The public is invited to the following lecture. A 1,000 yen donation from non-members would be appreciated, but is not required.
Place: APIC Plaza, 1F, No. 32 Kowa Building. Turn right from Exit 3, Hiroo station (Hibiya line, rear of train from central Tokyo).
Information: TEL (03)5766-1783
Dr. Compton has a long acquaintance with all aspects of the theatre, acting and directing as well as providing instruction in the performing arts. She received her M.A. in "Theatre Arts" from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1963, and her Ph.D. in "Theatre" from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1996. Since that time she has been Assistant Professor of Theatre at Roosevelt University, Chicago, having previously been Assistant Professor at Seisen University and Instructor at Meiji Gakuin. In her acting experience she has played such varied parts as Emilia in "The Comedy of Errors," Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest" and roles in Kyogen. As a director, she has been especially involved in opera and musicals, among them "Faust," "Carmen," "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Threepenny Opera" and "Guys and Dolls"; a recent production was that of "The Kyogen Lysistrata" at Roosevelt University. She has made a special study of the development of Noh and Kyogen, in particular of the female characters in the plays, and the part played by women. We are fortunate to be able to have her speak to us on this subject while she is on a visit to this country.
Of her chosen topic she writes that while Kyogen, the classical Japanese comedy genre, has long been thought of as an exclusively male-dominated art form, the important role played by women, both as managers behind the scenes and as teachers, students, and performers on the stage, is now being documented. In her paper she will present the contributions made by women in these various capacities, and their importance to the Kyogen world in this century. The information on which the paper is based has been gained from a series of interviews with men and women from the families who form the Izumi school of Kyogen and others associated with that school as students and performers. This research provided the basis for her doctoral dissertation.
Adapted from "The Asiatic Society of Japan Bulletin No. 6", June 2000, compiled by Prof. Hugh E. Wilkinson and Mrs. Doreen Simmons.
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