By manipulating half-life-sized puppets, operated by a puppet master and two assistants clothed in black and in view of the audience, members of the Tonda Puppet Theater of Japan evoke a nearly forgotten art form. Following on its successful tour in August 1999, the Tonda Puppet Theater of Japan will be touring the United States this month, bringing its unique puppet artistry to Charlottesville on Sunday, Oct. 7.
In 1999, the troupe performed to a sold-out house at Culbreth Theatre.
"Many people from places as far as New Jersey tried to get in to watch the performance in '99, even after tickets were sold out and the performance started," said Jett McAlister, a graduate College of Arts & Sciences student who is in charge of publicity for the show.
There's no doubt why the Tonda Puppet Theater of Japan is returning to Charlottesville for another performance.
With the support of Jamie and Mary McConnell, the University's East Asia Center will sponsor the performance. Tomoko Marshall, the University's lecturer for the Japanese language, organized for the Tonda Puppet Theater's return to Charlottesville.
"They are very experienced performers," Marshall said. "I think it is a great opportunity for anybody in Charlottesville who's never seen a Japanese traditional performance. Students will really see Japanese culture and tradition through their show."
According to stories passed down through the years, the Tonda Puppet Theater started after an itinerant puppet troupe from Awa, Japan (present-day Tokushima), arrived in Tonda during the winter of 1835. Because the harsh, wintry weather, the troupe was snowbound and unable to perform. As the horrible weather subsided, the puppet troupe was broke and forced to leave stage equipment and a large number of puppets to the locals at Tonda as collateral for a loan to cover their travel expenses back to Shikoku.
Years passed, and no one came back to reclaim the puppets; therefore, with the help of another itinerant puppet troupe, the people of Tonda taught themselves the conventions of theater and the manipulation of the puppets. In the 1800s, the Tonda Puppet Theater began traveling outside its home area as their skills improved. Since then, the troupe has been delighting audiences in Japan and internationally for more than 150 years.
Three ancient pieces will be performed in English. The three pieces from the classical bunraku repertoire include a celebratory dance, the sanbaso, which features a Shinto priest puppet; an excerpt from "Keisei Awa no Naruto," a tragic story of a mother who cannot reveal her identity to her daughter; and "Hidakagawa Iriaizakura," a jocular yet haunting story about a woman who transforms herself into a serpent to win back her love.
There will also be a demonstration of puppetry techniques and conventions seen in the performance by the members of the Tonda Puppet Theater. The troupe will perform at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students at Mincer's, New Dominion Bookshop and Plan 9 Records.
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