New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-20
QUEER ORIENTAL PLAYS.
A CHINESE THEATRE AT LOS ANGELES.


the Office OF one OF the Los Angeles hotels They
had all passed busy day. but since dinner time had
been hanging little heavy on their hands. Az iass
one remarked, being at loss for anything else 70
say and the remark being perfectly true, u have
a notion OF going the Chinese theatre this evening"
Oh no don't do that said another wait until you
get TO San Francisco. That's the place to see the
Chinese, mo doubt said the first speaker "but
after all theatre Is theatre, wherever IL Is ana
don't why | should not go TO this one, even II
there better somewhere else, just as DO
not intend to give up reading klpng simply because
I have not read all of Millions poems yet. know
man who wouldn't 60 TO hear Paderewsh because ne
had once heard RubnScin." Then the conversation
slowly driftcd OFF into other channels. But hnaily
the third member Of the party said, "Well let's go
down to Chinatown 80 all three went to Chinatown.
and within another hour even the original oblector
had become converted.
When the party found seats there were two
actors on the stage a man with long false beard
and a young woman, "A real woman The man
was offering the woman his heart and hand, though
he stood further OH and displayed less passion than
men are commonly supposed to 10 under such CIR
cumstances. She obviously rejecting his pro-
posal and was hiding her bushes from him with her
flowing sleeve-and her bushes were laid on very
thick too. by the way. They sang ut each other Tor
n long time without appearing to make any progress
on either side AT length the man gave the woman
omc sort OF silver object At first she seemed pleaseo
preSently-pcrnapS nndlng tnat IL WIS Pia'e"-
she threw It back at him. Then they resumed the
former conversation. After few minutes more tho
prperty man stroled down TO the front OF the stage
and laid a little pile Of torn bits OF paper on the
floor soon the lovers opportunities became so ul-
bcarablr that the girl picked up II handful OF TINS
pauer and threw IL into his face and then ran from
Inc room lie was obviously much greved at this
erie, act but his arlor not lessened, and when
she returned little later he began to urge MS SUIT
anew Finally she seemed to relent, and they went
off the stage together apparently happy
After an interval Of two or three minutes another
MAY began. But nothing could be made OF H. aho'
rs throughout the whole performance men from the
audience had been strolng across the stage INTO 'hs
dressing-room and ont again. the strangers thougnt
tho they might do the Same for the sake OF variety
So having obtained the Goorlecpers PERMISSION they
went Up across the stage and Dehlhd tne S'eneS'
There they found large room filed With properties.
with actors who had not yet been seen on the s'ase
and with visitors who lounGed about SMOKING anu
talking with the actors and with one another. linen
there were smaller rooms. in some oil winch "es
were smoking opium and to some Of which admission
was refused to visitors. To make sure mat 'he
Interpretation Of the play was correct tle "rer
asked the Chnaman who was showing the party
around II the girl married the man nhan9' I'll" no
said Yes: she maly him.
The fascination Of the theatre being now upon h'm
the writer two nights later again. this time
taking the precauon to wait until after 10 O'CLOCK
lie was fortunate this evening In getting seat De-
side an accommodating Chinaman who good naturcdly
explained various portions Of the plot lie could not
J indeed understand very much that was SAID, pu9
uas able to grasp some OF the main ideas OF the play.
When he first took his seat there were two women On
| the STAGE one OF whom appeared to DE gaining upon
| the other 1t may here be remarked that all Oh inc
| female parts in this play were taken by NEIL n"s
| # /, easy to tell "A female from Il male character,
| because n woman always has her cheeks painted
| o,,I md her pr,l
middle Of her face almost pure white, ana she
| sneoks with a queer faseto voice. To these TWO
| soon enter man whose face Is painted whl'e' anu
| who fans himself h. walks. and another man WI"
! has tcakettle under his arm. These TWO appear "
no humorous Characters for the audience laughs a.
| ,hor =, cre.t deal The woman who is at home has
now seated herself behind small table and appears
| to be I'll and much detected. The man WIN inc .e"
kettle sets 1t upon the table and takes from !.
| bowl from which he urges the woman to drink. bu'
she will not take any notice OF him. Al last ne iea.es
tho howl in front of her and withdraws accompanies
bv .,e others leaving her by herself 1hen man we1
an ugly face aud false beard enters ana ai.e TN hauf
to,r ,x,renpIy humorous remarks picks up tne po"I
and drlnks the contents, amid shouts OF iaugn.er
from the audience In moment ,h, no man sud-
begin from the orcGtstr' mn ars enter
denlv begins tearing ut his throat ana as o'ulo
once here is great excitement. Every one LOOKS AT
the bowl and while the Others are mus ehs"suu ,es
hI t iS woman for whom poison was intended
has been sitting apparently In brown stuus WIN h
hrr fn
fact that .omrtlng is wrong The Others Po'n v,r 70
the spot dead man Is supposeu 10 " Sav
y iii rolling about kicking and clawng at the ar.
She at last recovrrS and the others eaNe hes ,hen,
LII The two nurderers enter. and she chaseS Ihein
or the stage The Chinese friend here explained az
great hgG why the two men wished 70 unable to
| woman; but-his unfortunate NlS'or was u'"''0
| understand the explanation . u,,h q Long
Presently there enters an aged man Win o IDLY
| uhte beard preceded by two g0rge0usN ure es
guards Like character in one OF ulbert ana sum
vans he ady"USS ns Ip 5Gdl OF h ss he S"
JUDGE Of the Court Of Common Pleas Al least SO tne
visitor interpreted the song: Inrh ne b .n ,n ms Of the
attempted murder and who seems to nav Dey I'm
pIicottd In the crime in some N.Y. ontenrsd and
hogged by the two guards. shs pleads for mercy.
but the Judge is @yAoraSs e., sSymY r" here mis-
quoted IL i, probable that his ennneiaon was lauity
as his remarks are eproaaceq from ner and SRee
before the Judsc Bn 'hy e are o wi Them Quietly
woman They say nothing oI h ONE gd D The Judge
| looks plea sed and lets them 20 tree. ,..,,v
anTs ,hS rross miscarriage of justice. and enlsn
Tho svmpah,s of her father and brother. VINO engage
the services Of lawyer bring the matter TO- sd the
attention of the Governor or, as the Chinese friend
explained It, " lie make complaint 10 cappahan-
PRESENTLY the cappaman enters. gorgeously dressed
and accompanied by three attendants ON ether s Sics
and seventh who holds over him an umbrella Sapd
the property has previously draped Win naha
somey embroidered cloth The father and Dro ,hst
| they complain bout Judge-he take money, au
Iettee nee., The lawyer also kneefs anu P.s.ao,
his brief which the Governor reads The Goss nfsr
and his rctinue withdraw, re-nler withdraw r iaws
ana withdraw again probably indicate tne -. mI bs
delays and the actions which haS or every
brought I'm order to secure complete Iusucc -, buee
| one. Each time before they enter sor' nraperty-
Punch and Judy booth Is erected Dy -, '' al behind
man and an assistant for the Governor 10 have done
and Il is removed again rs soon Us ,y making
with It. suddenly the orchestra hni,ds the booth.
and again the Governor and bis rfu" NV two guards.
the muchniured woman entf ,ia age she IS seized
Nth another Of her epepe fits ana roi her ssin and
floor while the guards lump Of the court, this
Unhappy woman and the % Ss' woman or makes
OF the stag SS ' %ch obviously highly aore ers ea
wing 10 the Governor ih So nm" As the right