Kyogen

Kyogen is a form of Japanese theater that is 400 years old. It is humorous and has an unusual vocal pattern that is hard to describe so I videotaped a minute of the show that we saw. Kyogen is typically done in Japanese but Don Kenny has studied the art for over 40 years and has translated many plays into English.




There is also songs in Kyogen, though it won't sound much like the singing you usually hear.



Here are a few interesting facts. No makeup is used in Kyogen but sometimes masks are used. There are only five masks used in Kyogen, one representing the devil, one for happiness, one for animals and two for women, one young but ugly and the other old and angry. Only men can be actors in Kyogen so all women are played by men.

Plays can last for 12 hours! Tickets are sold for half the play at a time, sometimes just a one hour act at a time.

What do you think of this form of theater?