A major componont of theatre is the ability of the actor or actress to connect to the audience, through actions, facial expressions, and voice. However, in Japanese Noh theatre, a form of Japanese drama, the actors faces are covered
A major componont of theatre is the ability of the actor or actress to connect to the audience, through actions, facial expressions, and voice. However, in Japanese Noh theatre, a form of Japanese drama, the actors faces are covered up by a mask. These masks are called Noh masks and have been a part of the Japanese culture since the 14th century. The plays are performed by an all male cast, as women were not allowed to act. The stage is composed of a single square stage that is in the form of traditional Shinto shrines. There is also a long narrow bridge at the back of the stage where the actors enter. The only backdrop that the Noh theatre has is a picture of an old pine trees. Pine trees were used to represent that the play would be set in the world of spirits, or a sacred place.
A major component of Noh plays were the masks that the actors used. Because the masks were a fixed emotion the actors had to rely on their skills to accurately portray the emotions of their character. The traditional masks were constructed from Cypress wood and had very few holes, two for the eyes, one for the nose and one for the mouth for breathing. Because these holes were so small the actor had to rely on the four posts i