The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-02
JAPS ON THE STAGE.
A Day in a Japanese Thcatrc-Novel
SIGHTS,

York Tyilune says: have just returned
from most novel and interesting treat
"a whole day in a Japanese theatre. My
head rings with the strange noises, the
twang Of anything but harmonious
music; my feet ache from the cramped
position in which 1 have had to keep
them; yet before my eyes remain such
visions of Oriental splendor and gran
deur, such wonderful scenes Of old
Japan, that l must put them down on
paper before they fade. | started at an
early hour in company with friends 10
one of the principal theatres in Toxic.
Opposite to the theatre, which VIC could
distinguish by the crowds oi people
and by various paintings hung out to
represent the play, there were number
of tea. houses or inns. To one Of these
we repaired, aud hiring room, as is the
custom, we left our bundles, wraps,
lunch, etc., and then were escorted over
to the theatre.
Upon entering the scene was almost
indescribable. The theatre was large
and square in shape, and had two upper
galleries, and these and all below were
packed full Of all sorts and kinds and
classes of people, sitting right down on
the thick mats on the floor. The theatre
was divided into small sections, sepa-
rated by bar foot or two high, and
into each section about four could get,
sitting very closely. The whole place
was thickiy matted, and 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
babies in all sorts and kinds of curious
costumes from rich silks to rags, each
family huddled together, but watching
with intense interest and open eyes and
mouths the progress of the play. Our
section was in the best part of the thea
tire and easy of access, and of course we
did not crowd together as closely as
others, but We had to do without chairs,
and content ourselves by stretching out
our feet occasionally, or standing up, and
fancy we attracted about as much no.
tice as the actors, with our strange faces
and foreign clothes, especially when the
play tagged in interest.
The noise and confusion at first were
dreadful. Every one moved about or
talked and the actors could not be heard
at all. AS there were no passages around,
in order TO reach the middle section pco-
pie were obliged to jump over or walk
on the bars, which caused much con-
fusion. 10 add to it, all the audience
seemed to be possessers of were tobacco
pipes, and were engaged in putting out
large clouds of smoke into the already
close air. Graduallya little order began
to appear, and the audience quieted as
the play went on and grew more inter
esting. l turned to look at the stage.
The long curtain sliding on bar at the
top had been pulled aside and the inte-
rior of one of the rooms of a castle was
being shown. I could not understand
the language, as it differed from the or
dinary common talk, and the long
drawn out nasal sounds did not seem
much like the usual glib, soft words Of
the Japanese. There were no women
actors, the women's parts being acted by
men, and in spite of skillful dressing
and we'll studied manners they betrayed
themselves by the voice and the face,
which we're most decidedly masculine.
We were very fortunate to fall upon
play of OLD Japan, representing court life,
the plot being founded on facts. The
latter part of the play was very pathetic,
and I came to the conclusion that the
Japanese are easily moved, for the whole
audience was bathed in tears and at some
parts of it strong men were constantly
wiping their eyes. The whole thing was
in several acts, and one of the happy
features Of it was the revolving stage.
Each act was divided into scenes; a
scene being over, the stage revolved and
brought another into view. The scenery
was fairly good, but in the strong light
of day showed many defects, and most
laughable thing was the running in and
out of attendants, not belonging to the
play, dressed all over in black and not
supposed to be visible, and these ar
ranged necessary change of scenery or
brought necessary implements, or held a
screen while some dead person ran off
the scene of action. In other places.
again, the acting was unnecessarily re-
alistic. 4 stab from sword and the
red blood Concealed in bag under the
dIes6 flowed in streams. An actor
would come on the stage dripping wet,
If such scene was to be represented, or
do many other uncomfortable things just
for effect.
In the midst of the audience there was
q long, narrow board way, little elc-
rated from the ground, extending the
whole length of the theatre, with an exit
at one end and connecting with the
stage On this actors made their exits
and entrances, and often it represented
the road leading to the place shown the
stage. Nearly all the time during the
acting music was being played or sung
on one side of the stage, sometimes softly,
sometimes harsh and loudly. In show
ing some excited or noisy time man
would make the most deafening noise
with two pieces of wood stuck ON the
stage focr to heighten the effect, and the
noisy din was fearful. Then when the
curtain had been pulled down, the
scene around was again one of disorder
and noise. Men from the tea-houses
would run in with tea, cake, all kinds
of candy or fruit and refreshment of
every kind, which had been previously
ordered. People would go out to get
the fresh ai., or else repair to the tea
houses in style, and then push and crowd
to get back to their seats. Babies would
scream, and a babel of voices would
reach the ear. The eating, drinking
and smoking going on even during the
play was something remarkable. Wine,
lunches of all kinds, balls of rice and
fish, fruit and eatables of all kinds taken
with the two long chop, sticks, were