The Sound of a Voice

The Sound of a Voice is a fable about a samurai who shows up at the house of a woman who lives deep in the woods. She asks him in for tea, and he ends up staying for weeks. The play is very minimalist. some scenes consist of the two actors simply working at their daily tasks. He practices with his swords; she takes care of her plants. Her domestic talents are numerous, but she is also skilled at the martial arts. The samurai starts to distrust her because she is so superior to him. It turns out that she is suspected of being a witch and that he wants to kill her to regain his former glory. He loves her though, and he can't bring himself to do it. However, he can't stay, either; his masculine pride won't allow him to be with her. When he tells her he is leaving, she makes a tragic threat.