Traditional Japanese Theater - (Translations from the Asian Classics) by Karen Brazell (Paperback)

About the Book

The first book of its kind: a collection of the most important genres of Japanese performance--noh, kyogen, kabuki, and puppet theater--in one comprehensive, authoritative volume.

Book Synopsis

This is a collection of the most important genres of Japanese performance--noh, kyogen, kabuki, and bamrili puppet theater--in one comprehensive, authoritative volume. Organized by genre, each section features a rich selection of representative plays and explorations into each theatrical style and is prefaced by an illustrative essay covering a wide range of subjects, from stage direction to musical accompaniment. With classic and new translations of more than thirty plays and scenes--along with Brazell's detailed, historically rich supplementary material and copious illustrations--no better anthology exists for students of this most fascinating and diverse dramatic tradition.

From the Back Cover

Though Japan has a venerable anthologizing tradition of its own, Karen Brazell does what indigenous Japanese editors have never done: she incorporates in one authoritative volume all four of the major Japanese dramatic forms -- no, kyogen, kabuki, and bunraku puppet theater -- collecting the most celebrated works of the Japanese performance tradition. Organized by genre, each section features a rich selection of representative plays exploring each theatrical style and is prefaced by an illustrative essay covering a wide range of subjects, from stage direction to musical accompaniment. With both classic and new translations of more than thirty plays and scenes -- along with Brazell's detailed, historically rich supplementary material and copious illustrations -- no better anthology exists of the Japanese theatrical corpus.

Review Quotes

A collection of translations of traditional Japanese plays that will become the standard textbook for courses on Japanese theater. A compact introduction, rich variety of fine translations of representative plays, detailed stage directions, and extensive photographs make this an ideal teacher's tool.--Jonah Salz "The Journal of Asian Studies"

A compact introduction, rich variety of fine translations of representative plays, detailed stage directions, and extensive photographs make this an ideal teacher's tool...This is not only a fine anthology, but the only anthology of its kind.--Jonah Salz "The Journal of Asian Studies"

Promises to become a classic.-- "The Drama Review"

About the Author

Karen Brazell is a professor in the department of East Asian Studies at Cornell University and is the winner of the National Book Award for her translation of The Confessions of Lady Nijo. She is also editor of Twelve Plays of the No and Kyogen Theaters, and coauthor, with Monica Bethe, of No as Performance and the three-volume Dance in the No Theater.