Anyeint
Encyclopedia
Anyeint is a traditional Burmese entertainment form that combines dance
with instrumental music, song
, and comedy routines
, in theatrical performances. It is a form of pwe, the Burmese
word for traditional entertainment. While classical pwe can be quite formal and almost ritualistic, anyeint is considered light entertainment.
In recent years, popular anyeint troupes such as Thee Lay Thee & Say Yaung Zoun and Htawara Hninzi have performed overseas, including Thailand
, Singapore
and the United States
, which have large Burmese immigrant populations. VCD
s of popular troupes' performances are also widely distributed; politically insensitive ones, including Say Yaung Zoun , have been banned by Burmese authorities.
or to music are interspersed with comedic dialogue and slapstick
performed by clowns. The result is a sequence of solo and group dances. The costumes of anyeint performers are identical to those worn by puppets in traditional marionette
theater. Although lead actresses were once the main focus of performances, the focus has now shifted to the comedic skits performed.
Slapstick comedians, known as lu shwin daw or lu pyet provide entertainment while the minthami changes outfits. In more recent times, well-known film actors and singers, such as Ye Lay, Nay Toe
and Htun Htun, have featured as comedians. Comedians typically dressed in checkered-patterned Taungshay-style longyi
(sarongs) and wear loose coats, a development innovated by U Po Sein, an influential 19th-century performer.
An small all-male music orchestra, led by the pattala (xylophone) music, accompanies the performance.
In the past, the anyeint performance was concluded with a verse play called zat kyi , although this portion is now omitted from contemporary anyeint programmes.
word meaning "gentle". The form originated as a royal court dance performed by female dancers and was originally confined to the royal court. However, after the end of the Konbaung dynasty in 1885, anyeint troupes were forced to seek work outside and popularized a hybrid dance and comedic performance that has become popular throughout Burma, especially appealing to the growing merchant
class in British Burma, who patronised and sponsored these performances. The first known anyeint troupe was formed in Mandalay
around 1900, by comedian U Chit Phwe and his wife, dancer Ma Sein Thone.
In the colonial era, famous anyeint actresses often became recording artists and were the headlines of anyeint shows, as composers wrote individual songs and dances suited to them. However, the importance of the lead actress has diminished. Anyeint reached its height in the 1970s, during a period of socialist rule
, with one of the most influential troupes being Mandalay
's Lamin Taya (The Hundred Moon Troupe). In 1973, the troupe's scriptwriter, Maung Myat Hmaing wrote Dancer of the Ganges, which was one of the first Burmese plays to include the concept of democracy.
During the colonial, U Nu
and Ne Win
administrations, troupes commonly included political satire and critiques, including social commentary, as part of their skits. However, since 1988, regulations have become stricter, with comedians who perform political satire subject to arrest. From 1988 to 1992, a military curfew at night prohibited all-night anyeint performances.
Since the release of the anyeint play Hninzi Thakhin in 2010, censorship of play contents have become stricter; the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise, the censorship body that regulates all anyeint troupes in the country, now mandates a full dress rehearsal to audit for any questionable content (such as jokes targeted at government officials, or cross-dressing scenes).
The Burmese comedian, Zarganar
, has frequently performed in anyeint. In 1986, he formed the Mya Ponnama Anyeint troupe, whose performances have appeared on television. The Burmese performance art Htein Lin
has also performed anyeint, which is an influence in his performance art
.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
with instrumental music, song
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, and comedy routines
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
, in theatrical performances. It is a form of pwe, the Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
word for traditional entertainment. While classical pwe can be quite formal and almost ritualistic, anyeint is considered light entertainment.
In recent years, popular anyeint troupes such as Thee Lay Thee & Say Yaung Zoun and Htawara Hninzi have performed overseas, including Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which have large Burmese immigrant populations. VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
s of popular troupes' performances are also widely distributed; politically insensitive ones, including Say Yaung Zoun , have been banned by Burmese authorities.
Characters
The lead singer and dancer in an anyeint performance is called the anyeint minthami . Well-known film actresses and singers, including May Than Nu and Yadana Khin, are often featured as lead anyeint actresses. The anyeint minthami dances to instrumental music and singing either a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
or to music are interspersed with comedic dialogue and slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
performed by clowns. The result is a sequence of solo and group dances. The costumes of anyeint performers are identical to those worn by puppets in traditional marionette
Marionette
A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a manipulator. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or revealed to an audience by using a vertical or horizontal control bar in different forms...
theater. Although lead actresses were once the main focus of performances, the focus has now shifted to the comedic skits performed.
