Theater Review of The GullThe Gull, by Daphne Marlatt, was a visual and
aural feast, a Japanese/English fusion presentation
of Noh theater from Pangaea Arts. A must see!by Tamaka Fisher, Steveston Village Gallery
 was lucky enough to get a ticket for opening night of the Pangaea Arts production of Daphne Marlatt’s The Gull: The Steveston Noh Project. Almost 150 of us sat in a tent on the grounds of Richmond City Hall, and | | ©Pangaea Arts—A Hakuzan mask. |
were treated to the world premiere of a Japanese/English fusion presentation of Noh theater.
Noh is a living art form over six-hundred-years old. Main characters may wear a mask, and movements are highly stylized. Music—drums, Japanese flute and chanting—play an important role in the production.
"My mother and I were both crying minutes into the production, as it was so beautiful, and the connection to the brothers and fishing so strong."
This story was of two young brothers, both fishermen, who return to their old fishing grounds after the Second World War. Their father and mother had both passed away: Their mother after a lengthy illness, and a longing to return to Japan to escape the hardships of internment. The play opened with the two brothers singing about where they had fished. I had taken my mother to see the play, as her father—my grandfather—was a fisher, born in Steveston. My mother and I were both crying minutes into the production, as it was so beautiful, and the connection to the brothers and fishing so strong. The Gull was a visual and aural feast. It played for 4 days only, but if it ever comes ‘round again, I urge you to see it. You will not be disappointed. What a great way to bridge the Japanese and Canadian culture, and what a wonderful way to use the plaza at Richmond City Hall. I hope to see many more productions under the ‘big tent’ there.
Acclaimed BC author, Daphne Marlatt, has written an original Canadian Noh play, The Gull, that speaks of the experience of Japanese-Canadians returning to Steveston after the internment years. The story features two brothers who return to Steveston to fish in 1950. While they are traveling up the coast for the first time, a ghostly creature, part woman and part bird, visits their boat. She pleads for the brothers to leave the hostile West Coast and return to their parent’s birthplace in Wakayama-ken, Japan.
Noh theater is the oldest existing form of theater and is a combination of stylized gesture, expressive dance, powerful chant, elegant mask, and intricate percussion, creating a uniquely mysterious and memorable beauty. Internationally acclaimed Noh master, Akira Matsui (designated an Important Intangible Cultural Asset by the government of Japan in 1998) and Noh expert Richard Emmert, will travel from Japan to mentor and collaborate with Canadian theater artists. Professional Noh musicians Mitsuo Kama, Hitoshi Sakurai, Naoko Takahashi, and Narumi Takizawa will come from Japan to participate in this cultural collaboration. Canadian performers include Alvin Catacutan, David Fujino, Simon Hayama, Michael Robinson, Ari Solomon, Kerry Vandergriend and Minoru Yamamoto.
Wakayama artist Hakuzan Kubo has created two original Noh masks for this production, and will bring from Japan a selection of his masks for display at the Richmond Museum. Canadian designers include costumer Margaret McKea, lighting designer Bill Davey, and set designer Phillip Tidd.
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