Kyogen (狂言) is a type of traditional Japanese theater that traces its history back to the 14th century. It was performed as an interlude of comic relief during serious, (painfully) slow-paced Noh (能) plays. This week, at UCSC, Kyogen was performed as one of the many short plays featured in the 10th “International Playhouse” put on by the Language Program. The starring languages, in order of appearance: German, Japanese, French, Spanish, Russian. Intermediate/advanced students of each of these languages fluently performed short plays in their respective languages, complete with English “super-titles” projected onto a screen above the stage.
The event was a bit meager on the Asian language representation, but the Kyogen performance more than made up for it– the three performers of “Sweet Poison” (附子), a classic Kyogen play, had the audience wow-ed and roaring with laughter. Kyogen is a high-skill art– not only do you need to master the language (a classical form of Japanese, very different from today’s lingo) but the vocal technique (not unlike singing) and the very exact, rigid movements unique to Kyogen (reminiscent of the kind of precision seen in other traditional Japanese arts, like the tea ceremony). These guys had it down pat.
Bravo, actors! Or should I say… omigoto!
The director, cast, and crew.
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