The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-11-08
MEXICAN DRAMAS
PLAYS THAT ENTERTaIN TIN,
COUNTRY PEOPLE,
Remnants Of the Old Mysteries-
Earnestness Of the Actors-rh.
Audiences Antipathy for IN.
Villain.

villain.
At the capital the opera is Of cou-.c
feature without which life canro no
conceived to 90 on and is as much f.
fixed item Of expenditure as fine raimen,
In truth. one could better dispense viii,
flesh food than with either and Their,
are those who do 50. But the S:rlnop.
will possibly get more delight oat of
the theatre. They are rare actors, AMI
the comedies, mclodyamaS and r:,,,ic,I
dramas are each much more cnarr,;,,
than the other In the last one ,r.t,
pure Spanish music. which. like al! m.
tiOnal music. is captivating. In tho
mclodramaS one sees again the dear Old
villain in black cuTs 10 his shoulders
innocence in white, the two-story cottage
: feet high. that sways wildly when
they work the practicable door, and all
the unsophisticatcd properties that 20 to
make real. honest play. The comedy.
however. with its mad infusion of farce
is in the very front line Of play acting.
Religious professions are prohibited by
law in Mexico, but in the smaller place,
they are winked at now and again. One
substantial loss through this regulation
is that of the Mystery plays. representa-
tons of scenes from the Bible. Of these.
an extremely effective one represents the
trial of Jesus and the procession to Cal,
vary. The crucitixion is not given. The
costuming is effective. Banners take the
place of Roman military emblems. The
Devil is present in black knit suit.
spangled, with folded wings of gauze.
Judas is represented by dummy. as it
would not be safe for human being to
risk the rage of the populace. A stage
is raised in the open air for the represen.
tation. The exits and entrances are by
ladders, and the characters. while not en-.
gagged, stand under the platform. PLATE
presideS. and Judas is feigned to give
testimony as a witness amid the execra-
tions of the crowd. Then the devil
seizes him and leaps off the stage.
The procession is formed and takes its
march along via dolorosa. on which a
dozen stations are marked. at each of
which halt is made and PRAYER chant
ed. The show is timed to end about
shutdown. and the ensuing frOlic ushers
in the following day The serious way
in which the people take it makes it an
earnest and interesting business alto
gethcr. II may be only fair to give
notice here that one may make many
visits to Mexico without chance to wit
ness show of this sort These exhibi
tions are most likely to lie heard of from
the State of Michoacan or in Western
Jalisco. down toward Colima.
Any band of travelling players in the
rural districts will be found source Of
delight. The scenery and stage appli-
ance and properties are those of Ho-
garth's time; the artless cOryphee takes
hold of the side scene to balance herself
while she sticks out leg 1t is an in
teresting observation to make from per
sonal experience. that realistic stpge set
ting Is i matter of absolute indifference
to the enjoyment Of good stage playing.
1t becomes quite clear how q sign board
with the word Rhodes" rs in great
King Bcs>'s time. could serve every pur-
pose.
A favorite amusement is the perform
1nce OF ''Pastorals." often written for the
occasion in assonant verse by local talent,
usually by one of the performers. The
interest of the cura is enlisted (the play
has nothing religious about it,. and the
beneti. of MS criticism and erudition
secured. The pastoral is commonly
dialogue in which persOnitied virtues take
part; and there is no particular story TO
II. 1t Is 4 survival of the Morality. IS
the Judas play is of the Mystery. 1t is
not altogether easy to q foreigner to SEQ
one. for the pastorals are, in the first
place, quite private affairs, to which the
audience is assembled by personal invita-
tion; and in the next place, they are per
formed by country people. who are shy.
And the pastoral proves the worthy &C.
easiOn of dance and frolic.
Probably no other feature Of dramatic
outside the capital is more
than the sincerity with which
the common people" take it ALL An
ithemas and cries Of execration greet the
villain, and the sentiment pursues the
poor fellow into private life. Not long
lgo an unhappy actor. who had ably
performed several villain parts in sncces-
ZION. was rescued from an Infatuated
band Of washerwomcn, who would in
,allibly have slain him.
Musical sensiDility is one of the strong
.ndOwments with which the Mexican
comes into the world. The performance
IF the new military band that attended
he New Orleans Exposition will be re,
allied by many. All the regimentai
,ands are fine There are twenty odd Of
hem. and all summer through each Is
playing at one city or another. There's
not foreigner among them. and the
members are in great part Indian. The
)ugle practice of a Mexican regiment
to take trouble to hear. Inc
nGnctnI Luz III 1,n0DIp Ia the