Plays > The Story of Priest Roben

The Story of Priest Roben

(良弁杉由来) (Rōbensugi no yurai)

First Staged: 1887
Reference: Hironaga, Shūzaburō, The Bunraku Handbook (Tokyo: Maison des Arts, 1976); Keene, Donald, Bunraku: The Art of the Japanese Puppet Theatre (Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1973); Kokuritsu Gekijō jōen shiryōshū, edited by Kokuritsu Gekijō Geinō Chōsashitsu, vol. 35, May 1969; Bunraku January 1998 Performance Program

Written By: Kako Chika (加古千賀)

Performances:

• May 1969: The Story of Priest Roben
• April 1976: The Story of Priest Roben
• April 1983: The Story of Priest Roben
• January 1988: The Story of Priest Roben
• May 1992: The Story of Priest Roben
• January 1998: The Story of Priest Roben

Kashira:

• Otoko koyaku (男子役)
• Fukeoyama (老女形)
• Ofuku (お福)
• Musume (娘)
• Onoemon (斧右衛門)
• Baba (jidai) (婆（時代）)
• Yūsen (祐仙)
• Genta (源太)
• Shōnin (上人)
• Tsume (つめ)
• Kenbishi (検非違使)
• Sanmaime (三枚目)
• Otoko tsume (男つめ)
• Hayaku (端役)
• Matahei (又平)
• Wakaotoko (若男)

Characters:

• Lady Nagisa (渚の方)
• Mitsumaru (光丸)
• Saeda (乳母小枝)
• Fujino, a maid servant (腰元藤野)
• Harue, a maid servant (腰元春枝)
• Soap bubble vendor (吹玉屋)
• Children (里の子)
• Assistant Priest Unya (雲弥坊)
• Priest Roben (良弁僧正)
• Apprentice priest (弟子僧)
• Flower Girl (花売娘)
• Boatman (船頭)
• Servant (先供)