初春歌舞伎公演「遠山桜天保日記」 国立劇場
“遠山の金さん”が主人公の国立劇場の初春歌舞伎公演「遠山桜天保日記」を観劇した。遠山金四郎は江戸時代末期に江戸町奉行をつとめた実在の人物。庶民的な性格で、「天保の改革」の倹約令で存亡に危機にあった芝居町を救ったと言われている。尾上菊五郎が金四郎をつとめ、尾上松緑、尾上菊之助、中村時蔵などが出演している。正月らしい賑やかな芝居だ。
奉行になる前、芝居好きな金四郎は河原崎座で唄方をつとめていた。そこでは笛方と鳴物師の大喧嘩がおこる。そこで仲裁に入った”金さん“が見事に収めた。事件が起きる。ある店の若旦那は芸事の師匠の若い女と恋仲だったが、親から反対され、二人は心中をはかる。しかし男は生き残ってしまう。生き残った若旦那は悪の道に足をすすむ。そこに、身を持ち崩した元武士の悪党、僧でありながら吉原に通う破戒僧が登場する。ゆすり、押し込み強盗、殺し、佐渡金山の御用金強奪などが行われる。話は、荒唐無稽で誇張はあるが、面白おかしく芝居はすすむ。最後はお白洲の場、おなじみの金四郎の見事なお裁きで「一件落着！」の決め台詞で終わる。
その後は、新春公演らしい役者全員の踊りとパフォーマンスが行われた。祝の手ぬぐいが客席に向かって撒かれた。菊五郎は「ブラボー！」と叫び、踊りには日ハム応援の「きつねダンス」も登場する。「伝統ある歌舞伎だぞ！」と思うけど、歌舞伎とは常に新しいものを入れるものだ、と納得する。
歌舞伎観劇も史談会らしくて良いかなと初めて企画した。予想で20人ぐらいと思っていたが、60人近くの申し込みにびっくりした。会員の関心は高かったのだ。女性会員は着飾っていた。2023.1.20
Early Spring Kabuki Performance "Toyama Sakura Tenpo Nikki" National Theater
We watched the early spring Kabuki performance "Toyama Zakura Tenpo Nikki" at the National Theater in which "Kin-san of Toyama" is the main character. Kinshiro Toyama is a real person who served as the Edo town magistrate at the end of the Edo period. He had a commoner personality, and is said to have saved the theater town from its life-or-death crisis due to the thrifty ordinance of the 'Tempo Reforms'. Kikugoro Onoe acted as Kinshiro, and Shōroku Onoe, Kikunosuke Onoe, and Tokizo Nakamura appeared. It's a lively play like New Year's. （Fuekata）
Before becoming a magistrate, Kinshiro, who likes plays, was a singer (Utakata) at the Kawarazaki-za. There, a big fight breaks out between the flute player（Fuekata） and the musical instrument player（Narumonoshi）. “Kin-san,” who entered the arbitration process, successfully settled the dispute.
An incident occurs. A young master of a shop is in love with a young woman who is a singing teacher, but his parents object, and the two commit suicide. But the man survives. The young master who survived goes down the path of evil. There, a rogue ex-samurai who has fallen into disrepair appears, a depraved monk who attends Yoshiwara. Extortion, burglary, murder, and robbery of the Sado Gold Mine are carried out. The story is absurd and exaggerated, but the play is amusing. At the end, at Shirasu Court, the familiar Kinshiro's brilliant judgment ends with the final line, "This case is closed!"
This was followed by dancing and performances by all the actors, typical of a New Year's performance. Celebratory hand towels were scattered toward the audience. Kikugoro shouted "Bravo! and The "Kitsune Dance" of the Nichi-Ham supporters appeared in the dance. I thought, "This is traditional kabuki," but I was convinced that kabuki is always about adding something new.
I thought it would be a good idea for this history club to hold a kabuki theater performance for the first time. We expected about 20 people to attend, but were surprised to see nearly 60 people sign up. The interest of the members was high. Female members were dressed up!