Hayagawari(An instantaneous change of roles)
【早替り】
【HAYAGAWARI】
Instantaneous change from a Fukeyaku role in “Kanadehon Chushingura”. Nakamura Ganjiro 3rd (Sakata Tojuro 4th）as Yoichibei and Sadakuro. November, 2002 at the National Theatre.
It refers to a stage direction of Keren color to change roles instantaneously. In Kabuki, there are cases in which one actor may perform two or more roles in one scene. He appears on stage after changing the character’s age, gender, or quality of good and evil in a short time. This direction was particularly employed in Kaidan plays during the Bunka and Bunsei periods.
“Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan” is a representative example. The actor performing Oiwa also appears as Kobotoke Kohei through an instantaneous change of roles.
It is not about just changing roles quickly, but most importantly whether the actor can present a different role before changing from another following it in a distinguishable manner.
The video shows a rare instantaneous change of roles in “Kanadehon Chushingura”, in which the actor as a Fukeyaku is drawn into rice plants being dried, and then reappears through an instantaneous change that is brilliantly done.
“Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan” is a representative example. The actor performing Oiwa also appears as Kobotoke Kohei through an instantaneous change of roles.
It is not about just changing roles quickly, but most importantly whether the actor can present a different role before changing from another following it in a distinguishable manner.
The video shows a rare instantaneous change of roles in “Kanadehon Chushingura”, in which the actor as a Fukeyaku is drawn into rice plants being dried, and then reappears through an instantaneous change that is brilliantly done.
