Once in an eternity April 12, 2012 Alti Fumin Hall An Evening With(out) Senrei There are many “once-in-a-lifetime” performances in Japan. A typical noh play will be performed only once by the shite; even if repeated, the ensemble of chorus and musicians, waki and kyogen will vary. The cost of renting hall and costumes, wigs and dressers, and musicians’ fees and gaining an audience for the many recitals of nihonbuyo happen only once. And actors from all traditions might greet a fushime milestone with a special “one-time only” performance to celebrate a kanreki (60) or 88 th birthday. But I’ve never seen a posthumous once-in-an-eternity performance until last night. Nishikawa Senrei, beloved teacher and creative force for 30 years in Kyoto’s conservative buyo world, produced another “evening with Senrei” where as usual she designed the costumes, story, choreography, and musical accompaniment, promoted with posters and leaflets and emails, and watch
an occasional document of theatrical life in Kyoto and the virtual world at the beginning of the 21st century