Overview
| Title | Mt Imo and Mt Se: A Tale of Womanly Virtue |
|---|---|
| Writer | Chikamatsu Hanji, Matsuda Baku, Eizen Bei, Chikamatsu Tonan, Miyoshi Shoraku, |
| Premiere |
Puppet: January 1771, Osaka |
| Overview |
A dynasty play on a grand scale set in the Asuka Period (592-710) depicting the resistance against the tyranny of Soga no Iruka and incorporating numerous myths and legends. The original play consists of five acts, but the most frequently performed are Acts III and IV. These all use the beautiful setting of rolling Yamato fields. Most notable is the use of two hanamichi to show both sides of a riverbank, as though the audience is in the middle of a river. The tragedy of two houses on either side of the river are shown in symmetry. This difficult piece requires a high level of skill and can only be performed by top actors and musicians. The michiyuki scene where two girls of different backgrounds fight over a man is popular as an independent dance piece, and the Mikasa Villa scene has the glamour and mystery of an old-style play. It is a masterpiece very much in the character of its main playwright, the prolific Chikamatsu Hanji. ★main graphic★ |
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