Theater+of+the+Noh

 **Nō (Noh) Theater** - Started in the 14th century.  - Has an almost bare stage and small cast.

Five types of characters 1. Dieties 2. Warriors 3. Women 4. Spirits of insane men 5. Demons  - Elaborate costumes and masks. - Either in verse or highly poetic - Tell Shinto and Buddhist Beliefs, Chinese and Japanese mythology, history, and literature. - Focus on emotional climax. - Music, dance, and choral speaking. - Noh performance has 5 plays with Kyogen (comic plays) in between. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Performances can last up to 12 hours with only male actors.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Five Plays <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">1. Kami: The "god" play is about the story of a Shinto shrine. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">2. Shura Mono: The "fighting" play is about warriors. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">3. Katsura Mono: The "wig" play has a female protagonist. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">4. Kyojo Mono: The "madwoman" play where a mother goes insane after losing a child or a lover. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">5. Gendai Mono: The "present day play" depicts realistic situations with practical plots.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">-Highly stylistic. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Shite- Main character, spirit or god, mask and silk robes. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Waki- Person at the side, no mask, a living person. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- 8 Chorus members, 4 musicians, 2 stage assistants, (audience pretends they are invisible). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Hashigakari-Bridge that leads off the stage.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- All elements follow very specific rules <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">-Kanami Kiyotsugu created Noh in the 1300's <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Made Sarugaku-noh (monkey music) - Dancing at Shinto Shrines. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Son Zeami Motokiyo wrote many plays and essay on how Noh Plays should be.

__[|World Book Online]__ __[|Noh Drama from UNLV]__