Shoguns City by Noel Nouet M. Mills J. Mills

Author:Noel Nouet, M. Mills, J. Mills [Noel Nouet, M. Mills, J. Mills]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138996144
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2016-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

This form of art had a strange effect on the Kabuki actors, who began to imitate the doll’s gestures. Shamisen music and joruri songs were to be found in both theatres for quite a long time. Finally, the Kabuki in Edo triumphed and became the ideal in the field of dramatic art. There have been dynasties of actors who have passed on their particular style and ways to each other. It would be impossible to give all the names, but Segawa Kikunojo, Sawamura Sojuro and the Ichikawa Danjuro have left their mark in Kabuki history.

There have been nine Danjuro actors, the first of whom was murdered on the stage by one of his pupils in 1704; and the name of Onoe Kikugoro has appeared from time to time during the last few years. A list has been made of the eighteen best plays that were associated with Ichikawa Danjuro, of which ten are still performed. They all present an heroic character expressed by the word aragoto,signifying virile or rough. The play taken from the story of the 47 ronin contains eleven acts and has remained popular. There is also a whole collection of love dramas which are more or less realistic. The theatre had an extraordinary influence on Edo life. Actors created fashions. Designs in cloth, toilet articles, perfumes and cakes bore their names. The ukiyoe painter, Katsukama Shunsho, began to represent actors in either male or female roles and nearly all the artists followed his example, even women sought after the prints. Young samurai came to the theatre, stood discreetly among the audience and also bought prints. However, in spite of the tremendous popularity of the theatre, and in spite of the high cost of seats, theatre directors did not do good business. Actors asked for unheard-of salaries; the first Danjuro earned 500 ryo (a gold coin) a month, and the second Danjuro earned up to a thousand ryo. The costumes made of embroidered silk, the scenery and the musicians cost more and more. The rent of the land on which the theatres were built was constantly increasing. The Nakamuraza had a troupe of 76 actors; 31 musicians and stage managers; 263 employees; and 23 tea rooms. All too often, one theatre or another had to close as a result of prohibitive costs.

The theatrical year began with the eleventh month. On that day the three large theatres each gave an exceptional performance during which all the actors appeared on the stage. This was called the kaomise (showing one’s face). The admirers of fashionable and popular actors never missed it — later on there were five ‘seasons:’ January, March, May, July and September. Women’s fashions were started by onnagata (men who took female roles): these men identified themselves with their characters, imitated women’s voices and appearances so well that outside the theatre they went on living like women — with all the social consequences.

Following the great fires in Edo, the pleasure-quarter had been transferred to beyond Asakusa. A real city established itself there.

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