Powerful and Playful

Nan Nan Nan- de Man

I have just returned from touring with ‘Nan- de- Man’ to Nagasaki and to an island known as Gota (about 2 hours on the ferry from Nagasaki) and the tour was and experience parallel with the play, which is best described as powerful and playful.

Once again (just as on my the tour last week to Kagoshima with ‘Furato Burato’) I was very impressed by the ‘Kodomo Gekijou’ (Children’s Theatre Company) which is an NPO largely run by mothers who are responsible for producing the Nagasaki season, in collaboration with Kazenoko Kyushu. As well as producing the season (getting funding, advertising, hiring the venue and selling the tickets) the mothers of ‘Kodomo Gekijou’ and their children are thoroughly present at the event, both receiving a special pre-show brief with the artists and conducting a formal post show brief over ‘Udonsha’ (cold tea) and ‘Okashi’ (sweets). It is a very strong relationship, fuelled by a mutual passion for the well being of children and a great love of children’s theatre. Sitting in a local 'Izakaya' (bar) after the show that night with the Mothers and the cast I thought to myself, "Would actors in Australia do this? Would they go above and beyond their role as actors and give their time and energy post show and late into the night to a group of middle aged women?"

Also on the tour is Asano-san, who co-created and directed ‘Furato Burato’. She was so humble that I did not find out that she was the writer of ‘Nan-de Man’ till half way into the tour when inquired into how it was devised. “I wrote it”, she kind of confessed. And I then confess “Well, I just became your number one fan". She has just taken a gulp of beer and sprays it across the table with laughter. From there I asked about her influences and it was no surprise that she was brought up on a healthy diet of comedy shows on Japanese TV. Her influences include shows such as ‘The Drifters’ who are probably best described as the Japanese equivalent to ‘The Goodies’.

And now for a description on ‘Nan Nan Nan- de Man’:

The three performers burst onto the stage singing “Nan-de, Nan-de, Nan- de, Nan-de man!” and in the song, they introduce the roles they will be playing today through fun plays on words and actions. We meet ‘Otoosan’ (Father), ‘Oniichan’ (Brother) and ‘Nan-de Man’, a five year old boy who considers himself a superhero and has the comic book style moves and poses to prove it! The name Nan-de Man has been awarded to the little boy by Otoosan because the he is ALWAYS asking ‘Nan-de?’ (Why). The 5-year old boy is performed very energetically by Inoue Mari-san, a thirty something year old female performer who is incredibly convincing and likeable. Nan-de Man’s likeability lies in his fallibility, declaring that he will kill all the monsters and save the world in one breath and “Kedo, mazu Oshiko o shitai” (but first I need to do a wee) in the next. The cast of three are each very funny; displaying perfect comic timing, brilliant slapstick skills and the ability to play a myriad of original and hilarious characters.

Nan-de man falls asleep and goes on an adventure to a strange land full of strange characters. But this is a strange land with a difference, in this land it is forbidden to ask “Nande?” (Why?). If you do, a big scary monster comes and eats you up! After witnessing a couple of his new friends being gobbled by the monster, Nan-de Man loses faith in himself and even stops asking “Nande?”. But the play comes with an important message; Never be too scared to ask why.

In the end Nan-de Man conquers the monster and his work in this strange land is done. He will return home victoriously, but first, he must do a wee; this was the climax of the play for me. Nan-de Man yells ‘Kimochi ii!!!!’ (It feels so good!) as he relieves himself at the same time as the set transforming around him and the hall filling with heavenly music. He is transported back into his bed, on a wet mattress.

After the show, we sit in a circle with the ‘Kodomo Gekijou’ members and one by one we listen to each other’s feedback: “It was powerful”, “It was so simple but I felt so inspired”, “I am not sure who loved it the most- the children or the grown ups!”

It is my turn and I say the same thing I said last year when I saw the show in Tokyo for the first time. “I laughed so much that I wet my pants too!”

Asano-san laughs mid way through a gulp of Udon-cha and sprays it across the room, the mothers are all giggle and race to mop up the mess and Nan-de Man gives me a high five.