Asian Theater

Indian Theater Presents the epic poem of Ramayana

and Mahabharata

Performances include dance plays

Ramayana

Mahabharata

Thailand theaterThe drama is based on formalized

dances, presenting stories from Hindu literature.

Grotesque masks and jeweled costumes are used

Chinese TheaterShows many battles and long journeys

of characters

Movements, properties and make-up are highly symbolic

Japanese TheaterThe forms of drama in Japan are

the Noh, Kabuki and the Doll theater

NohAlso called “Nogaku”Derived from the Japanese word for

"skill" or "talent“Major form of classical Japanese

musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century.

Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles.

They use fans to depict emotions.

Noh became the aristocratic entertainment in Japan in 1650.

KabukiThe individual kanji characters, from left to right,

mean sing (歌 ), dance (舞 ), and skill (伎 ). Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as “the art of singing and dancing.“

Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts, love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. Actors speak in somewhat monotonous voices accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments.

Kabuki takes place on a rotating stage (kabuki no butai). The stage is further equipped with several gadgets like trapdoors through which the actors can appear and disappear. Another specialty of the kabuki stage is a footbridge (hanamichi) that leads through the audience.

In the early years, both men and women acted in kabuki plays. Later during the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Shogunate forbade women from acting, a restriction that survives to the present day. Several male kabuki actors are therefore specialists in playing female roles (onnagata).

The Doll theaterUses magnificent gowned marionettes

about four feet high.

Each doll is manipulated by three attendants who wear black clothes and gauze mask to symbolize their invisibility

The lines are spoken and sung by narrators.

The theater in the Philippines

Pre-spanish periodDuplo and KaragatanA game of wit expressed through

riddles.

To be played during a wake and a death anniversary commemoration.

Carillo

A shadow playProjected cardboard figures on a

makeshift screen were manipulated so as to appear moving and acting.

Spanish PeriodCenaculo

A dramatic presentation held during holy week commemorating the passion of Jesus Christ.

Moro-moro

A presentation depicting the battle between Christians and Moro.

Zarzuela

A perpetuation consist of short pieces of songs, music and dialogues.

American PeriodZarzuela continued to be a vehicle

used to vent propagation of nationalism against the spanish and americans.

Patriotic Zarzuelas:Tanikalang Ginto by Juan AbadHindi Ako Patay by Juan Matapang CruzKahapon, Ngayon at Bukas by Aurelio

Tolentino

The Americans banned nationalistic zarzuelas.

Zarzuela presentation deals with more accepted themes as love, sufferings and death.

Vaudeville and Hollywood replaced Zarzuela

Japanese periodBanned of local and foreign films

except those about Japanese propaganda.

New era in Philippine theater

Theater groups were organized in 1953Dr. Severino Montano organized the Arena

Theater in the Philippine Normal College.

In 1960s, the theater started to use venacular, focusing on societal issues and concerns.

Examples are:Paul Dumol’s Ang paglilitis ni Mang Serapio

Theater companies establisged:

Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) founded by Cecile Guidote

Teatro Pilipino founded in 1976 by Rolando Tolentino

CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino headed by Fernando C. Josef

Thank You!