「青年団」ヒューストン公演 2006年3月8日在ヒューストン日本国総領事 加茂佳彦
Good Evening ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for coming to tonight’s performance by Seinendan Theater Company. Along with other sponsors, I am very proud to present one of the most renowned contemporary theater companies in Japan to the Houston theater fans.
Houston is famous for its cultural diversity. The city offers a wide range of cultural and artistic activities and opportunities; Japan Festival of April 8th and 9th at Hermann Park is one of them. But I have felt something missing from Houston’s cultural scene. I am pleased to say that this missing piece will finally be realized with tonight’s performance.
Seinendan Theater Company is led by Oriza Hirata, one of the most prominent and influential playwrights in Japan. In fact, Mr. Hirata is quite a public figure in my home country. His articles appear in major newspapers and magazines. He himself appears in popular TV programs as a regular commentator. He has a teaching position at a Japanese University. Currently he is serving as a visiting professor at Victoria University of British Columbia. His plays have been translated into other languages including English, French, and Korean, to name a few.
Seinendan made successful overseas tours to North America, Europe and Asia and the Pacific in the past. In this US tour, they will perform two comical but somewhat controversial plays. Their theater style is sometimes called distinctively Japanese by reflecting the rhythms, subtle tones and ironies of postmodern life in Japan. I am confident that their message will easily get across and bring a great deal of entertainment to us all.
With this said, I am delighted to present Seinendan Theater Company. I hope you enjoy the show.