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The profound, the delightful and the fantastic   The Theater of Asia

Classic Dance Drama of Thailand

I would like to show you some books from the Bookshelf which may introduce you to the great beauty and strangeness of Asian theater as it is distinguished from the Broadway shows that have been part of your heritage.

First, let's look at a basic form of Chinese theater that you probably know by title but have never really enjoyed in particular.  On the cover of this book on Peking Opera  you will see Monkey, the God-King of Asian legend, who is featured in most theaters and can be clever beyond measure, powerful beyond imagination and a trickster beyond doubt.

Peking Opera

India has its profusion of festivals and sectional theater as well as serious playwrights such as Tagore who received the Nobel Prize for his literary accomplishments.

Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore's Red Orlanders

And festivals are a constant part of Indian culture.  And here are some suggestions when you plan your trip to India.

Festivals of India

Looking at puppets, one must never forget the Malaysian shadow puppets from whose performances children of traditional Malaysia learn about their history and culture as well as their manners and religious beliefs.  And here again is the Monkey King Hanuman that mythical and spiritual figure of Asian thought and literature.

Hanuman

And finally Japan where theater has always been a dominant part of culture: the serious and profound Noh drama, its comic relief in Kyogen and the popular Kabuki.  Today American politicians tend to flip that term kabuki around in a ridiculous manner.  Learn what Kabuki really is.

Kabuki

Kyogen

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