Meaning of kyogen | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A form of traditional Japanese theatre, once performed alongside noh as a comic intermission.
   uncountable
2. A work in this genre.
   countable

Examples

“Many kyogen include komai, small comic dances and songs which enhance the sense of fun or absurdity of a play.”

“The twenty-two kyōgen in this volume give a broad sampling of the delightful comic interludes which were traditionally performed between the more austere nō plays. Like the nō, the kyōgen are highly stylized in performance, but they are much more human and poke fun at the foibles and foolishness of noble and commoner, man and woman alike.”

“The judgment that early kyōgen was considerably more satirical is given further support by the discovery of an old text of kyōgen synopses, the Tenshō kyōgen-bon.”

“Regular performances now are usually held on Saturday, Sunday or holiday afternoons and rarely include more than three noh plays plus one or two kyōgen, and sung or danced recital pieces.”

“The pine-music that followed featured Okina with three noh and two kyōgen.”

“Where the adaptations of Twelfth Night by the Izumi family were just very short skits, in the length of traditional kyōgens, Sekine’s adaptation was fully developed as drama, using his knowledge of both Japanese and Western classical theater.”

CEFR level