San Andreas independent., 1856-10-04

Il
who "sabes," Chinese character, we spent sew
eral evenings at the Chinese Theatre, witness
sing the performances of Dramatic Com
lpany now holding forth in this place. The As
sociation consists of thirty actors musicians
ETC., and their performances, if not very enter
tanning are most curious to outside barbarian.
John has introduced but little of the modern
dramatic illusions so necessary to give stage
effect in the management of the piece, and the
actors have but little mercy ON the " ears of the
groundlings," which were at any moment, in
danger of being spill by the internal clatter of
the gongs, kettle-drums, horns and "schreechers"
of their catathumpian band
The Theatre building is q frame, 45xlO0 feet,
cost 81 500; all the scenery, fixtures and stage
furniture were constructed by native artisans.
The chairs arc especially of singular construc-
ton, built more with view to their adaptation
for other uses than for seats. The stage floor
was carpeted and had no foot-lights, but the
wings ON both sides of the stage, were orna-
mented with three large lights burning Chinese
Oil, on the bonfire principle, from earthen vases
supended on iron cranes. Every half hour
supe replenished the oil, giving the lights stir.
The musicians, nine in number, were in position
behind the stage, close up to the drop-curtain,
so that the actors were between the audience and
the music; wise precaution, as the necessity
of facing the music, seldom occurs. 1t would
bo tic
Companies who arc unable to face the music
Of small bills" would sometimes adopt the same
plan. The music seems to be series of soft,
Uhinng tunes, varying between bad, worse and
intolerable. Some of the musicians play on
several instruments, and others on two instru-
ments at the same time, producing sounds as if
from ~ harp NV Mou-sand strings"
The drop-curtain, side-wings and other scene
ry were stationary, and ornamented with tinsel,
Inscriptions and other ensignia, illustrating the
character of the play and announcing the great
success of the Company. [Chinese actors being
ceIestials, are consequently all stars, and none
but those Of the first magnitude are allowed to
illuminate the sable devotees Of the Drama.
The stage being cleared of the de6ris,-such
as chairs, opium-smokers, dead-heads, "supes,"
&C., three Sa0ans of the Ming dynasty, bearing
tablets, entered and so the play begun.
1t is proper to explain that the play was an
allegorical history of the Chinese Empire and
character; the time consumed in exhibiting the
piece is six weeks, performing each afternoon
AZ 1 AZ
part to be played during the evening related to
the period when China was completely subdued
by the Mongul Tartars, very interesting pc
riod, and on account of the similarity of that
rebellion, to the present one in China, the part
had been repeated several evenings, each night
to an increased audience.
The scene opened with poetical invocation
to the Sun, delivered in the style which a love-
sick sarney would sing " Barbara Allen,"-in a
slow, solemn strain, accompanied by the cala-
Mumpians, Contra-Basso, la Julien After
numerous fourishes of speech and gyrations of
thumb and fingers the actors disappeared.
A loud blast from trumpets announced the
first appearance of a feminine beauty named
Strong-way, who paraphrased the spirit of the
times by nalrating the awful calamities which
befel her lover, who had turned his arms and
powering armies and destroying their fleets
The hero is overpowercd, and banished to the
north. Her lover looked like an unfortunate
miner who had worked bad clainl;.a
| al No. y
and tremendous moustache hang
the ears, which he stroked app
of punctuating his doggerel-
and perfumes plainly visiss
the Opera of Guyaseute,
the kettle on Enter4l
ing time" by looks, VI
counting fingers-all
blind horse" One
awful enigma from6
lantern before him.
Strong-way, appears
tory of the wandi
Music" Lake Eris
cites the history
continued thro
to the period of y
history of China. t
Golden Age. WhiIeS
sceptre, the seat of
the table were -
das and paint
edifccs lined tn
70 illustrate theN
~sveen was
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