they read testimonies from an unusual murder trial.  A bandit is accused of having murdered a samurai who was passing through a bamboo grove with his wife.  Testimony is heard from the bandit, the samurai’s wife and, through a medium, the samurai himself.  Each story is so detailed and credible that it is impossible to tell which is true.  The very nature of truth and reality is questioned.

PRODUCTION

Our production will feature three distinct traditional Japanese performance styles.  The Bandit’s version of the story will be presented in Kabuki style.  The Wife’s version of the story will be presented using Noh style.  The Samurai’s version will be presented using Bunraku style puppetry.  Each version includes exciting physical performances and stage combat in the various performance styles.

CAST

Beggar Woman – an eccentric homeless woman, actually the spirit of Rashomon gate

Servant – just dismissed from a good job, the servant seeks refuge at Rashomon gate

Bandit – a brash and bold ruffian

Wife – a young wife to the samurai

Samurai – a stoic and powerful warrior

Chorus -  the chorus will be on stage for most of the play switching from performance style to performance style, they will sing/chant in unison during the Noh portion.

All roles are color and gender inclusive.  Asian and Asian-American students are especially encouraged to audition.

DIRECTOR

Guest Director, Kathy Welch

Artistic Director of Ivey Award winning Green T Productions, Kathy studied kabuki for over ten years in Hawaii and Japan.  She earned a Ph.D. Asian Theatre from the University of Hawaii under renowned kabuki scholar and Japanese "Order of the Rising Sun" recipient Dr. James R. Brandon. She was the recipient of the Japanese Ministry of Education Grant (Monbusho,) the Japanese equivalent of the Fullbright.  She lived in Japan for 2 1/2 years studying traditional dance, shamisen, koto, tea ceremony and conducting dissertation research on kabuki theatre at the Kabuki, Minami and National theatres.  She studied kabuki acting under the late Japanese Living National Treasure, Nakamura Matagorô, and kabuki dance for six years under Onoe Kikunobu.  Kathy's experience with Asian theatre forms also includes Beijing opera (jinqu), Balinese kecak, kyogen, noh and bunraku.