Southwest Actor Explains 'Political Kabuki'

As President Barack Obama and Republican legislators argue over the raising the nation's debt ceiling, the president's press secretary accused Republicans of engaging in "political kabuki."

"What we are witnessing here with this measure is classic Washington posturing, kabuki theatre," said White House press secretary Jay Carney.

That brings a groan from Kathy Welch, a Southwest Minneapolis actress and artistic director of Green T Productions.

"It’s a shallow interpretation of what kabuki is about," she said, laughing. "Every time I hear it, I roll my eyes, sigh, and say to them 'You should take one of my classes!'"

Welch and Green T specialize in kabuki, a traditional Japanese style of theater combining music and dance that has graced stages for four centuries. Green T is soon to launch a tour of their new play called "Pinnochio-chan," a kabuki adaptation of the traditional story of a wooden puppet that teaches children about the art form. A preview will be performed at downtown Minneapolis' Cowles Center on Septemeber 11.

The president's press secretary, Welch said, is probably referring to “rough style” kabuki acting—also called “aragoto.” It features larger-than-life costumes, dramatic makeup, huge wigs, and bombastic samurai and god-like characters.

But the tradition is much richer than aragoto, Welch said, including plays about common, everyday themes such as love and money. There are also dance plays designed to convey a particular mood. 

"Some plots are kind of like soap operas," Welch said. "There's a famous 20-minute play of a mother who's looking for her child on the banks of a river, setting the mood of what she’s going through."

For more information on Green T Productions, email boxoffice@greentproductions.org.