204. GOLDEN BAT. From my (unpublished) ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE NEW YORK STAGE, 1970-1975

Company of Golden Bat.

GOLDEN BAT [Revue/Nudity/Youth] B/LY/D: Yutaka Higashi; M: Itsuro Shimoda; S: Kenkichi Sato; C: Kiyoko Chiba; L: Barry Arnold; P: Kermit Bloomgarden and Arthur Cantor; T: Sheridan Square Playhouse (OB); 7/21/70-11/29/70 (152)

Company of Golden Bat.

 A non-book, revue-type, “Japanese Rock Celebration” about the universal trials and triumphs of youth, this enchanting Tokyo import, employing a company called the Tokyo Kid Brothers, mingled Japanese and English in a freeform presentation that captivated critics and audiences. It moved from an Off-Off Broadway venue at La Mama to Off Broadway, where its effective and skillful blend of music, dance, and song, conveyed with touching poignancy and rollicking humor, caused T.E. Kalem to praise it as “persistently entertaining and deftly professional.”

Reminiscent of Hair, like similar contemporary musicals, Golden Bat had elements of nudity, noted thusly by Harold Clurman: “When two of them take off their clothes, it is done with grace in no way related to sexual braggadocio.” It also satirized American and Japanese customs and included audience participation.

The Drama Desk gave its Most Promising Lyricist Award to Yutaka Higashi and its Most Promising Composer Award to Itsuro Shimada.