"Sumida River," a classic Japanese noh tragedy about a mother searching for her lost son, opens Friday at Kennedy Theatre.

The University of Hawai'i-Manoa Theatre and Dance Department production features the elaborate costumes and simple, elegant masks of traditional noh, but this version is translated into English and directed by guest artist and noh expert Richard Emmert, assisted by visiting Kita School noh master and actor Akira Matsui.

To give you an idea of what to expect, Matthew Shores, a Ph.D. student in Japanese literature at UH, interviewed Matsui recently. Here are excerpts:

Q. In layman's terms, what would you say the special characteristics of the play "Sumidagawa" are?

A. Well, to start out with, "Sumidagawa" is a tragedy. Most noh plays about parents searching for lost children end happily. This play, however, ends in tragedy. This is something special in the noh repertoire. In most plays that deal with morality, bad loses to good. Monks typically prevail in plays like this. "Sumidagawa" doesn't have a happy ending, though. It is rare that all characters sink down in despair. This show is a poignant tear-jerker, and audiences are sure to enjoy it for that.

Q. Do you have any advice for people who will be watching noh for the first time?

A. I would just encourage audiences to allow themselves to experience noh in the moment. It's all about the encounter with noh. Just like when lovers find each other. Whether they fall in love at first sight, or fall in love after knowing each other for 10 years, it comes down to simply falling in love. There are all kinds of encounters. Audiences should just let themselves be in the moment. It may be the stylized movements on stage that one is touched by, it may be the student actors, or the chorus ensemble ... it could be the kan (the characteristic flute accompaniment) or crack of the drums ... if audiences could take just one thing home from the play, I think that it all will have been worthwhile. And it's fine if audiences don't feel like they really understand the show ... it's all about having that first encounter. People can even sleep if they like.

Q. It's OK to sleep during the show?

A. Sure. If audiences find themselves feeling relaxed in the moment, that's good enough. It would just mean that noh is transporting them to a dream world, into a state of fantasy. I tell you, audiences would never be able to sleep during noh if the performance was clumsy. They would feel too uneasy to fall asleep. So yes, audiences can feel free to sleep, as long as they don't snore.