ABSTRACT
SAINT-EXUPERY:Atthecenterof theearththere.flowslava of"boys."Themantlesurroundingthelavaistheirmother. Thevolcanoesaretheirpimples.Thecontinentsaretheirsins andtheseastheirlongings.TokyoToweristheirtoy.Shi5nen Magajinisacomicmagazineforthe"boys."Itistheircommonsense.Thewholeuniverseisthreemealsforthe"boys." Theatmosphereinwinteristheirsnack.Itisalsotheircommonsense.Insidetheearth,theunconsciousnessof"boys"is flowing.Thelavais.flowingoutfrominside. NodaHideki,Shonen-gari,1981 1
ThefirsttimeIsawNodaHideki(b.1955)andhistroupeYume noYiiminsha(1976-1992)wasatitsthirdproductionof Hashire,Merusu!(Run,Merusu!)inNovember1976inTokyo. Acollegefriendinvitedmetotheproduction,whichherfriends werehelpingtostage.Itwasarainyday.Iwalkedthroughthe gateofKomabacampusattheUniversityofTokyo.Togetto thetheaterIhadtopassinfrontofaseriesofold,shabbylookingdormitoriesatthebackofthecampus.Thetheaterwas theKomabaStudents'Hall,andnotyettheKomabaShogekijo (KomabaLittleTheater)whereYumenoYiiminshaspentits earlieryears.TheHallwasnotreallyatheateratall.Thestage wasbuiltwithcanvasandsteelpipes.AsTakatsuYukio, Noda'slongestcollaboratordescribedthescenetome,"Itwas asiftheybuiltatentinsidethebuilding"(Takatsu,interview withauthor,10March1997).Weweregivenaplasticbagatthe entrancetoputourshoesinandsatdownontopofstrawmats. "Moveback,please,"thetheaterstaffrepeatedlyyelled.The theaterwassosmall,humid,stale,andjam-packedwithyoung peoplethatIalmostgotsick.
