Rakugo (Again)

 

Rakugo, the Japanese art of story telling.  If anything, it focuses on one person telling a story, and setting people up to have a good laugh.  Even though we knew we'd hear some stories we knew from our last visit to see this man perform, we also knew we'd have a good laugh or two.

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Our day started with both of us feeling a little lethargic.  I had awakened early, and was starting to get tired again by the time RQS was up for the day.  After a nice breakfast, we made our plans for the day.  Around 5, we'd go into Manhattan and get a bite to eat around Union Square.  Then, after a little time killing, it would be off to the theater to see Katsura Sunshine's (KS) performance.

We were supposed to meet RQS's new friend at the theater.  However, we got there late, and her friend went inside without us.  What surprised us was that RQS's friend was seated adjacent to us.  So we settled down to see the performance. 

Tonight's performance was broken up into several sections.  First was one of .KS's apprentices, who told a story I've heard before.   

She was good, but her accent made it a little difficult to understand what she was saying in English (a second language for her.)  Next came KS himself.  He opened up in a different way than he did when we last saw him.

This time, we knew a little more about him as a story teller, and we found out that he spends most of his time in Japan, coming to New York once per month for this show.  And then came a performer who was not here the last time around - someone practicing the art of Japanese dance.

To me, this was the weakest part of the show.  The art of Japanese storytelling via dance is lost on me.  But there was more storytelling to go.  KS's second apprentice was next.  Unlike the first apprentice, this fellow came from New Jersey.  So he'd be easy to understand. 

This apprentice told a story which KS told the last time we were here.  The story was still amusing, but not as much as when KS told it.  Next up was the first apprentice with another story.  She was entertaining, but only if you could wade through the thickets of her accent.

Then, the dancer came back in full regalia.  This dance was more interesting.  But, without the cultural context, the performance was a little flat.

Finally, KS came back on stage, and told one last story

Although KS covered much of the same ground in this performance that he did in the last one we had seen, both RQS and I agreed that seeing Rakugo could be a once every other year treat.  This would give KS and his troupe enough time to have their performances evolve, so that it would be fresh each time we came to see it.

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We exited the theater with RQS's new friend, and she invited us back to her place to chat.  Neither of us wanted to be on the subway at midnight, so we begged off.  But we made sure this friend knew we do want to see her again - some time after our next cruise. 

 

Rakugo

 

Rakugo - a form of Japanese verbal entertainment, specifically comedic storytelling. Performers, known as rakugo-ka, sit on a cushion and narrate stories, often acting out multiple characters with only a fan and a hand towel as props.

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I've been looking to see this show in Manhattan for a while.  Last month, I could have seen it when RQS was in Philadelphia visiting her cousin.  I decided not to do so for 2 reasons: (1) It was too hot last month, and (2) RQS could get the tickets cheaper than I could get them.  So, why not wait a month, and both of us could have a great day in the city?

This weekend, the weather was expected to be in the mid 80's, and that meant that the subways would be miserable. (That prediction was spot-on.)  But we had tickets, and I braved the heat in my feminine best (I'm not talking about the formality of what I was wearing, only the attitude that women take in regarding to making no excuses when things have to get done.) Around 5 pm, RQS and I prepared to go to Manhattan, and we went to the subway station at 6:10.  It was warm, but we were tolerably comfortable in the air-conditioned train.

When we arrived in Manhattan, we had to change trains at an overcrowded station.  If it was 85 degrees above ground, it was easily 100 degrees underground.  And when the train came, it was overcrowded. Making it to 50th street, we went above ground with 2 1/2 blocks to walk, and RQS was exhausted.  Although I have more stamina than she does, I knew I had to take a break and down the bottle of seltzer I had with me.  Thankfully, we made it to the theater with 30 minutes to spare before the show.

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Sitting down at our seats (thankfully we were on the aisle), I noticed that every tune played on the PA system before the show was a version of "You are my sunshine."  (How Appropriate!)   The setting was sparse as one would expect, and I knew we'd be entertained given the reviews that RQS had read about this show.

First, an apprentice Rakugo-ka came on stage and told her story.  Then Katsura Sunshine came on to tell his stories.  (This video clip from YouTube should give you an idea about what Rakugo is all about.)  After one story was told in English, he noted that he was learning both Italian and Chinese, then told the same story in both languages, Italian used for "the apprentice" and Chinese used for "the master".  This time, it was language and mannerisms from the storyteller that made one laugh.  Truly, Rakugo is an art which was a worldwide art.

Eventually, the show ended, and we had to go home.  First, we stopped for some cheesecake before going underground.  We missed the train by 30 seconds and would have to wait 12 minutes for the next one.  I remembered that an express train was coming, and that we might overtake the local.  But that didn't happen.  Again, we missed the local by 30 seconds.  So we still ended up waiting those 12 minutes, and then had to transfer one more time.  At least, we found seats on the train to RQS's place.

We were both exhausted by the time we returned to RQS's place, and I needed to take a shower before going to bed.  At least, I had the forethought to leave some pretty night wear at her place for me to wear that evening....