Asian Theater
Indian Theater
Presents the epic poem of Ramayana
and Mahabharata
Performances include dance plays
Thailand theater
The drama is based on formalized
dances, presenting stories from Hindu
literature.
Grotesque masks and jeweled costumes
are used
Chinese Theater
Shows many battles and long journeys of
characters
Movements, properties and make-up
are highly symbolic
Japanese Theater
The forms of drama in Japan are
the Noh, Kabuki and the Doll
theater
Noh
Also 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.
Kabuki
The 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 theater
Uses 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 period
Duplo and Karagatan
A game of wit expressed through riddles.
To be played during a wake and a
death anniversary commemoration.
Carillo
A shadow play
Projected cardboard figures on a
makeshift screen were manipulated so
as to appear moving and acting.
Spanish Period
Cenaculo
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 Period
Zarzuela continued to be a vehicle used
to vent propagation of nationalism
against the spanish and americans.
Patriotic Zarzuelas:
Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad
Hindi Ako Patay by Juan Matapang Cruz
Kahapon, 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 period
Banned of local and foreign films except
those about Japanese propaganda.
New era in Philippine theater
Theater groups were organized in 1953
Dr. 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!