Kyogen Farce Japan
two types of kyogen:
During the Heian period /794- 1186) the Japanese nobility began and the surugaku which consists of jugglers, farce, professional dancers and thematic music were introduced as a form of entertainment. Noh and Kyogen started from this
Performance elements --> what makes it specific
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKfriCzdjSg
sources
the cambridge guide to ASIAN THEATRE -James R Brandon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dgen
http://www.britannica.com/art/kyogen
http://www.sctheatre.org/lessons/Kyogen_Paper.pdf
two types of kyogen:
- hon-kyogen
- discreet plays performed between noh plays
- involves two or three actors who's role are to make the audience laugh by using dialogue which is performed in a conversational style or through precise gestures.
- discreet plays performed between noh plays
- ai-kyogen or ai
- is performed by one actor and his role is to help with the progression of the noh plays story and the audience's understanding
- the actor appears in the play
- is performed by one actor and his role is to help with the progression of the noh plays story and the audience's understanding
- it is about the common class
- there are two main characters
- It is a form of traditional Japanese comic theatre. It was created alongside Noh- it was performed as an intermission between Noh acts
- shares similar characteristics to noh
- kyogen is linked with laugher which is an emotional state which is not expressed in noh
- Its effect is to relieve the tension of the drama.
- There are normally four kyōgen interspersed among the usual five Noh pieces. Over time, kyōgen developed into an independent dramatic form, and ai-kyōgen came to refer specifically to Noh interludes.
- its origins are unclear but said to have started in the 14th century
- started as a vulgar and improvisational art which contained a fair amount of sexual innuendo
- kyogen speech is based on the dialogue from the muromachi-era (1336-1573)
- there are normally four kyogen interspersed among the usual five No pieces
During the Heian period /794- 1186) the Japanese nobility began and the surugaku which consists of jugglers, farce, professional dancers and thematic music were introduced as a form of entertainment. Noh and Kyogen started from this
Performance elements --> what makes it specific
- masks are worn for animals and gods but normally the actor performs without a mask or makeup.
- Costumes are based on the real clothing people wore in medieval times --> relatively plain
- has stock characters like commedia de'll arte
- Few props are used, and minimal or no stage sets. As with Noh, a fan is a common accessory.
- kyogen actors are called okashi --> belonged to performance troupes and performed in alternation with noh actors
- masks are used to provide a disguise for tricking someone and to create a character
- masks are made from wood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKfriCzdjSg
sources
the cambridge guide to ASIAN THEATRE -James R Brandon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dgen
http://www.britannica.com/art/kyogen
http://www.sctheatre.org/lessons/Kyogen_Paper.pdf