My first small theatre, my first visit to Theatre HOPE. I was grinning from start to finish. And here is a confession: this show was the real reason for my Tokyo trip! The Kabukiza tickets came second, booked to fit around this one (laughs).
What Is Sphinx from the Bag?
A two-hander starring Kana Kita and Ayuka Kishimoto, staged as a special performance by the theatre unit Tsuya Police. Ayuka also wrote and directed it. The two were the scriptwriter-and-lead pairing behind the NHK drama Kaedama Bravo!, and this stage collaboration was born from the spark from them: a thrilling project, to for me, pure reward.
I learnt about the show on Kana’s Instagram and decided on the spot: I am absolutely going!!! As a devoted fan who has watched Kaedama Bravo! many times over, not going was never an option. I booked without a second thought (well, one quick glance at my calendar).
Theatre HOPE is just a short walk from Nakano Station. Heading to an unfamiliar small theatre, I managed to get a little lost on the way. I misread the map! In midsummer! Entirely my own fault, but it was hot!!
The handout at the venue was packed with the two performers’ careers and introductions to the characters. Reading it before curtain-up is a pleasure in itself.
Close Enough to Touch
My seat was in the front row, toward one side. You know the gap from your seat to the row in front? The stage was about that far away. Possibly even closer. Fold your legs in and your toes practically brush the stage. My vocabulary gives up beyond this point. In short: reach out a hand and there is an actor. The closest feeling I know is the Kanamaruza, the historic theatre of Konpira Kabuki… and once you have experienced this, the Kabukiza might as well be the Tokyo Dome (never been to the Dome, but I do know it is enormous – laughs).
The distance to my neighbour was startlingly close too, another experience unique to small theatres. The show ran about 70 minutes with no interval. And it flew by.
An Unstoppable Duo, 70 Minutes of Non-stop Laughter
Kana Kita – her expressions, her timing, everything – is a comedienne at the very top of her game. I knew her from the drama, and yet: who knew she was this funny?! Also, simply adorable (laughs). I could watch her forever. And that flawless skin.
Then there is Ayuka Kishimoto. I only knew her as a scriptwriter, but apparently Kana studied Ayuka’s own acting when preparing to lead Kaedama Bravo!. Well, that explains everything. These two are unstoppable. And I have a strong feeling they will get even better.
Even the short films shown during the gaps are funny, and they turn out to be set-ups, all paid off in a final avalanche of callbacks and punchlines. I laughed until it hurt. And for someone who has watched Kaedama Bravo! on repeat, Kana’s closing number was the ultimate reward. Yes, that (?!) Soran Bushi dance (laughs). Thank you, truly. Worth every degree of the summer heat.
I cannot say more without spoilers. Please, please let these two take the stage together again somewhere. Do it in Kansai too. Make this two-hander a regular event. Release this run on DVD. Make more kinds of merchandise. Acrylic stands and stickers are a must.
The Souvenir Glass Mug
My seat came with a gift: a limited-edition original heat-resistant glass mug, printed with the illustration of that intriguing red bag. Ridiculously cute. So happy. A lovely keepsake that brings the show back every time I use it. Maybe I will grow a little cactus in it.
Final Thoughts
My first small theatre exceeded every expectation: the closeness, the sheer density of the laughs. Chances to go may be few and far between, but if Kana does another play, I will be there! Her character this time was wonderfully jaded, and honestly, so very adorable❤️
