New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-04
REAL .JAPS ON THE STAGE.
A DAY OF PLEASURE IN NATIVE
THEATRE.

TOXIC. Japan, September Z.
I have lust returned from most novel ana |
interesting treat-a whole day in n Japanese
theatre. NV head rings with the strange noises
the twang Of ANYTHING but harmonious music; my
feet ache from the cramped position in which have
had to keep them: yet before my eyes remain such
visions of Oriental splendor and grandeur. such
wonderful scenes of old Japan. that must pnt them
down on paper before they fade. | started mt an
early hour in company with friends to one oil the
principal theatres in Toxic. Opposite to the
theatre which we could distinguish by tho crowds
of people aud by various paintings hung ont 10 rep
resent the play, there were n lumber oil tea-honsts
or inns To one of these repaired. and hiring
loom, as is the custom, left our bundles. wraps.
lunch etc. and then were escorted over to tho
theatre.
IJpon entering the scene was almost iudescrib-
abe The theatre was large and square in shape,
and had two upper galleries and these and all be-
low were packed full of all sorts and kinds ana
classes of people sitting right down on the timex
mats on the floor. The theatre waSdividcd into small
sections separated by bar a foot or two high, and
into each section about -four could get sitting vcrv
clos IT, The whole place was thlckly matted. ana
all SIT down on their feet without any chair Just as
they do in their own houses. The sea Of heads that
one looked upon was very amusing; men, women,
children and babics in al. sort ard kinds of curious
costumes from rich silks to rags each family hud-
died together but watching with intense interest
and open eyes and months the progress on the play
our section in the best part Of the theatre ana
easy of access and of course VIC did not crowd to-
rcther as closely others but sc la To do with
ont chairs and content ourselves by stretching out
our feet occasionally or standing mp, and ] fancy
We attracted about "a much notice rs the actors,
with our strange faces and foreign clothes, espo-
callv when the play tagged in interest.
~. At frat ara flrgnf mi
Every one moved about or talked aud the actors
could not lee heard at all! there were no pas
sagrs around IN order 10 reach the middle section
people were Obliged 10 jump over or walk on the
bars. which caused much confusion. To add 10 It,
all the aulonce seemed To be possessors of were to-
bacco pipes aud were engaged in pulling out large
clouds 81 smoke into the already close AR Grad
uay little order began to appear and the audi
cnce quicted the play went on AMI grew more
interesting ! turn-d e. look at the stage The long
curtain sliding Oh a bar at the top had been pulled
aside and the interior OF Of the rooms OF a
castle was being shown. could not understand the
language M IL differed from the ordinary common
talk and the nug-drawn- out nasal sounds did not
seem much like the usual glib soft words of the
Japanese. There were 40 women actors. the
womcn's parts being acted los men, and in spite of
s<lful dressing and well stud cd manners Ties" be-
trayed themselves by the voice aud the face, which
were most decidedly masculine.
We we're very fortunate to fall upon play Of old
japan. representing court life. tho pot being
founded or facts. and u il, well As could find
ont somewhat as follows: There ~ the court
of one of the old Daimios two head ladies wait.
ing one named Anoye. and one lwafuli. between
whom there existed many jealous feelings and
rivalry Aupye was good. but lwafnll was very
wicked aud hated her rival. trying To shame her
and hurt her lwafuii wished to DISMISS s'ino
attendant for fault but Anoye took th"
attendant. side. and for her purpose used letter
of IwlfnIts dropped nnknown 70 her and found
by Anoye Then Iws.fuii challenged An"ye u IL
fencing match lior IN those old tunes fencing was
common among wOmrnL Anoyc could not fence
but her maid a faithful attendant. took her place
/ and won IWafuii agan hatlrd. in revenge t0O>
a figure of a god. which was IN the care OF Anoye
aud placed ia It's place n sandal. Then at som"
/ occasion when the god 10 les produced, tho
| sandal was found IN IT. place. Any hing belong
/ ing to the feet beng con'dered low thing
this was very disgrLceIul. but Anoyo denied
/ Lnowlc lgo of IT,. AMI declared the sandal To b.
IwatuIi's. Then lwaiuil answered that Anoye hal
stolen her sandals aud put one tero Just Ia Ice abb
10 accuse nc aud th Il the mate of the sandal onght
! TO bc found On the search being made the San iI
] was found in the clos OF Auoyc'S rnui, wherr"n
! lwafuii's accu-ntiou appeared true and Anoye was
| aisgrhccd before all the court According 10 the
apnucse ideas nothing could rr'ieem her honor but
/ death 50 she committed suicide. Then hcr maid
| ever faithful. vowed revenge and accuse aud
finally moved lwafuii guilty aud the prince of tue
ca le i'm reward for the maids fidelity gave her the
! high position held by her dead mistress Anoye.
The latter part ot the play was very pathetic aud
| came 10 the conclusion that TIE Japanese are
! easily NOV ed. io. the whole audience was bathei
! IN t.ars and at some PARTS oi 4 strong mcn were
| constantly wipiug their eyes. The whole thing
was i'm several acts and one Of the happy features
of II was the revolving stage Each act was
divided INTO scenes: scene being over tile sta2r
| rc,Oved and brought another INTO view. Inc
scenery was fairly good. hut ia he strong light OF
! doy showed many defects. and most laughable
thinp was he Running in and ont OF attendants. not
belong. ny t. the play. dressed all over IN black and
| not snnpus.d 20 be visible. and these arranged
"A Necessary change Of scenery or brought necessary
imnlG nents. or held u screen while some deId
person of the scene OF action IN OTTER place,
| again the acting was unnecessarily e'listic.
stab from a sword and the rcd hloo concealed IN
| ba under the dress) flowed In streams. An ACTOR
| wonld come on the stage dripping wet If such
sceno to hc represented, or do many other
| uucom fOTtablc things Just Tor elect
| In the midst OF the audience there was long.
| narrow board way, little elevated from the
| ground extendng the whole length Of the theatre
vy th an exit nc one end and connecting with tho
stage. On thla actors made their exits ann
entrance and often it represented TIA. road lendhg
10 the place shown on the stage. Nearly all the
time dnrlng tho acting music was beng played or
sung on one side of the stage, sometimes softly.
sometimes harsh aud londly In showing some
excited or noisy time wouh make the most
deaIenIng noise with two pieces of wood struck on
the stage floor 30 hcghtcn the elect ana the NOISY
din was fearful Then when the curtain had been
pnrd down the around was again one OF
disorder aud noise. Men from the tea-hOnses would
run in with cake. all kinds of candy or trnlt
and rrfrcshncnt of every kind, which had been
previously ordered. People would 90 out To get tho
irrrh air or else repair 10 the tea houses III style
and then push and crowd to get back to their seats
Babies would scream, and babel of voices wond
reach the ear The eating drinking aud smoking
going on even during the play was sonethlnE
rcnprknble Wine lunches Of All kinds, balls of
rice aud FISH frnit and catablcs of all kinds taken
with the two long ciop-stcks. were hcing distrIb
| uted all around. theatre party means III Japan
all kinds of treats, day given To pleasure ana
eating. Especially is this 40 among the lower
! classes who frequent the theatre mostly. AT noou
| IL. lL.a.c.. LuteLual Lei tho ncis md