PROGRAM
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Autumn Selection
The Miser
Directed by Silviu Purcărete
Cast: Kuranosuke Sasaki, Masaki Kaji, Masato Takeuchi, Ayaka Ohnishi, Hana Amano, Sakurako Moteki, Ginga Kikuchi, Tomoharu Hasegawa, Kenji Anan, Tezuka Toru, Haruhiko Jō
Romania’s genius director Purcărete returns to TMT. Molière's masterpiece offers blistering ridicule of a corrupt and money-crazy society!
Known for his good looks and energetic performances, Kuranosuke Sasaki is a gifted actor who works across genres including theatre, movies, and television dramas. Silviu Purcărete, the giant of Romanian theatre, is the theatre director who has captivated Sasaki. The two first worked together on“Richard III”in 2017, a groundbreaking Shakespeare production that caused a sensation on the Japanese theatre scene. Now the two are pairing up again for the first time in five years. Their latest collaboration is a staging of “The Miser,” the masterpiece of masterpieces by renowned French playwright Molière, who was born 400 years ago this year. What sort of spirited and exciting performance will Sasaki give in his role as the old miser reluctant to part with his cash? Expectations are high for Purcărete’s production, which should provide a welcome release for audiences after the pandemic.
Profile
Silviu Purcărete
Romania’s leading stage director, born in 1950. At Romania’s Sibiu International Theatre Festival, one of
Europe’s big three theatre festivals, Purcărete’s large-scale, spectacular version of “Faust” draws attention
as the annual highlight of the event. He has also been invited to perform that work at numerous festivals around the world including Edinburgh, Avignon, Melbourne, and Montreal. In France Purcărete has been decorated as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, and in Romania he has been awarded the Order of the Star of Romania. His theatre awards include the Critic’s Prize at the Edinburgh Festival, the Peter Brook prize, and the Dublin Festival Critics Award. He created the two works “Richard III” (2017)and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2020) for Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
Kuranosuke Sasaki
Born in Kyoto on February 4, 1968.
Sasaki was part of the theatre company "Planet Pistachio" from its inception, and remained the box-office draw of that theatre company until he left in 1998. He subsequently moved to Tokyo and began his acting career in earnest, appearing in numerous television programs, movies and theatre productions, and also making his Kabuki debut in 2014. He has received the 17th Yomiuri Theater Award excellent actor award, 47th Kinokuniya Theatre Award in the Individual category, the 40th Kazuo Kikuta Theatre Award theatre prize, and the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role award in the 38th Japan Academy Prize. Works Sasaki has appeared in recently include theatre roles in “Macbeth” (2015), “GeGeGe no Sensei e” (2018), Team Saru’s “Kunshi ni tomonashi: the Yongzheng Emperor, loneliest “tyrant” in Chinese history” (2021), and “The Lion in Winter” (2022); movie roles in “We Make Antiques! Kyoto Rendezvous” (2020), “Live Shimada Akira: The Last Governor of Okinawa during the War” (2021), and “The Woman of S.R.I.: The Movie” (2021); and television drama roles in “Miyako ga Kyoto ni Yattekita!” (ABC, 2021), “Cyber Crimes Unit” (EX 2021), and “The Men Of The Wada Family” (EX 2021). The movie “The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai” (2022) is currently showing in movie theaters, and “We Make Antiques! 3” is in the offing for a 2023 release.
Performance schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 23 – Sunday, Dec. 11 *no performances on some days
Accessibility/Subtitles, No subtitles
Portable subtitle players available to rent for the hearing-impaired, audio guides available for the visually-impaired (Available dates limited, reservation required for both)
English subtitles available (available dates limited)
Ticket information
Ticket prices
A serial number assigned with ticket. Tax included
- S seats: ¥9,500
- A seats: ¥7,500
- Side seats: ¥5,500
- 65 or over(S): ¥8,000
- Toshima citizen: ¥8,500
- 25 or under(A): ¥5,500
- High school students and under: ¥1,000
Tickets on sale from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10
*No preschool children admitted
*Toshima-ku resident discount available (limited number of tickets, advance sale only, ID required)
*No admission for preschool children.
*Tickets for those aged 65 and over, 25 and under, high school students and younger, and discounts for Toshima citizens are available at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Box Office only(limited number of tickets, advance sales only, ID required)
*Those with a Certification for Persons with Disabilities can see the play at a discounted
price. (For details, please check at the theatre box office or on the theatre’s website.)
*For wheelchair users, please contact the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Box Office (tel. 0570-010-296) before coming to the theatre, as there is limited space
*The difference will not be refunded even if a person eligible for the discount is admitted with a general price ticket. If a person with an age discount ticket cannot verify to be eligible for the discount, please pay the difference at the reception desk on the day of the performance.
*Illegal resale is strictly prohibited.
*Performance information may be subject to change due to unavoidable circumstances.
*Please be sure to check the precautions and the latest information about the performance on the theatre’s website before coming to the venue.
*Please refrain from entering the venue if you are not wearing a mask.
* Please understand that people with fever or who are deemed to be in poor health may be denied admission on the day of the event.
*Except in the case of cancellation of a performance, no cancellations or changes will be accepted for tickets that have been reserved or purchased.
*Hearing loops (magnetic loops) will be activated on all dates.
*Childcare services are available during concerts and plays at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. (For children from 3 months of age to before entering elementary school / Charged, limited capacity, application required at least 7 days prior (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays) to the desired date)
miraxs Co.,Ltd Mirax Sitter Application/Inquiries: 0120-415-306 (Weekdays 9:00 a.m.- 17:00 p.m.)
Notice to visitors
This performance will be held with measures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Please be sure to check the following link on the Tokyo Festival website when visiting:
Tokyo Festival anti-coronavirus measures
https://tokyo-festival.jp/2022/en/info/covid19/
-Please wear a mask at all times.
-Please be advised that those who have a temperature of 37.5℃ or higher or those who are not feeling well may be denied admission on the day of the performance.
Venue
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Playhouse)
Organizer credits
Organizers
Tokyo Festival Executive Committee [Toshima City, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre & Arts Council Tokyo), Tokyo Metropolitan Government]
Subsidy by
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in fiscal 2022, Culture and Arts Encouragement Grant (program promoting the functional enhancement of theatres, concert halls, etc.), Independent Administrative Agency Japan Arts Council
Sponsored by
Asahi Group Japan, Ltd.
Supported by
EMBASSY OF ROMANIA to Japan
Inquiries
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Box Office
TEL 0570-010-296 (10:00 a.m. – 19:00 p.m. except when theatre is closed)