h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Greetings, Prophet!

I'm glad you're back, because I just got here, and want to congratulate you on an excellent EG introduction to kabuki. I taught a practical introduction to kabuki last year, with a group of senior high school students and am about to embark on an expanded course with a new year group. I have been weak-kneed with gratitude to James Brandon, of the University of Hawaii for the breadth and depth of his scholarship and experience; but I shall be emailing my students your introduction to whet their appetites before classes begin next week! We did Shibaraku last year, and this year we're going to explore Tsuruya Namboku IV's Sakura Hime Azuma Bunsho..... er ..... but in English..... The Scarlet Princess of Edo.... this year, with a view to creating an original piece to present at the local Japanese school (no pressure!).

By the way, you probably know this already, but just in case, Far Side Music (www.farsidemusic.com) is an excellent UK site for traditional and contemporary Asian arts radio, notices of shows, and DVDs on kabuki and Noh. No kyogen or bunraku yet, but I check from time to time.

Good job!

Hi Ruddy!

My most humble apologies for not getting back to you sooner--seems I took another extended lunch from the Guide and haven't thought to return until now! I tend to do that more often than I'd like to admit.

I'm.. not sure entirely sure what the appropriate word would be--gobsmacked, maybe? I'd never expected something I wrote to be used as teaching material! Seems appropriate, then, that an essay I wrote in high school drama is being used to teach high-school-aged drama students. I'm curious to know what they thought of it, if any of them mentioned it.

Makes me feel as though I should rewrite it, to try to bring it up to a higher standard. Too bad it's in the edited guide now, eh?

Thanks again!