Suzanne Willett

Yuichi Kinoshita’s Kanjincho draws from the Noh play that centers on Yoshitsune’s attempt to cross the border in Japan to escape his brother’s death warrant.  The theme that resonated for me here is borders/lines and hierarchy.  I found this production to be innovative in drawing upon Kabuki (to name only a few: the tachimawari scene, the mie poses) while refining it.  For the mie poses, I found Yoshitsune’s (Noemi Takayama’s) stillness while feigning exhaustion exuded an exc