This website is an academic essay written by Katherine Mezur (starting on page 193). The essay examines the history and elements of the Onnagata performers- male actors portraying female roles in Kabuki theatre. It examines the speciality of the Onnagata through costuming, suggesting that costumes are a major, if not the most important element of playing a female role.
Mezur explores the history of Onnagata to give insight to how this method developed. History tells us that the government banned overt sexuality on stage, and in so doing the male actors had to develop new ways of depicting women. Mezur explores what developed over time to create the outcome of the Onnagata; due to the government bans on overt sexuality, men began to create a “hidden text” of stylized movements. The stylized movements continued to develop, and with it costuming, to produce what is now performed and preserved today. Costuming is described as an “act” in Mezur’s essay- an act just as dialogue and gestures are an act. The element of costuming is heavily weighted in this essay as necessary to embody a female role.
Though it is a long and thorough essay, it is worth it to read even the first three pages. It delves deeper into the intrigue of the Onnagata than you may have previously read in textbooks and provides insight into this unique method of acting. Below is a clip of a contemporary Onnagata performer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7q-mmTwcSg
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