Kyoto performance reviews

 Going to debuts of the "graduation piece" of slithering demonwoman Dojoji  by Kongo school's Dec 11th (Udaka Norishige) and Kanze Shite program Dec 17th (Kawamura Kotarou), I was struck by how my enjoyment was coupled with and somewhat tempered by my memories of the performers. Although I have a particularly broad and long relationship with Kyoto noh and kyogen performers, perhaps every long-term fan has similar layered spectator feelings that have been little written about. Marvin Carlson hinted at a Shakespearean version with Haunted Stages, and noh stories, but as to strata of fandom? And what are we watching? The great warrior Yoshitsune looking back at HIS life, and the moment of bravery retrieving a fallen bow. Or a love-crazed maiden disguised as shirabyoshi dancer revealing her demon-snake while priests recall the story of the priest burned to a crisp beneath the bell by a grudge-filled snake. We are reminded of our relationships over time with the performers whi...

 Heroine's Work by Kamoi and Rudolph A fun evening depicting the thrills, challenges, and disappointments of manga artists moving from amateur vanity publishing to professionals with "dojin shuppan" fairs. Pastel stage set and properties and flamboyant, over the top acting made for a cheerful, comic rolicking play even when touching on heartfelt tensions of women's career choices, adoption, and  Here is the story as best I could piece it together: Three friends in a manga-writing circle are seen striving to produce a book-length manga to sell at a vanity publishing fair. Our heroine X is stuck, afraid she wont have ideas, but older mochi shop owner friend encourages her with tough love. A third acts out her manga, miming the panels to draw them more realistically (they all apprently draw and write).  We then visit the office of a laidies toiletries company rebranding itself as more youthful and fashionable. An ambitous, brisk career woman goes over her branding design...