The Love Suicides: Life Before Love, Love After Death

1. The Love Suicides: Life Before Love, Love After Death By: Kelsey, Esin, David, Renee & Jessie

2. History • Written by Chikamatsu Monzamon(1653-1725) “Japanese Shakespeare” • First performed 1703 as puppet theater • Based on actual event that occurred a only a month before than the first performance - much like Shakespeare's Romeo&Juliet • Is the most popular of his play to this day

3. Premise The production will be reinvented as a naturalized Canadian version of the classic Kabuki theatre piece. Replacing the conventions of Kabuki with modern structuring features: • Inflection of voice • Use female for female roles • Natural looking stage makeup • Minimal changes to script (setting the production in Canada) • Modern North American dress • Performed outdoors at night • Adding dancing • Adding Multimedia projection

4. Stage Orientation / Scenic Design • Garden On Lower-level UTSC – Basis of Stage • Renowned Montreal Botanical Garden - Inspiration

5. Continued… Stage Orientation. (Traditional Japanese musicians, “A” = Shrine, “B” = Tree, “C”= Market Set) Love letters hanging around trees and bushes surrounding audience.

6. Costumes: Ohatsu • Costume: Incorporation of Japanese apparel with modern dress. • Oriental sash around the waist of flowing white dress. • Inspiration: Kimono and Sarah Jessica Parker • Hair: Keep it simple. Down with a non-elaborate hairpiece (ie. Floral clip). • Makeup: Not over the top. Keep it natural.

7. Costumes: Tokubei Costume: Consists of one outfit with two looks. ｷ Brown jacket with white dress shirt and brown pants ｷ Inspiration: A common worker’s outfit. He will wear his jacket before the altercation takes place, and have it off after the beating (having his jacket ruined in the fight, and his white shirt underneath dirty, will portray the state he is in). ｷ Hair: Before fight, hair will be nice and in order. After, his hair will be messy. ｷ Makeup: Natural. Dirt will be on the face after the fight.

8. Costumes: Dancers ｷCostume: Man – White shorts with white T-shirt (loose fitting). ｷ Costume: Female – White flowing dress. ｷMakeup & Hair – As the dancers are to be portraying the story of the main characters love, their hair and makeup will be mimicking that of the two lovers. ｷInspiration: Heidi and Travis (SYTYCD) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xygkv4BXmc

9. Multimedia: Music • Recorded Music vs. Live Music • Traditional Japanese Orchestra containing the Japanese instruments: • 1. Shamisen • 2. Tsuzumi • 3. Nahkon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJrDFKaM-Mk&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj1z29uxmhY&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-dzfI3L5ic&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oamtvg2kYc&feature=related

10. 1. Shamisen

11. 2. Tsuzumi

12. 3. Nahkon

13. Multimedia: Projections • Suicide notes will be projected onto the dancers during the transitions of the scenes

14. Dance • Three sets of dancers representing the stages of the main character's relationship and love changing throughout the production. • Each pairing performs a choreographed dance that will work as an introduction to each scene of the play; representing the relationship during that particular upcoming scene. Movement are puppet like to pay homage to the original performances being puppet theatre while still embodying traditional Kabuki movement. • The third and final scene however will have the preface as well as incorporate the dancers into the scene itself where the lovers commit suicide together.

15. Issues and Concerns • Weather: -Impossible to control weather • Solutions: -Outdoor tents -Rain jacket (if necessary for a price) • Costuming: - Might not be reminiscent enough of Japanese culture • Solutions: -alterations to dress in regards to Japanese essence

16. Continued… • Set/ Set pieces: -set may be ruined if weather conditions are not favourable -audience seating must compliment set design as the natural set cannot be altered • Solution: -use specific set pieces (ie. tree) to create deep symbolism rather than add to set -tents will protect the set • Script: -may be better suited to a mature audience • Solution: - highly skilled actors utilized to deliver script in a way that is both enticing to young and old audiences

17. Continued… • Multimedia: -may have problems with electronics outdoors in regards to outlets • Solution: -extension cords and pre-planning -minimal multimedia usage -reliance on nature versus media • Budget: -may have to rent school patio -outdoor tents -refreshments -cost of actors • Solution: -inquire about school functions and events -buy fabric and make costumes -outdoor tents can be made -refreshments can be minimal and only used if necessary -hire actors under voluntary basis and donations can be made on the audience and staff’s behalf

18. Bibliography • http://books.google.ca/books?id=2ceIdkc9CqgC&pg=PA242&lpg=PA242&dq=the+love+suicides+at+sonezaki&source=bl&ots=tEFK6sN3WA&sig=ZSZYi4UN1Pv3VulK5FCCEQ3rQrE&hl=en&ei=AbLETPGENsbGnAedofj8CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CEEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=the%20love%20suicides%20at%20sonezaki&f=false • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Suicides_at_Sonezaki • http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Chikamatsu_Monzaemon • http://vievesverdict.wordpress.com/ • http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/09/01/sarah-jessica-parker-sex-and-the-city-2-begins-shooting/ • http://www.sweettreat.com/Version2/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_31 • http://blog.newsok.com/television/page/109/

19. Continued… • http://weedecor.com/2009/09/japanese-lantern-themed-nursery/ • http://remodelista.com/products/round-paper-lanterns • http://code.google.com/p/offrost/ • http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2007/12/04/discount-lighting-paper-lanterns-can-illuminate-your-party-or-home/ • http://www.oogalights.com/Chartreuse-10-Round-Rice-Paper-Lanterns.aspx • http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/2009/03/20/the-ultimate-wedding-decoration-guide-for-australian-brides-buying-online • http://www.pacon.com/projects/PaperLanterns.htm