TSUTUMI HONES TALENT IN SWORDSMAN ROLE

Satoshi Tabata / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer


Guest actor Shinichi Tsutsumi will play a master swordsman in "Inoue Kabuki:
Yoshiwara Gomenjo," presented by theatrical troupe Shinkansen. The play is
based on a period novel of the same title by Keiichiro Ryu.

This is the first time that the troupe will present a play based on a novel,
Shinkansen usually performing original works created by director Hidenori
Inoue and playwright Kazuki Nakajima. As Nakajima admires Ryu's novels, the
play is faithfully based on the original, in contrast to the troupe's usual
plays full of laughs.

Tsutsumi plays young samurai Seiichiro, a disciple of legendary sword fighter
Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645). Following his master's death, Seiichiro comes
to Yoshiwara, a red-light district in Edo, in accordance with the
instructions in Miyamoto's will. Taken in by a mysterious old man (Shunji
Fujimura), he becomes involved in a struggle between the leader of a secret
organization (Shinta Furuta) and the people of Yoshiwara.

This will be the third time for Tsutsumi to take part in a Shinkansen
production. "I was surprised this time as the play doesn't have the usual
comical scenes. In former plays, the script had many such scenes," Tsutsumi
said. "There's no time to relax. It's really a serious play with lots of
lines."

However, the action in the play is as powerful as usual. Beautiful swordplay
is required of Tsutsumi as Seiichiro, who battles the evil swordsmen of the
enemy. "In previous plays, swordfight scenes included some strange moves,
and the emphasis was always on speed. But this time, I'd like to show how
a sword fight can be like a dance. To keep up the beautiful action, I
cannot ease the tension at all. It's more difficult than moving fast,"
he said.

For Tsutsumi, who has performed in plays directed by Hideki Noda and David
Leveaux of Theatre Project Tokyo, appearing in Shinkansen's works has
widened the scope of his acting career. "I used to perform in artistic plays,
but Shinkansen's plays aim to be pure entertainment. As I thought I should
play in both ways as an actor, I learned new aspects that I had lacked
through Shinkansen's works," Tsutsumi said.

Such experience helped him successfully play the role of Taira no Masakado
in "Maboroshi ni Kokoro mo Sozoro Kuruoshi no Warera Masakado," directed by
Yukio Ninagawa in February. In the play, Tsutsumi plays the insane Masakado
as a comical character, including some improvisation.

"I think I can use what I learned in Shinkansen's plays in Ninagawa's plays.
I can also utilize what Leveaux taught me in other stage plays and films.
I'd like to perform in other Shinkansen works, though it's tough physically,"
he said.

Tsutsumi's abundant experience has supported his versatile acting. The popular
actor also starred in four films this year.

Also appearing in the play are Yasuko Matsuyuki, Kotomi Kyono and Zen Kajihara.

"Yoshiwara Gomenjo" will be performed at the Aoyama Theater in Tokyo, from
Sept. 8 through Oct. 5. For details, call [phone].
(Sep. 1, 2005)


http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20050901TDY15004.htm