Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-02-16
Theatrical Performance in Siam.

After dinner we had a theatrical
entertainme nt, or lacon," as it is call
ed in Siam. The scene which present
ed itself as we passed out of the house
was novel and effective. A large
court at the back was used for the dis
play, and here at one end small stage
was erected, with some painted canvas
behind, representing the ont of a
house, through, the door of which the
performers appeared and disappeared
On the stage a woman, gorgeously
dressed in tight-ftting costume,
glistening with gold and silver beads
and scales, and a high comical head
dress, likewise gils were squatting. In
front of the stage were two rows of
male and female performers, dressed
IN similar style, squattin5 on the
ground Behind these again was the
band, and on the left Of the perform
ers were a band of women and girls,
armed with sticks, which they bring to-
gether with clash, keeping time to
the music from beginning to end of the
performance. Imagine the result of
this changing, kept up for five or six
hours without ceasing. On the right
hand side clear space with chairs was
reserveds for the Governor and party,
and the background was a living mass
of faces; the whole lit up with lurid
red glare by torches set on stands, in
rows, on each side of the stage and per-
formers. 1 cannot give you a very
vivid account of the performance for
the simple reason that there was moth
ing to describe. A more dismally mo-
notonous affair | never witnessed; all
talking and going through extraordi-
nary contortions with hands, arms,
fingers and nails, turning them up and
down and round and inside out. The
principal female actors have nails to
the fingers of one hand three Or four
inches Tonga disgusting sight, but, I
believe, a sign Of high breeding, show
ing that work is beneath their dignity
The Siamese audience sat it out very
stolidly, with impassive faces and open
mouths, doubtless enjoying themselves
immensely in a quiet way. The most
amusing part of the affair Ito us) was
the governors young boy, little dot
hardly three years Old, who smoked the
whole time, although hardly high
Cl1OuSll w lCttCll Vic ClSdIoUUcS O1 Vic
table. The only drawback to this
amusing phase of childish precocity
was the ingenious way in which heburnt
holes in unsupported parts of our we'd
ding garments with the lighted end of
his cigar. Another source of parental
pride must have been the playful way
in which he would plunge his fist into
the pit of our stomachs, the joke Of
which we. did not quite enter into,
though, of course, we had to smile
pleasantly. Altogether he was rather
a nuisance. But the browning piece of
all was to see this youngster rushing
wildly about in a state of nature the
whole Of the evening One could not
help envying him in certain sense,
for we found it excessively hot.
After sitting patiently for three
hours, we became rather anxious
whether there was going to be an
end, for we had heard OF Siamese
dramas continuing over century,
terrible prospect. | think the Cover
nor must have noticed our tagging
spirit, for many were nodding in their
chairs, and he brought the perform
ance to close. The prompter, con-
trary to our custom, sat we'll in the CEN
ter, and called out the parts in a loud
and clear tone, heard everywhere. But
then it would be rather too great an
effort of memory to commit to it a
play lasting century Or so.-Leisaere
Hours.