Use the element of laughter as a weapon to build up the story
Iwasaki Udai of Kamomentaru is a highly acclaimed comedian who has won the King of Conte competition. He formed his own theater company in 2015. He incorporates the grotesque aspects of human nature, such as discrimination, desire, and self-consciousness, into his one-of-a-kind comedy.
"As comedians, Kamomentaru is said to be difficult to understand, and in a way, that is part of our individuality. But as a theatre company, we want to be easy to understand. In the field of theatre, even extremely difficult things are tolerated. But as a member of the audience, I find it stressful when I don't even know what I don't know. As long as it's entertainment, I want to be careful about how I convey the story."
The conflict between humans and androids, AI and enlightenment... the themes sometimes reach epic proportions, but the greatest weapon is still laughter. A variety of laughs are woven throughout, from light-hearted, cynical, and ridiculous dirty jokes.
"I feel that adding humorous elements to a story makes it more realistic while depicting a wide range of emotions. Sometimes you can find a funny moment in the middle of a funeral, and other times the situation is so tragic that it makes you laugh. There is laughter in the dark as well as the light, so I think that regardless of the scene or subject matter, a moderate amount of laughter will make the story more captivating for the audience."
However, on the other hand, there are also disadvantages to including humor.
"Even in real life, you can't trust the stories of people who are always joking around. In theater, too, the story often doesn't build up because of the laughter. That's why I'm careful to focus on the main points. By traveling through the story together, you develop a sense of closeness to the characters, which leads to the next laugh. I want to express the work through a synergistic effect."
"With you, I'm not afraid of any sunset"
A finalist for the 65th Kishida Kunio Drama Award, "With You, I'm Not Afraid of Any Dusk" was performed in 2020. It depicts the conflict and coexistence between humans and androids.
Photo courtesy of Kamomental Theatre Company
"Raw Oysters and Flute"
"The Oyster and the Flute" will be performed in 2024. It is a drama about people obsessed with attaining enlightenment.
Photo courtesy of Kamomental Theatre Company
