New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04
THEATRES IN JAPAN.
"A JAPANESE PLAY FOR NETWORK.

ceves In exchange for the money he hands in at the box
ONCE This Is stick Of wood about three feet long,
and fncised with native Tho man who
receives this adds It TO pile In the Of the audi
orium and the sudience they wanted could count
the house" almost readily the manager does. An
other surprise is tho demand shoes No
ia allowed in tho theatre with on but oil
move about in their stocking feet The floor is OF
beautifully polished wood or covered with grass
mating, and must say the leaving Of the shoes is
plan that works WELL though don't suppose It would DO
easy 10 gv cur people TO adopt It. Those who are al
ready In their seats not disturbed BY the footsteps OF
comers and there 10 rustlng Of programmes as
they printed soft rice paper. check is given
for your shoes. and you check to pass
in or out but you regain your footwear there is
no readmiseson without repayment However the
streets the principal cities mArveousy eean the
natives often 20 into the streets In search Of rereshmon
and and friends with have followed their example
Prices Of admission range from nifty cents Tho
theatre is generally provided with balcony In the
older houses to this gained by means of
ladder the modern structures there stair
cases The balcony Is the swelr part and hero one
is allowed to smoke A very singular custom prevails
allowing visitor who pays small extra fee to stand
up and the unfortunate individual behind him has no
right to demonstrate rise and try get peep at
the stage He may hear but he cannot This is far
worse you perceive than the ladies' high hat nuisance
which Is vigorously protested against here Another
popularity h that the extrsvassntly disposed visitor
may purchase the right to SIT the stage wherever ne
Inconsistencies OF his presence. have seen broad
sword combat fought all around visitor and he never
showed any disposition 10 bulge. II IN singular how
this privilege Of sitting upon the stage has marked the
early history Of theatres in nearly every country.
SOME PECULIAR STAGE INCIDENTS.
1.-THE stage is much raised ADORE the moor
OF the auditorium as Is usual with U.s.
the elevation being probably sbet two Feet
Their stages often seventy or eighty feee "iuo'
usually Of crest depth fact due to the same
~, thafr
eonspicuous in their paintings AL changes OF scene
are made in view OF the sudience, no curtain being
used and the work Of the carpenter and properymsh
being considered much part Of the entertainment ~
efforts Of the actors have seen couple OF over
come out house and take their seats upon the stage
and remain there while the carpenters pulled down the
house and built garden scene around them When IL 10
desired to convey the idea that the moon Is rising inc
carries lighted moon ACROSS the stage anu
on reaching furnor side stops and blows OUT inc
ipht All these things very absurd to the foreign
visitor but doubtless wo have CONTEMPORARIES snu
traditions in theatres that would Do ALMOST ~ sur
prising to the Japanese STILL they arc not above akins
valuable hints and in Of the theatres Of Yokohama
oanv of our modern stage effects being introduced
Much OF their scenery very beautiful 1t gencrsy
painted on rice paper, but they use curtains ana hs
ines o great deal than we do Tho japanese py
are almost as long tho Chinese, ana some take "oo
in performance This is due. however moro 70 inc
entertainments than to the story OF 'he p
In many cases the plot Of piece will be entrey sus
pended during a weeks performance, whilo some ganu
fete in which singing, dnncing, music acrooa'isn,
and iuggiery are the prhcipa' 49, q, ,hs
hold the stage As rule, performances begin In 'ne
nornn9 and last till midnight There are rereshnien'
stands in tho auditorium, but ss said BEFORE you u ~
out on your feet and pass In on your shoeA An'
Japanese actors extremely clever as may DC
when tell you that nearly every man IN 'he oonp'
ran NAV yomen's roles There no actresses- ING
mower OF the over their audiences oAao
binary. the whole audience weeping Win s'
sorrows Of the heroine or rising en- masso 70 'hes" ~
villain Their dramatic literature Is very ehs'nSfe' %
they have Tragedies comedies Historical plays ana even
farces'
nDo their plays love-interests similar to ousr
aYes making, OF course the necessary allowance for
the differences In the customs Of the countries "heh
hraa comes 10 be married shs brings her husband greas
array OF siftk ana he through them carefully ana
sees that the number and value are satisfactory oeore ho
marriage IL celebrated 1t Is easy TO imagine what fun
and complications be got out OF this ono SITUATION
Thrn the socuson OF single not great as In
many Eastern countries and therefore they can indso
In Ioye-makng after fashion In Japan every un-
married woman wears req petucoae Ihis 'no a,'ea
and stains her teeth black when abe marrea WIDOWS
ore not allowed to remarry. The music Is often very
pleasing, and in the principal theatre In Yokohama there
was when was there. German conductor who has re-
arranged the native music for our Instruments
A TYPICAL JAPANESE DRAMA.
snent nearly thirteen months in Japan trying TO get
translation Of the most historical play OF the
country. It is called Chivshingura, which means
JeaRued to Loyalty The story deals with the revolt
Of tho Ronn, band OF noblsmen who in 172S revolhd
against the tyranny cruel Of the Prime Min
iste The took woods and Lived the lives OF out
laws having bound themselves by 9 most solemn oath
that they would marry kiss the faces OF their
fathers and mothers till they had accomplished their ends
Some account this remarkable body Of heroes may be
found In Miss Muord's Tales OF Old Japan This
drama Is performed occasionally by special command Of
the Mkado who pays all the expenses Of the production
1t proved useless to to get copy Of the play, but
aofl
weslthest teaplanters who speaks the language per-
fecy. with night after plight and took down the
words Of the principal In fact It was lie who
told OF the beauty OF the play and suggested the
possibility OF English version being made. We were
year at work it. and have now got fOuract
which will play less than three hours although the
original occupies three weeks In representation One
however, that OF fete In which there is absolutely
dramatic action. plays six nights made drawings |
OF all the AMI costumes and got the original music
Of which hero is great DEAL as there many choral
numbers duets and quartea The leader of The
Ronn 'the title under which intend to produce the
piece-is in love with the sister Of his comrade who has
been murdered by the Minister. Let me give you some
extracts the dialogue, which direct TRANSACTIONS ana
will arord some idea Of It's literary quality The heroine
says 10 her lover:
"'will not tho memory Of endured for me
blight your love1'
HE answers. Memory writes our sorrows in the
sands but engsves Joys impcrshable tablets
gold
Tho comedian Of his rival His attempts love-
making a~Kward puppy on a slant root
"One character asks another TO explain remark ne
has made, and is tod The sparrow comprehend
the mind OF the eagle. 1 hunting for a woman
40 You will never find her.
1.-THE nshhawk finds It's prey though 1t hides at
the bottom OF river
when commencing companion who has at great
danger maintained trust the leader says Your
ton TO our cause marks you among the OF men
by the brilancy Of its leaf the lotos itself
muddy Marshes grain Of gold By It's glitter In the
yellow sand
have secured" continued Mr.. Arthur, four weeks
for this play at the Fourteenth Street Theatre Minister
Kuk who represents Japan at Washington, takos very
great interest in the production and has written me
long letter promising all his suite to the
nrst performance The japanese very wroth at the
buresque OF their hikado customs In comic operas
and VIII be delighted he me- To have the American
a.