Kyogen in Brno

Kyogen in Brno

   I visited another event of kyogen in Brno last night. Kyogen is a subtle comedy coming from Japan. In the middle of one of the hottest May evenings in the ancient centre of the Moravian capital, the performance was a refreshing experience. There was a lecture on the history of Kyogen and Noh (kyoogen, noo in Japanese), and then a short performance. Ondřej Hýbl, the lecturer from Kyoto, summed up the vast topic into a 50 minute presentation at which he also showed my new book I published on Noh in Slovakia. I was pleased that my book was so well received in this country where foundation stone had been firmly laid down for further development. A prosperous new tradition can be anticipated here, with the traditional Czech response to the Japanese culture.
   The second part of last night's event was a Czech "mini-noh" penned by Hubert Krejčí and performed by the Brno troupe. A charming little piece about a poor student who, not having money to pay for his shelter, drew a heron in ink on the wall of the tavern for the tavern owner. "Clap your hands, master, and the heron will dance for you."
   And it did indeed. Until - one day something happened...
   It has been a satisfaction to see this tradition putting down roots in yet another part of the world. Noh and kyogen are about harmony and peace. About tranquillity. And the world today needs these as much as anything.

Ivan Rumánek, Brno