The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-17
A TlIEATER Is OPENED,
riRsr SiGur ~ rna SOW uutSts
IINNnot.t o. so.
chang Ktm's Enterpti... - or,hc.-
Urhtnd tho 7rsu's co. iis'c
aud Irsah Meteor.

Mr.. Chang Kim roy.y.I t .u.c
ial permit yesterday .u or.n the
new Chinese theatcr lat might. Il
was with the understanding, how
ever, that toe show should be TN
der police surveillance aud no cN
traordinary noises allowed. The
management was much pleased
with the concession, and proceeded
at once to get a crowd for the
evenings entertainment
Mr.. Chang Kim deserves great
credit for his taste in the arrange
ment OF the new thsiter building.
II is distinctly modern throughout.
The seats descend TO the stage
with a gentle slope. limitations ofthe
European parquct and dress circle
are very concise. The seats are ar
ranged in semi-circles, broken at
four points by aisles. The audi
forum will seat $50 people. From
the entrance there are two flights
Of stairs TO the gallery. This de
partment OF the theater is construc-
ted after the plan of the old Ha-
waiian Opera house. 1t is quite
large and has sufficient slope to
bring the stage into full view from
any point. The gallery will seat
at least $50. comfortably.
The stage is Oriental 1t coil
sists of a primary and secondary
platform, one for the musicians
and the other for the players The
tom-toms and rattles are therefore
above the actors and in full view.
Entries are made from the sides and
through curtains in the rear. The
stage proper is about two feet above
the hoor-just above the baldhead
row. The entire house is brilliant
ly illuminated.
A peep behind the scenes in the
new Chinese theater is a wierd eX-
perience. When the play is on, the
dressing rooms are usually crowded
with people-rich people, poor
people, thieves, perhaps, boys and
actors. They look around and tall,
in whispers. No noise is allowed.
Actors, in strange costumes, with
chilling faces, tatooed as they are
in various colors, stroll about and
wait for their turn on the stage
Most of the costumes are very rich
and cost lots of money. Someof the
turbans are metaled and are set with
stones. Bits of glass on others are
so arranged that they glisten in the
light like a nest of diamonds.
Many Of the gowns appear at first
sight TO be covered with Jewels.
False whiskers and other parapher-
MALTA of the European playhouse
are at hand in abundance.
The management secured this prop
erty at great expense, and points
to the rich costumes with evident
pride.
Makai of the maiu apartment,
from which the actors descend to
the stage, is the room in which the
players beautify their persons. 1t
is the paint room. The colors of
the rainbow are to be found on the
shelves. Actresses tint their checks
till they are red as a peach
Lips are also REDEEMED. The rest
of the face is powdered white
Actors follow the dictates OF the
cast in painting. For instance,
Mephisto would be striped up
look like the old man himself;
the merchant is easily recognized
the clown is made quite fantastic in
appearance; the heavy villains face
is as rough and terrifying as it is
possible to make it.
There are 10 bedrooms or private
apartments in the building. Actors
lodge elsewhere. This IS also Mr..
Chang Kim's idea. He SAYS he
wants no hooks around the place
where opium could be used or
gambling carried on. He intends
that the new theatre shall be high
toned Chinese play house.
The building was filled to over
flowing for the opening performance
last night. Besides Chinese there
were haoles and natives in the
audience. A party of young gen
tlemen were present by invitation
of the management. Ushers sup
piled the visitors with fans and
helped them to secure good inter
prefers. The play was a very old
one but has never been staged in
Honolulu before. Several of the
new actors appeared in it, The
music, it was to be noticed, was
softer than usual. Mr.. Chang
Kim says he has the best Chinese
orchestra i'll the country. Perhaps
he has.