Plays

Introduction

The scene of the Prologue is the shore near Aso; of the first Act the scene is the strand of Takasago, of the second Act the scene is the strand of Sumiyoshi. (On the stage there is no differentiation of scene.)

The chorus would, originally at least, consist of the actors. At a later period more or fewer of the musicians and songmen (utahigata) took choral parts. It does not seem that there was any special chorus. It has, however, been supposed that the waki was accompanied by two hafuri (shrine-servants), who acted as chorus.

The performance began with the entry, from behind, of the shite and his tsure and the waki, who—in later times perhaps some of the musicians—would chant the opening quatrain. Upon the stage a Pine-tree was originally placed, afterwards represented by a picture on a curtain of the Tree under which the Spirits of the Trees of Takasago and Sumiyoshi were depicted, holding rakes in their hands and sweeping up the fallen needles.

The dancing or posturing would be part of the duty of the actors, not of the chorus, the functions of which only distantly resemble those of the chorus in the Greek Drama.

Characters

• The shite, or protagonist, an Ancient, being the Manifestation or Presence of the Spirit of the Pine-tree of Sumiyoshi (or Suminoye) in Settsu.

• The tsure, or companion of the Ancient, being a Dame, the Manifestation or Presence of the Spirit of the Pine-tree of Takasago in Harima.

• The ato shite, or deuteragonist—the part being taken by the shite—the Manifestation or Presence of the God (representing the three gods) of Sumiyoshi.

• The waki, or side-actor (tritagonist), being Tomonari, the Warden of the Shinto shrine of Aso in Higo (southwest of Kyūshū).

Prologue

Scene. The Seashore Near Aso in Higo.

Chorus. Tomonari.