(日本名伎川上贞奴) MADAME SADAYAKKO

ThefirstJapaneseactressofmoderntimes,Sadayakko(1871-1946)sharedthestagewithIsadoraDuncanandinfluencedPuccini'swritingofMadameButterfly.Unfortunately,thisbiography,afollow-uptoDowner'sWomenofthePleasureQuarters,nevertakeswingdespitetheauthor'sbesteffortstotrackdownrelativeswhostillremembertheactress,soldbyherfamilytobecomeageishaatagefive.Piecedtogetherfromnewspaperclippingsandwritingsbycontemporaries,thebookfailstocapturetheexcitementofSadayakko'ssuccess.Likemanygeisha,whowereconsideredsocialoutcasts,Sadayakkomarriedintothetheateratage19bychoosingahusband,Otojiro,fromamongthe"riverbedbeggars,"asactorswerethenknown.Shejoinedhimonstageduringhistroupe'sfirstAmericantour,butsoonshebecameabiggerstarthanhe.OtojirofoundedNewWavedrama,orshimpa,whichwasmuchlessstylizedthantraditionalkabuki,yetDownermakesastrongcasethatSadayakkowaseverybitasimportantasOtojirotothedevelopmentofJapanesetheater.ButSadayakko,whowaseagertosupportherhusband,leftnorecordtoindicatetheexactnatureofherrole,ifany,inthedevelopmentofhisplays.AfterOtojiro'sdeath,Sadayakkocontinuedtoactandtotrainotheryoungactresses.AlthoughSadayakkowasacaptivatingcharacter,Downerdoesn'tcomeupwithenoughfactstopresentanequallycaptivatingstory.