The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-05
THE HONG CHING YUEN.
Behind the Scenes OF "a Chi-
Dese Theatre,
The Actors and Their Salaries Splendid Cos
tunes but No Rehearsals-How Per-
formanoss are Conducted

SAN FRANCISCO March IL, 1871.
peep behind the scenes Of theatre is always an
esteemed privilege; and when the theatre Is Of the
Chinese sore the "peepn is to be doubly coveted.
THE KONG CHING YUEN THEATRE,
OF this CITY, on the corner OF Jackson and Dupont
streets Its entrance Is through long, hall
way, which Is lined either side by small gambling
shops. the auditors go straight ON through this
passage; but the performers dive down a narrow,
dark stairway. and, after walking the length OF an
equally dark corridor, ind themselves behind the
scenes. Visitors are very seldom allowed to pene-
trate thus far, ana the writer was one OF few ex
ceptions TO the stringent rules OF the house. Here,
as In every other part OF the building IS pungent
smell OF opium. anu an offensive presence Of close
air and dirt
BEHIND THE SCENES
is, TO certain extent, misnomer In this Chinese
theatre, the ''scenes" being nothing but nasny
lOred curtains stretched from floor ceiling. There
Is no separate 'property ROOM" as In other thea
tres, and tnat portion Of the stage hidden from the
audience Is strewn with costumes, fags, banners
and the multitude Of things that are used In the
stage representations The walls are ornamented ~
with chinese pictures OF the tea chest STYLE inter-
spersed Hlth various inscriptions. There is sepa-
rate "paint ROOM" where the artists manipulate
their faces much as our own actors do. They paint
very quickly, and not without skill, but when nade
up Tor the stage they resemble cailcatures rather
rooms, for the very simple reason that no females
ever take part in Chi nese theatricals. The female
parts are enacted by boys and young men, VINO so
cleverly mllnic the originals that tue fraud would
scarcely be suspected by the uniformed auditor.
the visit or the writer to tho Hong Ching Yucn thea
tire was during
DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE,
and the scene "benind the scenes'' differed some
what from that OF an ordinary Thespian temple.
The actors not at the moment engaged IN the per.
formance were lying fast asleep, IN odd corners and
in q whlIe the stage manager would administer 4
sound shaking to some sleeping artist whose pre-
sence was demanded in the play; and In one
instance the stage was kept waiting by q drowsy
who found IL dicult 10 shake on the influences
Of opium.deepened suaoer. The dressing is done
by ATTENDANTS, who are ned responsible for the
wardrobe, watch Is or the most gorgeous descrip-
largely in the costumes, but they are worn awKardly
In most instances. The wardrobe Of this theatre Is
said to have cost over $4,000, and Is dc Stae OF
that OF leading theatre In emma.
The manner la which Chinese actor learns his
part Is unique. lie does not know word Of It
until after lie Is dressed for the STAGE Indeed the
costumes TO be the most important part OF the
establishment, completely oveashadowing the com.
paraliyely
INSIGNIFICANT MATTER OF ACTING.
After carefully donnng his costume, the. actor
the orthodox STYLE Then he castshis eyes hurrledy
over large book In which the play IL written In
of his part There are no rehearsals; and PROBABLY,
an indefinite amount OF what IS technically known
nsrt e Terns TO the attendant who Tess meii b ms
and his costume Is taken of and carefully laid away.
During The performance the stage MANAGER Is POP,
the adjacent rooms, giving orders III un!ntelllgDle
jargon.
UNDER TIE STAGE
are between forty and fifty small rooms occupied by
the actors and other employees Of the theatre for
all the people connected With the establishment do
mcile on the premises
This theatre Is well patronized ana Is understood
to he profitable enterprise. lG Is owned by COM
pany and Is leased by the manager. Next to gam
bling that which most engrosses the attention or tho
Chinese residents OF san FRANCISCO Is the theatre.
Concerning the
ORIGIN OF THEArRIcALs
they have the following legcnd:-More than thou
sand years ago, the night Oh the high festival in
honor OF the Moon, 10 knng, an attendant upon his
Majesty, Emperor Heuntsng, was walking abroad
in rapture OF devotion he threw his stan toward
the SKY and 1t was In an instant mi ,acuousy trans
accompany him both mounted the bridge TO the
Moon. They found the gaes OF splendid palace,
meath spreading cinnamon tree. A company OF
females OF NOBLE as1ect, clad In white ana seated
white CELESTIAL The Sa sng wa de-
to be amusing themselves, and their visitors heard
at the same time strains OF music OF wonderfully
and to the Emperors palace; but could recall alasi
half the words or the notes OF the song they
had heard. But one Yang king-tah, having formed
some conceptions Of IL from the descriptions Of The
Emperor, wrote 1t down and arranged It for band
music In an enclosure of the imperial pear orchard.
Ever since thai time, which dated the commence
been called .'rhe Fraternity OF the Pear Orchard"
They are as more or less In other countries. sort
OF clique or society by themselves.
THE SALARIES
paid in the Hong Ching iuen theatre range from
$500 TO 81 ZOO year, and are paid monthly in adj
vance with great exactness. The company num-
bers about sixty performers and assistants, includ-
ing jueglers, athletes, &c. In addition to the
salaries, the employees are furnished free with the
little sleeping rooms before alluded 10. They are
said TO be temperate and steady In their habits,
being only given, as nearly all Chinese are, to
opium smoking and gambling. +.
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TNE limited STA Ey COySlIJ. Ar ST. THOMAS