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Join us at the Bloomsburg Town Park at 7PM on August 3 & 4 at 7 pm for the 2012 Noh Training Project Recital, and stay for the Noh Performance by torchlight of Atsumori.

(In case of rain, the performance will take place at BTE’s Alvina Krause Theatre)

Please bring your own lawn chair. Join us for the Noh, what? series July 17, 24, and August 7.

Atsumori – author Zeami Motokiyo (1363?-1443?) – second category warrior play, phantasm (mugen) Noh in two acts.

The Buddhist priest Rensho, formerly the Genji warrior Kumagae no Jiro Naozane, returns to Suma Bay, site of the Battle of Ichinotani, in which he killed the youthful Heike warrior Atsumori. There Rensho intends to pray for the repose of Atsumori’s soul. Upon his arrival, he hears the sound of a flute and questions some grasscutters about it and they justify the presence of art even among the poor. One grasscutter requests that Rensho say prayers for him and after hinting at his identity, takes his leave.

Rensho then questions a local man about what he knows about the death of Atsumori. The man describes how Atsumori turned back before the battle to retrieve his flute. While trying to catch the fleeing boats of his compatriots, Atsumori encountered Kumagae. Kumagae was so taken with the beauty and skill of the young Atsumori that he tried to spare his life, but seeing that he would be killed by others if not by himself, he regretfully kills him. The local man suggests that Rensho should pray for Atsumori’s soul.

Left alone, Rensho begins his prayers when the ghost of the young Atsumori appears to him and requests release from the bonds of his karma. The two former enemies join in prayers for salvation. Atsumori recounts how the Heike lost their power and fled to Suma Bay. Knowing their time was up, the Heike warriors have one final party where Atsumori plays his flute.

Finally, the ghost of Atsumori reenacts the final Battle at Ichinotani. He advances on the praying figure of Rensho, sensing a former enemy, but in time recognizes him as a friend. The play concludes with Rensho praying that they will be reborn on the same lotus.

Sponsored by: Kydex,LLC, Sekesui, Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Toshiba International Foundation, The James E Robison Foundation, Bloomsburg University, and the Bloomsburg Town Park Improvement Association.

Map: 226 Center Street, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania 17815 USA

For more information see the official facebook invite or http://www.bte.org/.