Multi-directional Opera
for the 21st Century
for the 21st Century
Whaletone Opera - Act Three
- Curing Tonosama
February 2005- Curing Tonosama
WHALETONE DAY 5
Many people seemed very tired today,and we worked quite hard until about 5.30pm. Ayako`s 18 month daughter Yuri joined us for alot of the day and inspired several big improvisations. Basically we worked through all/most of the pieces. Lots of discussion - some of which I could understand, some of which was translated and lots of which was not and I didn`t understand. Keishi has become the Tonosama and spends most of the Act lying down ill and not recovering. When he does eventually recover he plays the taiko VERY loud.
There is one very nice moment in the show when the strange musical instrument phones up hippo. There was a long discussion about why would hippo start to do calligraphy when he was phoned up. So the word Do-shyo means `what shall I do?` and sho-do means `calligraphy`, so I am the person inbetween (the person who doesn`t understand) and the translation comes through me and so is mistranslated.
The story is (as modified) now
Tonosama is ill...
Many attempts are made to cure him.
The pointing acupuncture seems to work, but still fails.
Strange instrument phones hippo and says do calligraphy.
He draws several things, eventually a girl with a ribbon.
She has the `power of love`and cures Tonosama.
We have a masked ball together, Hippo continues to draw...
Seaside dream... Hippo finds a shell and puts it to her ear.
She hears `moshi moshi` and says `hello?`
We had a lunch break (okinawan noodles).
We continued. Then had a break and set the studio theatre with technicians etc. Then walked through, then went through the whole piece with everybody tired.
Tomorrow morning we meet at 10.30 for a few run-throughs. Now we rehearse the wind-band again.
Other Thoughts
Yesterday in school Nomura and I wrote a song with 14/15 year old girls.
It went
`It`s nice to meet Arisa
She has never skied - HANA
Megumi is waving to you
Saki-chan Saki-chan Saki-chan
Sitting on the floor
I am beautiful, yes I`m beautiful
It is sunny today...`
A kind of English and music lesson. You can choose at this high school whether to do music, PE, art or domestic science. In this school class all girls.
After-school we did Junior High School band and made a graphic piece. I tried to get the students to play VERY LOUD and Nomura told me off. We made a good piece with four parts.
So now rehearsing wind...
