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The leading man from Japan’s highenergy, black comedy outfit Gumbo Theatre talks to Clare Morin about his favourite role.

Favourite role of all time?

Mr Master in our show Mindeater which played at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2000

What was so special about Mr Master?

Mr Master kept reincarnating and continuously moving between worlds. He’s one of my favourite characters as he’s got such a free existence and leads the story like an MC who interacts with the audience. He is a very free character: he’s not bound by any rules in the world. He doesn’t have any concept of good and evil and he would question things that are quite normal to humans. He can be an angel or a devil.

Do you believe in reincarnation?

It’s possible. I think everything happens inside our mind. There is no system in our minds, so our souls can enjoy a free existence. It would be great if the audience can join us and enjoy our show with their free souls.

Is Mr Master different from your upcoming performance in Sakura Sayer – Sakura Drives You Mad!

They are totally different, like complete opposites. My role in Sakura Sayer is Medicine Boy. Medicine Boy is very loyal to the Sakura machine which controls the Sakura Company. He is like a Doberman. I think he is the complete opposite of Mr Master who has a very free existence floating around. But Medicine Boy also interacts with the audience by dispensing humorous medicine to them. So I still have fun with the audience.

Catch Kenichi Mabuchi in action in Sakura Sayer – Sakura Drives You Mad! at the Fringe Club, Fri 30 & Sat 31