This March the Seinendan Theatre Company performed a double bill of "The Yalta Conference" and "The Ronin Office Ladies." Written and directed by Oriza Hirata these two one-act plays discussed dark topics in a comic manner. Often compared to Chekov, Oriza is fascinated by how we see things and how we digest what we observe.
Speed Reading and Japanese In Jokes – by Kate Hickey
This March the Seinendan Theatre Company performed a double bill of "The Yalta Conference" and "The Ronin Office Ladies." Written and directed by Oriza Hirata these two one-act plays discussed dark topics in a comic manner.
Often compared to Chekov, Oriza is fascinated by how we see things and how we digest what we observe. In the past it has been said that his passion for quiet theatre results in "uneventful moments of existence" on stage. However, these two plays topics are far from dull and their performances far from quiet.
The two plays performed were thankfully accompanied by subtitles. However the discussion was so hectic that it was very difficult to read and look at the actors simultaneously. Thankfully due to the minimalist stage setting and movement there was not much to lose out on.
The first play portrayed the "The Yalta Conference," the meeting of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill during World War II when the three leaders discussed the reorganisation of Europe. The cast comprised of two women, playing Stalin and Roosevelt and one man, Churchill. Set over two days the remaining question at the end of each conversation came back to "what about Japan?"
On stage the presence of these three "men" was somewhat of an oddity. Stalin played mother setting up the tea and biscuits while the two others arrived with gifts which they then proceed to consume themselves. Roosevelt, dressed as if he had bought a cowboy outfit from a child’s costume store brought bubble gum machines and candy. Roosevelt in his signature white suit brought cigars and biscuits. He then began to smoke one of his cigars and after a heated moment of discussion ate one, which appeared to be a biscuit.
The three did not speak like world leaders rather like work colleagues who they did not particularly trust. When Stalin left to send a disloyal man to his death Roosevelt and Churchill commented on how crazy he has been acting, how difficult the life of a dictator much be and how having a whole elected staff to help you makes your life so much easier. When Churchill was running late for the meetings they commented on how he’s put on weight and when Roosevelt left to take his medication they commented on how odd he has become and put a pin on his chair as a practical joke.
The second play, "Ronin Office Ladies," is based on the ancient tale Chishingura, when 47 warriors plot an assassination to avenge their master’s death. If they are trapped or captured the honourable action would be to commit hari-kari. Hirata’s version of this tale takes place in a contemporary staff canteen room at a large company where the female employees, who are samurai’s, in what look like department store uniforms, decide whether or not to avenge their CEO’s death.
The stage was changed, from the first play, effectively and cleverly. Tables and chairs were assembled in rows, Japanese patterns decorated the walls, lanterns hung from the ceiling and an eastern looking decanter sat on the side table, with the condiments. As the six samurai and their chief filed into the room they brought recognisable convenience food and while chowing down discussed these serious matters.
The dialogue was funny, when it was possible to understand it. While these ladies were samurai they appeared to have fallen away, through time, from the tradition of fighting. They were now cooperate employee and while they still carried their, plastic neon coloured, swords it become blatantly obvious that they did not know how to use them. The movement was slight on stage. The characters main movements were due to outbursts of emotion for their CEO’s death and their situation. However at one point two of the samurai arose and attempted to practice their sword movements with humorous consequences.
The dialogue in this piece again was very fast. This was compounded by the fact that the women often spoke over each other and with their backs to the audience. This caused major confusion for the audience who was trying to read two conversations at the same time while trying to see what character was saying what. Thankfully, this did not take away from the comedy of the situation as they all eventually figured out what hari-kari was and how they should go about rectifying their situation in the most comfortable and democratic way, unlike real samurai.
When Hirata first wrote "The Yalta Conference" it was meant to be performed by a single stand-up comedian playing all three parts. However, when the comedian was jumping round the stage the audience began to shout "too hard to follow." Hirata has since changed this script and adopted three actors instead of one, mercifully. Hirata was nervous in bringing these plays on the road but believes that an "acts of expression invariably call for courage." While some of the audience at the Japan Society may have left the auditorium a little dazed, bleary eyed and slightly confused it was definitely a performance unlike anything we had seen before.
