Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is currently debuting an intriguing world-premiere production titled ‘Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live & Active Cultures!)’, which promises a unique exploration of identity and culture through the lens of one of cinema’s greatest directors.
As audiences settle into their seats, they are greeted by a captivating loop of stills from Kurosawa’s iconic films accompanied by an orchestral soundtrack, creating the ambiance of an art-house cinema.
However, rather than screening one of Kurosawa’s classics like ‘Rashomon’ or ‘Seven Samurai’, the audience is introduced to a theatrical dialogue featuring Kurosawa himself, despite the director having passed away in 1998.
The character of Kurosawa appears on stage, dressed in his signature cap and sunglasses, conjuring a blend of nostalgia and curiosity, before he begins to speak in Japanese, much to the bewilderment of the audience.
An announcement about a forthcoming translator heightens the anticipation, but chaos ensues as a string of technical difficulties unfolds, leading to a series of delays and multiple introductions.
In an innovative twist, the production incorporates a video tribute featuring industry luminary Steven Spielberg alongside a whimsical vintage commercial for Dannon yogurt.
The play, written by Julia Izumi and directed by Aileen Wen McGroddy, features an ensemble of performers — Jamar Jones, Ashil Lee, Lizzy Lewis, Kento Morita, and Jihan Haddad — who bring a diverse energy to this stop-and-start exploration themed around Kurosawa’s films.
Izumi has crafted a narrative that not only pays tribute to Kurosawa’s legacy but also delves into personal themes of storytelling, loss, guilt, and Japanese-American identity.
This connection to personal loss is particularly poignant, as Izumi recently shared in an interview with Playwrights Horizons that she experienced the death of five significant people in her life over the course of a year.
These themes resonate deeply within the narrative, particularly highlighted through the exploration of Kurosawa’s brother’s death and Izumi’s own familial grief.
Further, the humor in ‘Akira Kurosawa Explains…’ employs a mix of sketch comedy and satirical impressions, showcasing a playful yet respectful approach to the iconic director’s work.
Moments of musical comedy break the fourth wall, featuring quirky disco numbers and entertaining raps, alluding to yogurt amidst deeper thematic undertones of identity and culture.
Izumi’s engaging exploration of what it means to be a first-generation Japanese American emerges vividly, raising questions about cultural dislocation and the elusive nature of language, evidenced in the line, ‘There’s no word for “miss” in Japanese.’
The playwright humorously infuses yogurt — a personal comfort food that became a staple after her health complications — into the storyline, linking everyday experiences with greater existential reflections.
Visually, the production is heightened by what has been described as ‘live cinema’, featuring real-time video projections that depict young Kurosawa alongside his brother, weaving together an engaging dialogue between past and present.
This blend of live and digitally rendered content reinforces the narrative’s cinematic heritage, with production credits that showcase the talents of video and projection designer Patrick W. Lord and sound designer Tosin Olufolabi.
The choice to experiment with live cinema techniques proves to be a resonant tactic for storytelling, aligning well with the production’s exploration of silent cinema and narrative structures.
Adding to the atmospheric charm are the sets and costumes designed by Sonia Fernandez and Camilla Dely, which create a dynamically engaging environment for the performance.
‘Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt’ invites theatre-goers to reflect not only on Kurosawa’s cinematic contributions but also on the personal narratives we craft around the art we consume.
For anyone interested in a blend of humor, cultural commentary, and personal storytelling, the play will be running until June 1 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, located at 641 D St. NW.
This production represents a fresh and innovative take on the works of a cinematic icon and promises an evening filled with thought-provoking entertainment.
image source from：https://georgetowner.com/articles/2025/05/27/last-chance-akira-kurosawa-explains-at-woolly-mammoth/
