会場となった小田原市民会館は、小田原城のほど近く。巡業公演の会場は近代的な多目的ホールがほとんどですが、こちらは歌舞伎上演を意識した廻り舞台のある劇場です。 
昭和37年に開館した当時の小田原市長は歌舞伎座支配人を務めた経歴があり、こけら落としは菊五郎劇団の歌舞伎公演だったそう。 また、「鳴神」と同じ歌舞伎十八番の「外郎売」という演目は、地元小田原の老舗「ういろう」の薬から題材が取られているとか。 
会場では、きもの姿の外国人カップルをお見かけしました。 巡業公演を機会に、地元と歌舞伎の関わりを知ったり、きもので歌舞伎に出かけたり...と、伝統文化との接点が全国に広がることを願っています。
Bettyokoジュエリージャーナリストとして活躍する傍ら、歌舞伎、文楽、バレエをはじめ観劇ライフを満喫中のBettyと、米国・ヒューストンでの生活経験を生かし、日本文化を海外に伝える活動をしているYokoによるユニット。
https://www.instagram.com/bettyoko.kbk/ Bettyoko's Kimono Diary
Go to the Theatre in Kimonos vol.10
The central-bound road show of Shochiku Grand Kabuki NARUKAMI, FUMIURI, SANJAMATSURI I went to see the central-bound road show of Shochiku Grand Kabuki at the large hall of the Odawara municipal house. At the beginning, a short lecture "How to enjoy Kabuki" began with dynamic Ozatsuma, a type of Shamisen (Japanese strings) music. The brief lecture provided tips to the audience on how to enjoy Kabuki. Bando Kametoshi and Nakamura Mantaro performed it. Their rhythmical and speedy lecture made the audience excited to see the following performances. NARUKAMI, one of the 18 signature classical Kabuki pieces, is a story of which a beautiful princess, Kumonotaemahime is sent to seduce a high ranked monk, Narukami, who locked up a dragon god to stop the country from raining. Narukami (played by Onoe Shoroku) was brought down by the sweet words of a beautiful princess, and got mad when he learned that he was tricked. This scene is acted in the Aragoto style as a manifestation of his anger. The play revolves around the beauty of the princess (played by Nakamura Baishi), the comic of the pupils (played by Nakamura Mantaro and Bando Kametoshi), and Narukami's fury. The audience was able to enjoy some of the best aspects of Kabuki in just one act. The next stage was FUMIURI. Nakamura Tokizo performed the Onnagata (the role of a female) dance, and the audience admired his sophisticated movements. Even the elder women were fascinated with his elegance. The last stage was SANJAMATSURI. Nakamura Kametoshi and Nakamura Mantaro performed the fisherman's dance. Two Fishermen (one is a good man and another is a bad man) danced in a synchronized, swinging dancing piece. Odawara municipal house is close to the Odawara castle. Most of the Kabuki road shows take place at the multipurpose hall, but this hall was equipped with a round stage just for Kabuki performances. In 1962, when this house opened, the mayor of Odawara had a career as a general manager of the Kabukiza theatre, and the Kabuki performance by the Kikugoro Theatre Company was picked up as the first entertainment show for the house. On the other side UIROURI, another one of the 18 signature Kabuki pieces, just like NARUKAMI, the story originates in the shop of Uiro medicine. The store has a rich history in Odawara. I saw a foreign couple in a kimono at the house. I hope this road show of Kabuki left the people in town a chance to learn about the relationship between their hometown and Kabuki and to go see Kabuki in kimonos. I also wish the connection with the traditional cultures spread all over this country.
The unit of Betty and YokoBetty; jewelry journalist, enjoys watching stages of Kabuki, Bunraku, Balllet, and so on. Yoko; lived in the U.S.A for 10 years. Loves to introduce Japanese culture to abroad.
https://www.instagram.com/bettyoko.kbk/ 
