The Scripts, The Performances, and the Theatres

In Kabuki there were many different plays that were performed. Many of which were adaptations of Bankuro or puppet shows. Two of the most famous types of Kabuki were Jidaimono and Sewamono. Jidaimono plays were long, usually five acts, and were based on heroes and historical events. They also usually included a liberal mix of legend and fiction. Because of the extremely long length of the plays, they had more intricate plots. Sewamono plays were three acts long and were usually dramatized versions of current gossip or scandals in commoner society. Examples of this were love triangles, murders, and embezzlement. Plays today are very structured with a set script and stage directions. In Kabuki style, scripts were considered outlines for actors to follow, but it was primarily up to the performers to improvise their lines. For instance, they would be given the plot of the story and every scene, but it would be up to them to create the script and express their chosen reactions. The Kabuki scripts were writen so that if someone only saw one scene, they would get what was happening. This style of flexibility was called Kabuki-za. Since people did not want to sit down for a 5 hour play, they would come for a Kabuki-za form of it. Kabuki-za is what led to the lack of Kabuki play writes that we hold today. Play writers tried to get as many plays on paper as they could, but it was very hard because of the Kabuki-za technique. Unlike plays today, the Kabuki performances were built around the actors skillset. The actors in this period were more important than the actual plays in some respects. The actors would engage with the crowd throughout the play, making it more enjoyable for the audiences. Many plays would go from morning to the evening, sometimes lasting ten hours. At mealtimes, food was served. Ten of some of the most popular plays are listed below:

 

1)Narukami

2) Sukeroku

3)Shibaraku

4)Kanjincho

5) Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami

6)Musume Dojoji

7)Yotsuya Kaidan

8)Benten Kozo

9) Izayoi Seishin

10) Nezumi Yozo