2.  Make a list of the elements that characterize these plays in general, and your favorite in particular.  We did this when we looked at the Noh plays, considering the presence of religious ideas, a  relatively large cast that sometimes shared the same voice, the use of masks, a lyrical style, a haunted figure that returned to the world.  What stands out to you about the kyôgen plays?

3.  Imagine your own cast of characters.  You can play with current topics in the news if you like, using pop stars or politicians. You might also consider situations like these:  the Dilbert-style manager and employees; the favored customer at a posh department store and the sales people who attend this customer; a coach and team players.

4.  How do they look and speak? Drawing your inspiration from the characters in  kyôgen plays, imagine how your characters dress, move and speak.  You can call on your costume-designing experiences as you think about this.

5.  What happens to them? Taking your cue from the action in kyôgen plays,imagine a situation that pokes fun at the relationships among these characters.

6.  Write a draft.  Follow the format of the plays in our textbook.  Just write whatever you like and you'll have many pages in no time. Now streamline this to three type-written pages.

7.  Have a reading.  Ask a friend or two to read your play aloud with you.  Do the characters sound the way you expect?  Does the play unfold as you like?

8.  Bring your play to class on Wednesday.  We'll get a chance to read each other's plays by trading them, reading them silently, and then discussing the elements of  kyôgen--yours and the Japanese originals.  You will hand in the play at the end of class.