Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Jan 19, 2009 14:54:31 GMT -5
On Sunday February 8, the Japan Foundation, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan, will present a lecture demonstration on Noh, a style of Japanese traditional theater, entitled "Noh: Pathos Behind the Mask." In this program, Noh principal actor Mr. Shizuka Mikata, of the Kanze School, Kyoto, together with four other outstanding performers, will demonstrate the movements, sounds and stories from this elusive art. Admission is FREE. Date: Sunday, February 8, 2:00 p.m. Location: University of San Francisco McLaren Room 252 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco CA 94117 For more info, go to www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/archives/PR_e/2009/pr_09_0116.htm |
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Feb 8, 2009 23:04:23 GMT -5
I blew what might have been an otherwise productive day preparing and packing for war in attending this incredibly frustrating program. I intend to fire off a letter to the Consulate General's office in San Francisco about what a disservice their choice of venue did to both the lecture and the performance demo. The hall was too small for the number of attendees and the "stage" area was at floor level, which meant that unless you were sitting in the first couple of rows, you couldn't see Mikata-san (who chose to conduct his lecture while seated on the floor) or the musicians (fue, ko-tsuzumi and o-tsuzumi). All I could see from where I was seated were a succession of craning heads. When the performance segment began, one could at least see Mikata-san from the waist up. The scene was from "Atsumori," in which Rensho recalls the death of his young adversary while gazing at the sea. A brief synopsis of the play can be found here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atsumori_What I could see and hear was breathtaking, but it wasn't enough! |
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Post by Henmei on Feb 9, 2009 1:06:47 GMT -5
I intend to fire off a letter to the Consulate General's office in San Francisco about what a disservice their choice of venue did to both the lecture and the performance demo. I was able to see a bit more, because I didn't get a seat; I spent the afternoon standing against the wall. I don't quite share your exasperation with the CGJ. The consulate itself has no space that would offer larger capacity or better sight-lines, either in their office space downtown or at the Consul General's residence. The consulate's role in this presentation was probably limited to the search for a co-sponsor to provide the venue, and the university's banquet hall is what was available. If you and I could pool our resources to underwrite a more suitable venue it would have made many people happier, but we might as well propose flying the audience to Kyoto for a performance. How much happier would you have been if they had bypassed the Bay Area completely for lack of a better venue? What I could see and hear was breathtaking, but it wasn't enough! At least during the part of the lecture about the costumes, they did hold them up and move them from one side of the stage to the other. |
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
|
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Feb 9, 2009 2:17:28 GMT -5
I was able to see a bit more, because I didn't get a seat; I spent the afternoon standing against the wall. The only way we knew a mask was being held up for us not to see was because the translator said so. I don't abandon friends with physical limitations just 'cause, otherwise I'd've gone down front onto the floor, or taken a standing room spot against the wall. So how much does it cost to rent a stage deck for an afternoon, anyway, assuming that a university doesn't own their own, or have another hall with something stage-like actually in it? Even a height of 18" inches would've improved matters. |
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Post by solveig on Feb 9, 2009 18:25:04 GMT -5
Noble Cousins!
Greetings from Solveig! Just about every university around has at least one portable stage available to set up in the Student Union Banquet Hall and similar locations. I suspect that there may have been poor communication with the university. Regardless, consider growling at the university. They really really really should have known better.
Incidentally, I've staged Atsumori a couple of times. It's an interesting play. However, several years ago I was advised that SCA audiences are not particularly suited for Noh and that I should stick to Kyogen. It might be fun sometime to put together a Japanese/East Asian "bardic" event with plays, dances, music, &c. And, of course, a Japanese banquet.
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