Slapstick comedians, known as lu shwin daw or lu pyet provide entertainment while the minthami changes outfits. In more recent times, well-known film actors and singers, such as Ye Lay, Nay Toe
Nay Toe
Nay Toe is a Myanmar Academy Award-winning film actor and a comedian with the Burmese traditional dance troupe Htawara Hninzi. He won his first academy award for best actor with the 2009 film Moe Nya Einmet Myu .-Early life:...
and Htun Htun, have featured as comedians. Comedians typically dressed in checkered-patterned Taungshay-style longyi
Longyi
A longyi is a sheet of cloth widely worn in Burma. It is approximately 2 m long and 80 cm wide. The cloth is often sewn into a cylindrical shape. It is worn around the waist, running to the feet. It is held in place by folding fabric over, without a knot. It is also sometimes folded up to...
(sarongs) and wear loose coats, a development innovated by U Po Sein, an influential 19th-century performer.
An small all-male music orchestra, led by the pattala (xylophone) music, accompanies the performance.
Format
Anyeint performances begin with a recitation and explanation of ancient verses, followed by a pari kamma , a formal speech by troupe members to introduce themselves and thank the show's patron. Comedians then provide an introductory slapstick skit, before inviting the lead actress to the stage for a performance, during which they will provide improvised jokes and playful insults to the audience. At the end of the dance set, comedians direct jokes at the actress, who rebuts them and defends herself.In the past, the anyeint performance was concluded with a verse play called zat kyi , although this portion is now omitted from contemporary anyeint programmes.
Origins
The name "anyeint" comes from a Burmese languageBurmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
word meaning "gentle". The form originated as a royal court dance performed by female dancers and was originally confined to the royal court. However, after the end of the Konbaung dynasty in 1885, anyeint troupes were forced to seek work outside and popularized a hybrid dance and comedic performance that has become popular throughout Burma, especially appealing to the growing merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
class in British Burma, who patronised and sponsored these performances. The first known anyeint troupe was formed in Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
around 1900, by comedian U Chit Phwe and his wife, dancer Ma Sein Thone.
In the colonial era, famous anyeint actresses often became recording artists and were the headlines of anyeint shows, as composers wrote individual songs and dances suited to them. However, the importance of the lead actress has diminished. Anyeint reached its height in the 1970s, during a period of socialist rule
Burmese Way to Socialism
The Burmese Way to Socialism refers to the ideology of the Socialist regime in Burma, from 1962 to 1988, when the 1962 coup d'état was led by Ne Win and the military to remove U Nu from power...
, with one of the most influential troupes being Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
's Lamin Taya (The Hundred Moon Troupe). In 1973, the troupe's scriptwriter, Maung Myat Hmaing wrote Dancer of the Ganges, which was one of the first Burmese plays to include the concept of democracy.
During the colonial, U Nu
U Nu
For other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century...
and Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
administrations, troupes commonly included political satire and critiques, including social commentary, as part of their skits. However, since 1988, regulations have become stricter, with comedians who perform political satire subject to arrest. From 1988 to 1992, a military curfew at night prohibited all-night anyeint performances.
Since the release of the anyeint play Hninzi Thakhin in 2010, censorship of play contents have become stricter; the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise, the censorship body that regulates all anyeint troupes in the country, now mandates a full dress rehearsal to audit for any questionable content (such as jokes targeted at government officials, or cross-dressing scenes).
The Burmese comedian, Zarganar
Zarganar
Maung Thura "Zarganar" Maung Thura "Zarganar" Maung Thura "Zarganar" (also called Zaganar is a popular Burmese comedian, film actor, and a film director as well as a fierce critic and often political prisoner of the Burmese military government...
, has frequently performed in anyeint. In 1986, he formed the Mya Ponnama Anyeint troupe, whose performances have appeared on television. The Burmese performance art Htein Lin
Htein Lin
- Early life :Htein Lin was born in Mezaligon, Sagaing Division in northern Burma. From 1985, he studied for a Bachelor of Law degree at Yangon University...
has also performed anyeint, which is an influence in his performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
.