The Vampire Cat A Play in one act from the Japanese legend of the Nabeshima cat

Set in a moon‑lit palace of medieval Japan, the play opens on Prince Hizen’s private chambers, where a restless ruler plagues himself with nightmarish visions. Beside him stand his sharp‑tongued councillor Buzen and the solemn priest Ruiten, each offering their own remedies—guarding samurai, fervent prayers, and whispered superstitions. The atmosphere is thick with incense, shoji screens and the faint glow of candles, while a mysterious, unseen presence begins to stir the household.

The dialogue quickly turns to an old legend that a cat’s spirit can infiltrate human souls, suggesting a malevolent entity cloaked in feline form. As the prince’s insomnia worsens, the court members debate whether prayer, brute force, or a more cunning stratagem might finally silence the unseen menace. The tension builds around the question of how far one will go to protect a kingdom from a threat that may be both animal and human.