I am sure you are not alone. There was a fair amount of audible yawning going on around. I agree with you about the “humorous parts” and I think the laughing might have been mostly (?) from the native speakers who could pick up on the subtleties and ironies in the Japanese. Voice inflections are very important for the message.

Very stimulating. McBurney’s full essay on this is instructive. It clarifies for me. I admit that I didn’t really get the connection between the Aesthetic of Shadows and the storyline. Mostly me I am quite sure but for the likes of me, the play could be more focused in the message (of course, this makes it more western, less japanese, I spose). I agree with many points in the nytimes review. Too long and that could’ve been remedied by excluding the narrator’s phone conv’s with boyfriend. I felt this distracted and detracted. Be that as it may, kudos to Complicite and Setagaya.

I was lulled at about the fifteen minute point and wondered then if I would not enjoy the performance. But I perked up quickly and was really drawn into it. I felt like it connected with the stated themes, “exterior” “interior” and that the stylized gestures and dance moments communicated in some ethereal way an idealized simple life at harmony with society and nature. At times it seemed almost like a “silent movie” with the exaggerated actions. The dancing itself was exquisite. The mudras, hand gestures, were transporting and I really love the head movements and that head tilt, it just gives me a warm feelilng of innocent love. I do have a background in South Asian culture studies so I imagine that is at play in my reaction. The “droning” music is understandably off-putting to western sensibilities but my experience was this receded in the background (as it is meant to?) and was substrate to the movements. The projection of prints on the backdrops and various use of the gauze curtain – very nice, very effective. I was really energized at the end of the performance and had a lovely exchange of emotions and ideas with my spouse afterwards.

I sometimes am disappointed with UMS events but this one I give two thumbs up. Although I can understand how it might now have been a favorite of some.

cheers

Slow and frankly uninteresting choreography and stifling balcony – not a good combination. Circus possibly appreciable as a period piece but example of surrealistic automatism falling short. Lamentation 2 and 3 were deadly. My second miss with this company. Will not opt for it again.