TA 10 #3 Medieval and Japanese Theater

Medieval theater greatly differs from Japanese theater. two types of Medieval theater are mystery plays and Miracle plays. 

Mystery play (source- Google)

     Mystery plays focused on stories from the Bible. The plays were accompanied by antiphonal songs, and were performed at festivals. The plays consisted of special effects, music, and moments of comedy.  High Priests played Bishops, and Shepards played Yorkshiremen. 

Miracle plays were about the lives and works of saints. They mainly performed on Saint's Day. Not all of the plays were biblical; however, members of the clergy were the actors. The crowds got to be so big, that they had to hold the performances outside in the church yard, or in the street. In 1210, the clergy was not allowed to perform anymore, so the town guilds took over. The Vernacular language took over Latin, and scenes were put in that were not in the Bible. 

Yoshimasa Kanze in "Hagoromo"
© Kanze Yoshimasa/
KAMIASOBI/Aoki Shinji

     Noh theater was a musical drama for of theater that originated from the 14th century in Japan. All of the actors wore masks, and were male. the masks that they wore made it very hard for the actors to see the stage. All of the stages had a roof over them, as if they were outside. They played many instruments, just like the mystery plays. the play was shown in intervals. about every half an hour, they would perform a Kyogen performance. Kyogen performances were either for comic relief, or to explain what had jut happened in the play.  the plays would either deal with the supernatural or every day events. Commoners were not allowed to learn the music and dance. 

Kabuki Theater, Japan

     Kabui theater dealt with the art of singing and dancing. The actors had wild costumes and makeup. This art form was created by a woman; however, it was performed by men later in time. The actors originally were prostitute women, and men loved to watch the plays. eventually, men were brought into the plays as actors. they were typically young males with high voices. the performances would go on from morning until sunset. Kabuki differs from any type of theater because it had female actors, unlike mystery, miracle, and Noh theater. It also was more popular among the lower class.

     Japanese theater has remained to stay popular because people have learned to change it and develop it over time. Medieval theater was mainly about biblical stories, or morality. Japan has modernized and adopted more forms of theater.