Originally produced as THE BANDIT PRINCESS in 1979 and 1981, Kikue Tashiro’s play gives us a new folk heroine, Princess HANA (“flower’), the beautiful, independent daughter of the house of SAGA, abducted by the notorious bandit, Fujiura. Upon his death, HANA assumes his role, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor until the showdown back at the SAGA mansion.
The daughter of Hana and Chief Bandit Fujiura is Sakura (“cherry blossom”), the heroine of the second play in the LEGENDS OF THE BANDIT PRINCESS.
Crossing dressing, mad scenes, modern/Kabuki dance, Japanese-inspired music and songs, inventive stage combat and a one woman cast of a dozen roles makes HANA, a wholy inventive theatrical experience.