The dance-drama "Migawari Zazen", or "The Zen Substitute", was adapted from the Kyogen farce "Hanago" and was first performed in 1910. The simple set, a large, stylized pine painted on the rear panels, mimics that of the classical Noh theater, and many of the stylizations of speech and movement are borrowed from Kyogen. "Migawari Zazen's" easy to understand, universal comic theme of the strong-wife, weak husband has made it popular both in Japan and overseas.
The daimyo Ukyo wishes to visit his mistress Hanago, but his over- loving, quick-tempered wife, Tama no i, will not allow him to leave the mansion. He comes up with a story that he has been plagued by terrible nightmares and wishes to perform zen meditation to help them go away. His wife is not to check up on him while he does so. Tama no i reluctantly agrees, but only allows him one evening alone.
Ukyo calls his servant, Taro Kaja, and orders him to take his place under the large robe used during meditation. Ukyo can now slip out, but it will still look from the outside as if he is meditating. Taro Kaja fears what will happen if Tama no i finds out, but Ukyo is insistant. Everything set in place, Ukyo sets off for a night of romance.
Just as Ukyo feared, his wife could not stay away. She comes to offer him refreshments and discovers Taro Kaja under the robe. She will forgive him only if he allows her to take his place under the robe.
Ukyo returns, giddy with pleasure. Not knowing that it is his wife under the robe, he describes the events of the night in great detail.....
I'm indebted to the website from which information of the play and the pictures came from. Fans who have read the summary report before should know the story by now. However, as pictures are not turning out properly, I have put in the pictures I took.
From a musical and historical view, Migawarizazen is a Matsubame play 松羽目物 (noh-inspired: note the Pine tree background) and the musical genre is Tokiwazu style. So there is a set of Joruri Tokiwazu musicians sitting on stage-left. The standard set of singers, shamisen players, drums and flute is present. Please enjoy the pictures, and well, there are many pictures of the instruments but..hm, that's what I like! :) The play was very funny and enjoyable, and even if you don't understand Japanese, if you have read the synopsis, you can follow the show very easily. The typical Tokiwazu was very light and narrative. I will later explain who acted in it.
Onoe Kikugoro acts as Ukyo here, click the link below to know more about him, or click here. |
