Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2010

Photo: Dieter Hartwig

Acclaimed for delineating “the elusive state of things in contemporary Japan,” theater company Chelfitsch presents an expanded version of its 30-minute duet Air Conditioner. The original 2004 version, which consisted of a seemingly mundane conversation between two coworkers, made director Toshiki Okada a Toyota Choreography Award finalist. Audiences praised the clever merging of theater and dance in portraying the difficulty of achieving meaningful human relations in modern-day Japan. Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech is a new one-hour adaptation that is to tour Europe following its Tokyo debut.

Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner and the Farewell Speech

Toshiki Okada directs theater company Chelfitsch in a triple bill of his own plays. Until May 19, various times, ¥3,000 (student)/¥3,500 (adv)/¥4,000 (door). Laforet Museum, Harajuku. Tel: 03-3423-8669.