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　　Dance

Background Information

This play is a kabuki dance number is based on Noh that has the same title. There was a legend of the witch of Togakushi mountain, and this play is its kabuki version. Some Kabuki plays are from Noh, and they are performed on the stage that is made like a Noh stage. Its stage is very simple. They are called 'Matsubame-mono'. However, 'Momiji-gari' isn't performed on like a Noh stage. It has a very luxurious beautiful kabuki stage. This play was written by Kawatake Mokuami, and was first performed in 1887. Momiji is maple, and momiji-gari means maple-tree-viewing.

Cast

Story

This scene is autumn in Togakushi mountain. Taira-no Koremochi comes there to enjoy maple-tree-viewing, is accompanied by his two lackeys, Ugenta and Sagenta. Koremochi finds that there are preceding visitors, and he lets Ugenta ask who they are. A lady-in-waiting answers, and she says that there is a noble person who is her master there secretly. Ugenta says his master's name Koremochi, but she doesn't say her master's name. Ugenta reports it to Koremochi. Although Koreochi is interested in that noble person, he decides to leave there. Then, a lady-in-waiting comes, and says that her master invites Koremochi to enjoy maple-tree-viewing together. That noble person has known who Koremochi is.

Sarashina-hime appears on the stage with many lady-in-waitings. Sarashina-hime is a very beautiful lady, and offers sake to Koremochi. Koremochi is very delighted, and enjoys drinking sake and seeing dance of lady-in-waitings. Koremochi says that he would like Sarashina-hime to dance herself. Sarashina-hime starts dancing. While Sarashina-hime is dancing, Koremochi and his two lackeys have slept. After Sarashina-hime finds they has slept, she leaves there like a wild guy.

Mountain God comes there, and finds three sleeping men. He thinks that they might be eaten by the witch who lives in Togakushi mountain. He try to wake them up, but they don't wake up. He gives it up, and leaves there. This scene is an interval that Sarashina-hime changes kimono to a witch from a beautiful lady.

After that, Koremochi wakes up. He had a strange dream. In his dream, Mountain God said that Sarashina-hime was a witch. Koremochi says his lackeys to help him to exterminate a witch. But they both run away there. And Koremochi leaves there alone in order to catch a witch, Sarashina-hime, up.

Then, a witch and Koremochi come back running to the stage, and they start fighting. Koremochi has a miracle sword, and the witch has lost her power. The witch is cornered to the tree.

The End (2002,12,7)