Noh

Noh is one of the most common forms of theater in Rokugan, and is performed by puppeteers rather than physical actors and actresses. A typical group of Noh performers will consist of the protagonist (the shite) and a primary supporting character (the waki). The drama unfolds in slow rhythmic chants and restrained movements following a very rigid pattern. First the waki calls the shite to the stage and asks questions which reveal the nature of the shite. The climax comes in the form of a formal dance by the shite expressing its true feelings. The Noh actors keep their faces expressionless during the performance, letting the words of the play speak for the characters. Training of artisans can focus on being the shite, the waki or both. Masks are also sometimes used to hide the actors faces and give an additional way of expressing the nature of the character they are portraying. There are no sets used in Noh, just a featureless black backdrop. There are few object used as props, and most will be very simple. Music is accompanied where neccessitated, and nothing more. The emphasis of the play is not the plot, but the exploration of characters and emotion. Within the Noh plays there are five categories; the ghost plays, the woman plays, the warrior plays, the celebratory plays and the demon plays. There is a sixth play, known as the burlesque play, but it is not popular among the courts of Rokugan. It holds however great favor with the common man. (Crane pp. 63-64)