Shosagoto and Music, Stage Lighting

"O-edo shibai nenjyu gyoji" "Sashidashi, Kantera"
Artist：吟光　　O-ban, Colour print
Ritsumeikan Art Research Center(arcUP2062)

How did Kabuki theater manage stage lightning before electric light was invented? Inside of the theater was very dark even the daytime because of the roof. Therefore, they put candlestands called Kantera in front of a stage to light the stage. In addition, they substituted special candlestand which has s long shaft for spotlight to light actor's face. In this picture, the actor is holding the candle because this was the traditional program called Musume Doujo-ji, but usually Kurogo was in charge of the stage lightning.
This is the picture when the first Nakamura Tomijuro who succeeded the most in 1751-1764 acted Shirabyo-shi Hanako in Kyouganoko Musume Doujo-ji.

[Glossary]
　差出し、面明り、カンテラ、三ヶ津、立女形、中村富十郎、京鹿子娘道成寺
[Related Topics]
「演技と演出」「音響と音楽」