The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-09
A PEOPLES THEATRE.

PEOPLES THEATRE.
No place in Holland has as many temples
dedicated to the muses. as Am sterdam. Their
are, besides the well-known theatres and con-
cert halls, many casinos and play-houses, to
which members of good society seldom or
never make their way. Among the poorer
classes dramatic art is much practiced, and in
Amsterdam workmen's association without
a theatrical club is q rarity. Often these
amateurs form a regular troupe. Thenjoined
by some actors who had failed ON the stages
of better theatres, they establish themselves
in some house in a lower quarter of the city.
There they play three times week. Their
REPRESENTATIONS have not the least attraction
from an artistic point of view, but the audi
tors and the playhouse are so peculiar that
we will for few moments join the audience,
although tho tickets are five or ten cents
each.
After walk through many drak, noisy
streets, we have arrived at an old, dirty
brick house. A sign tells us that it is a gin
shop. For above the entrance hangs board,
upon which is written in large, yellow letters,
wine punch, liquors,
All kinds of beer, gin,
And other pleasures.
Under this inscription is sort of paintin g
which at first sight seems 10 be asld horse,o e
Gaming at the mouth. When wee vie nearerit
looks like a ship, clesving ltsmay through
parking waves, while in factw the painter
has TT Cd to represent the beerking, Cam
brinus," riding on a big barrel, with glass
of frothing beer in his hand. A noise of
singing and speaking voices, gathering
of glasses and plates, tell US that many Gus
toners have passed already under the red
lantern, which spreads trembling light over
the entrance. We push the door, walk in
and perceive-no. we see nothing. for an i'm
penetrabe cloud of tobacco smoke hides
everything from our sight during the first
five minutes, and the strong steam OF the hot
DRINKS forces the tears into our eyes. AT last,
after having paid tribute to the tobacco
smoke by tremendous sneeze, and having
wiped our eyes, we look around. The room
is very large and dirty in proportion. The
color of the walls has gone through all the
shades between white and dark brown. The
floor is covered with sand. We cannot tell
if the ceiling is high or low, it being perfectly
hidden by the artificial clouds. Twenty or
thirty little tables are loaded with glasses,
CUPS bottles and plates. Around, upon
and under these tables sit or lie
a hundred human beings-workmen, tramps,
soldiers, many who doubtless have been once
in better society-men and women, all speak
ing, squealing, singing and drinking. Many
are quarreling, several fighting. Opposite
the entrance is a counter, behind which
stands the barkeeper, tall, scraggy, bony
woman, dressed in suit of blue-tiowered
cotton, the sleeves of which are turned up.
She alone is cool and sober among all those
excited people; nothing excites her but I'M
paid bills and broken glasses. While her
husband is the most drunken among her GUS
toners, she waits on everybody, answers all
questions, quiets the quarrelers, and with one
hand fills glass, while with the other she
returns some change or writes the name
of the debtor on slate. Near the counter is
a door at this door stands kind of porter,
dressed in an old swallow-tail coat and o pair
of gray sailors pants. As soon as new Gus
toner appears he announces the play after
this fashion
Come on, fellowsl There's room enough
Ten cents to-day-and q - fine piece, toom
Some of the drinkers leave their tables to
follow the call of him of the swallow-tail
coat. Led by our curiosity to glance over the
playhouse and its patrons, we offer our
dimes; the porter opens the door and we
enter long, low saloon of oval form, at the
end of which we perceive something like q
large bedstead, but which later proves to be
the stage. 1nyoluntarily we smile to think
that on that area of almost four yards wide
by five the most touching scenes and the
basest crimes will soon hold the attention of
the NOISY crowd. For the actors know that
their public like blood-curdling emotions,
and considering that the number of tickets
sold is proportionate to the amount of muir
der done in the play, they never leave the
stage without being killed at least once an
evening.
As we take our seats among q public COM
posed of the same clements as that in the bar
room, a bell rings. The hustle laughing and
speaking almost cease, gin bottles are slowed
away in pockets or under benches, and the
orchestra begins to play. That is to say
yelping clarionet, two croaking violins and
groaning contra-bass maltreat barbarously
the waltz from Faust Thank heavens,
after almost endless capers, the waltz is
finished. and with delight we see the bass
player lay aside his stick and take a chew of
tobacco, which last action seems to be Of
more pleasure to him than to his audience.
Then the bell rings again; NOW the curtain
will rise" YOU think. But no Your neigh
Dor, dirty-looking little fellow, who seems
to be an unwashed blacksmith, tells us
that this was but the second bell, that 4
third will be rung before the curtain rises,
and yet he begins minute description of the
piece, when suddenly and happily he is inter
rupted by the voice of some impatient spec
tator behind us: "MuSicl Music!" And
from all sides the cry is repeated: 'Musicw
"Play onl Go ahead, fiddiersp' But the
bass player, who is also the leader of the
band rises most coolly from his chair, shifts
his quid to the other cheek, and cries in a
brazen voice something TO the effect that the
public ought to keep quiet. that he does not
play here for their pleasure or under their or
uerS ana tll3t DleEe VIII
Soon the bell rings. the curtain rises and the
tragedy begins.
We need not dwell on the play; its title,
''MaXimilian the Faithful; or, the Four-fold
Murder in the Monastery describes it suf-
ficiently. As soon as an act is finished. the
uI,roar begins again. One shouts for this,
another for that; here tish-woman praises
with yelpng voice her herrings; there
peddler tries to put in order his stock in trade,
which a rough customer has overthrown.
Near to us drunken soldier is making love
to his equally drunken sweetheart. Benches
and tables are overthrown and broken glasses
Jingle upon the floor. Those seamen in yonder
corner seem to have quarrel. They get more
and more excited. Now one of them hits with
the fist on q table, another answers with
blow in his face, and they fall to in angry
contest After some time their fellows sue
coed in separating them, and, little by little,
the public get quiet again. Such scenes fire.
quently happen between the acts, and often
a police patrol must clear the house before
the actors can continue. However, We will
not wait for the end of the piece, and make
our way out. d. L.
The poets grief is now intense,
HIS Il. ceats painful grow,
For fla a.. wars come tbP now 1raa, hero