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发表于 2010-12-11 07:58:19
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VOX POPULI: Grow up and use your God-given gifts, Ebizo
2010/12/10
I saw a woman on a train carrying a Louis Vuitton bag with two stuffed toys the size of kittens hanging from it. The weathered toys must have been her friends from the time she carried a school bag. Apparently, she cannot part with her beloved toys, even though she is now old enough to buy brand-name products.
I don't mean to criticize personal tastes but we say that the things people carry around with them speak volumes about their owners. Sooner or later, most people stop wearing outlandish outfits when they realize how funny they look or are laughed at. That is what growing up is all about.
Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa, 33, succeeded to the name when he was 26. Before that, he was called Shinnosuke. His flamboyant bar-hopping and drinking binges and the reputation his conduct has earned him do not befit the prestigious Kabuki stage name he has assumed.
To compare him to the woman on the train, he has been carrying around "stuffed toys" that are not suitable for an actor of his high status.
After being beaten up after a drinking bout, Ebizo had to have surgery to fix the face with which he makes his living. On Tuesday night, he gave a news conference before some 500 reporters and announced he would refrain from giving performances for an indefinite period.
He spoke careful words of apology and reflection and hinted that he might refrain for a while from drinking, the reason for his unbefitting behavior. He said, "I don't think I will feel like drinking for some time."
Six years ago, I had the chance to see Ebizo in Paris, where he gave a performance commemorating his succession to the name. His spectacular acting and the message he delivered in French were quite impressive. But what people found even more striking was his sexual charisma as an actor. At the party to celebrate his succession, with his slightly flushed complexion, Ebizo cut an extremely handsome and attractive figure. He looked radiant, as one might expect from an iconic actor.
An absence from the stage does not necessarily have to be a bad thing, provided it is used as a late opportunity for personal growth. I hear Ebizo has been told by his wife, Mao, to learn self-discipline. I hope he studies harder and makes a valiant comeback to the stage, not to the entertainment districts.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 9 |
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