In Kabuki, all the roles are played by men, including beautiful princesses – a role Maholo accomplishes stunningly in his official stage debut as Maholo Onoe at the Kabuki Theater in downtown Tokyo.
Out to avenge his father’s death, striking spectacular poses, Maholo performs swashbuckling fight scenes and slays a furry baboon.In a touching moment of art imitating life, Maholo's grandfather, Kikugoro Onoe, appears as the God of War. He praises Maholo's character, Iwami, and tells him to keep at his art, promising to always be at his side and help him attain his goals.
The huge curtain for the stage, which also works as advertising space, is speckled with fluttering dots of purple and orange, designed by French artist Xavier Veilhan of fashion house Chanel. This was Ghnassia's idea – as an art director, he designs venues, installations, shops and events to market fashion brands, contemporary art and film ventures.
Maholo Onoe, center, with his mother Shinobu Terajima and father Laurent Ghnassia are interviewed at the Kabuki Theater in Tokyo, on May 18, 2023. — Photo: AP/Yuri Kageyama) Maholo Onoe, front center, performs as he makes his official stage debut at the Kabuki Theater in Tokyo, on May 2, 2023. — Photo: AP