Open-air performance #9 ／ spring 2019 Noh of the Wind III

Open-air performance #9 ／ spring 2019 <i>Noh of the Wind III</i>

May 11, 2019　From 18:00.

Venue：Susumu Shingu WIND MUSEUM ／ The stage over the pond

Performers
Subayashi Sanbaso　Genjiro Okura（Living national treasure）, Atsushi Ueda and others

Tsuchigumo　Minoru Umewaka（Living national treasure）, Genjiro Okura（Living national treasure） and others

Kaeai Kyogen　Takashi Zenchiku, Ryuhei Zenchiku and others

Admission：　〈S〉 8,000 Yen 〈A〉 6,000 Yen 〈Standing seats on the day of the performance〉 3,000 Yen

Organized by：　Kazemü Executive Committee

Sponsored by：　Hyogo Prefecture, City of Sanda

Supported by：　Tanimatsuya Toda Co., The Rotary Club of Sanda South, Honey FM

Cooperation by：　Minoru Umewaka, Dance West

The 9th open-air performance at Susumu Shingu WIND MUSEUM was blessed with beautiful weather. The Subayashi Sanbaso started surrounded by about 350 spectators, including some in Kimono, some from other countries and some enthusiastic fans from far away such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Kochi and so on.

The short commentary by Atsushi Ueda, the shoulder drum master of Okura School, was easy to understand and perfect for Noh beginners. After the ritual to ignite bonfires, the program of Tsuchigumo started.
A girl named Kocho (butterfly) visited Raiko Minamoto, who was ill in bed, to deliver medicine. Next visitor was a monk, actually spider spirit, who tried to attack Raiko. But Raiko took his sword and fought against the spirit until finally the spirit ran away. After the first part, Kyogen was played, joking and explaining the conflict between indigenous people and conquerors.

The second part was the killing of spider spirit by a group of samurai servants. The spider spirit fought throwing spider's web but was finally killed. The change of sky color at twilight time, the reflection of bonfire on the surface of water, the dancing white sculpture on the water, the chorus by flogs . . . . . all such things were beautiful.
When the sun set, the illumination brought up the stage on the water. When the fight was over, the players left the stage.
At the same time white lines went up towards the sky, as if the spirit of spider went back in the heaven. （Just for information: the balloon that disappeared in the sky was that of weather observation and no danger for environmental destruction.）
It was a wonderful time of a little less than two hours that we spent surrounded by rich nature.