The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-21
PERFORMANCES In
JAPANESE THEATRES
An Interesting Chapter On Some Unique
Oriental Amusemeuts.
THEY MAKE A LONG DAY OF IT
Performance Begins About 10 O'Clock
in the Morning and Lasts Till 3 or D
O'Clock ut Night..PiayhOuses BE.
coming Modernized.

O'CLOCK ~ NlghessFI0yhOuses Zee
coming Modernixed.
W. f. Curtis, in Chicago Record.
The Japanese theater. like almost
else in the empire. is becom-
ing modernized. There Is u so-called
reformed theater" in Tokyo and others
of similar type in nearly all cities Of
To the unsophisticated
visitor they differ little from those that
are not reformed" and are still In
most Of their features very far from
the orthodox playhouse of Europe and
America; but to the old-fashioned Jap
anese there has been a great departure
from ancient custom. The theater, like
wrestling. was originally u part Of the
religious worship and was generally an
adjunct of temple. Its history can
be traced back to the time when plays
were presented by priests and priestess-
es. and the performances represented
scenes. accompanied by
religious dances and chants similar to
the old Greek dramas and the modern
miracle plays Of Germany. Even now,
at the frequent matsuris or religious
festivals that are occurring every few
weeks in different wards of the cities
of Japan, temporary stages are erected
In the parks and streets upon which
volunteer actors go through long repre-
sentations of incidents in. Japanese
mythology. usually those pertaining to
the god whose anniversary is being cell
ebrated. Their object is to please the
deity and entertain the people.
An improvement took place at the be-
ginning of the fifteenth century, when
some highly cultivated Buddhist priests
wrote historic dramas and pleasure
loving shoguns provided platforms.
gorgeous costumes and educated actors
for their presentation. The Tokugawa
dynasty of shoguns was particularly
liberal In patronizing the dramatic art.
but the plays keep their religious char
acter. What is still known as the mo"
dance, was introduced. carefully train
ed choruses were employed and accom-
plished elocutionists from the priest
hood moved about the stage and recited
poems in a dramatic manner. There
was no scenery and the public was not
admitted-only such Of the nobility as
the patron Of the play chose to invite.
The performance lasted the entire day
and In the meantime the guests were
entertained with elaborate banQuets.
1t was the custom for the nobility to
attend In their most magnificent COS
tunes and the occasions were OF great
ceremony.
HISTORICAL PLAYS.
From these private entertainments
the theater Of today gradually develop
ed The general character Of the pays
Is still retained. being chiefly repre-
sentations Of incidents In the history OF
Japan. performed by professionals.
with scenery and properties that In u
measure are natural and rational. but
often to the western spectator appear
ridiculous and absurd The chorus
which occupies q cage raised above the
stage on a level with the first gallery.
still recites In a monotone lines explain
atOry of the motives Of the actors and
fill In the missing links Of the story.
The claquer has conspicuous place at
the right of the footlights with a couple
Of blocks of wood, which he slams upon
the floor with great energy whenever
the actors make a hit or the situation
becomes sensational. He Is supposed
to guide the applause and encourage
the performers. On the other side or
the house is an orchestra which never
plays between the acts, but furnishes
a sort Of accompa niment to the actors
when they indulge in pantOmime or are
wrestling with great emotions. 1t con-
sists of several samisens the Japanese
guitar), drums, cymbals and other in
struments. which make great deal
of noise, but no music. 1t Is difficult
to imagine more distressing sounds
than are produced by Japanese musi-
clans, particularly when they add their
voices to the tones of their irs Iruments.
All their music Is written In a minor
key and lacks harmony, melody and
rhythm.
THE REAL FOUNDERS
The rcal founders Of the modern the
ater were two women. named O-kuni
and O-tsu. although strange to say. In
first-class play houses men only are
permitted to appear in the perform
ance Female parts are taken ty men
whose voices are trained for falsetto
tones. who study to mimic feminine
manners, and whose faces are made up
so accurately that q stranger can
scarcely believe they are not women.
In the low class tkeater Of recent years
women have beeen introduced upon the
stage, but their performances are
grossly immoral!
O-kuni was prieste s, and falling In
love with swashbuckler named SanZa.
elOped with him. Her extraordinary
beauty led to other flirtations. but
Sanza killed his rivals. At Kyoto
O-kuni and her lover gave repre- senta-
tions of the sacred plays In the dry bed
Of the river, and afte, ward made tour
of the whole empire, becoming famous
for their dramatic power. After the
death of Sanza O-kuni established a
school. in which she gave lessons in
the dramatic art and. being a remark
able pOetess. wrote several lays which
are still presented. She y az b" con-
sidered as the Shakespeare OF Japan.
and until recently her descendants
were supported by pensions from the
theatrical profession.
Actors were honCred in arc'ent times
when they were attg cked to the h use
holds of princes. but as the theatar be-
came public the drama was debaSed to
suit the popular taste and pandcr to
the instincts of the vicious, who were
it's most profita' le Supporters. TIE pro-
fessinn was degraded also until its
members became outcasts and were
classed with mountehanks, hergars.
butchers. eXocu i?ners. under akers
and others of the Eta class. whose
business was to take life and rare for
the dead. When census was taken
they were never numbered. nor We're
they admitted to citizenship until 1871.
CENSORSHIP MAINTAINED
With the revolution of 1863 the thcater
was reformed. a censorship was estab-
lished and although indecent plays are
produced In low resorts In the slums of
large cities. a representative of the po-
lice is supposed always to be present.
in q box reserved for him, for the pur-
pose OF prohibiting Improper Or un-
patriotic features. During the recent po-
litical excitement. after Japan was COM
PEELED to return the territory she had
captured from China, several perform
ances We're SUSPENDED and theatrical
managers fined becalse their actors In
terpolated sarcastic comments and cri-
ticislns unon the policy Of the, govern