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LilyBlog 9/21/12 – Omigyod, I Lyove Kyogen
SEP 21, 2012
What is Kyogen? It developed at the same time as Noh during the 14th century in Japan. Noh was a meditative (and long) form of drama, which traditionally dealt with subjects from mythology, history and classical literature. It was a very high level of theater reserved typically for elite members of Japanese society. Kyogen, while coming from the same style, was traditionally more comedic and accessible to the Everyman.
What does that have to do with The Lily’s Revenge? There are parts of the play that are based on elements and the style of Noh, but what about the Kyogen? During the intermissions, there will be “Kyogen” performances by members of the company. They’re coordinated by intern Vahdat Yeganeh and Harvard senior Josh McTaggart. The Lily’s Revenge is anything but an ordinary show, so will the Kyogens during intermission be ordinary? Absolutely not! Though I guess the idea of even having Kyogens at all is pretty…weird. The production at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco involved a kyogen called “Songs Flushed from the Show,” in which characters sang cut material in the men’s room. Accompanied by a scantily-clad accordionist. So…yeah. That’s what we’re talking about.
Josh led a Kyogen workshop at rehearsal one day, which included a few basic exercises with the full company, then smaller groups. Each group had a secret theme that they used to create a Kyogen. In a way, the Kyogen feel like structured improvisations, but with a key difference. Improv can often be enjoyed without the participation of the audience (leave it to the experts), but the Kyogen in The Lily’s Revenge are about encouraging the audience to engage and participate. The whole atmosphere of the show will be like a non-stop carnivalesque adventure, with theater happening everywhere you look (yes, probably in the bathroom, too).
Josh believes that a big part of this play is the breaking down of boundaries and personal connection between audience members. He hopes that these Kyogen will encourage the audience members to connect to the actors and the play differently than they would at a more traditional theater experience. In crafting the Kyogen, Josh and Vahdat instructed the actors to go “beyond the verbal.” So, some will be simple, some complex, and some will require a higher level of participation from the audience than others; but all of them will contribute to the unique experience of The Lily’s Revenge.