The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-26
ART IN THE DRAMA IN JAPAN.
CONTINUED from Second Page.l


Continued from Second PageO
comestibles, while the better-to-do pur-
chase theirs at the counters In the thea
ter, and then they proceed TO warm the
contents on little charcoal stoves. An
other difference is the use of "a rotary
stage, so that the next scene can be ar
ranged while another Is being presented
to the audience"
Nov, socially, what position does the
actor sold in Japan?"
"I'll tell you. BY the bye Sir Henry
Irving put the same question to me.
I'll take the case of their most eminent
actor; that is, of Danjero, a thorough
artist and most capable draughtsman.
He is universally admired and an i'm
mense favorite everywhere, but he
holds very small place in society, in
spite of the English residents having
done much to better the general posi-
ton of the dramatic profession. In
fact the Japanese regard the actor as a
somewhat effeminate person, mere
strutter on the stage, and persons of
rank would never dream of entertaining
an actor in any social way; even the
middle class would think twice before
CHASING an actor among their friends.
He would come more under the denomi-
nation of acquaintance
What sort of parts does Danjero
play?"
Every kind; and, though he is sixty
years of age. I have seen him play
young girl of eighteen so as to deceive
the Japanese themselves. 1 remember
on one occasion a whole row of nurses
taking him for woman for a long
time, until he made some little slip of
manner or department which revealed
the deception. You may be surprised
that he should be playing a female part,
but in Japan the sexes are not mixed in
the companies. At some theaters the
company is entirely composed of men,
and at another and at generally an in
ferior class of house entertainment.
only women are engaged. AS a matter
OF fact, think may say that there is
not a thoroughly good actress in the
whole of Japan. The plays themselves
may generally be classed under the
head of dramas and melodramas. |
was surprised at the attention paid to
rehearsing. All seemed to be pretty
we'll letter-perfect. 1 am told that
Danjero is most particular on this head
No, he doesn't make up much"
"Do the Japanses affect a very elabo-
rate drop curtain?'
"Oh, dear, no! 1t is a very simple af-
fair. The material is mere cotton stuff,
and the painting on it, perhaps of some
chrysanthemums or some decorative
scheme of color, is always of bold de-
sign. But there is no attempt at real
Iair frbt jyo 70
either gas or candles, always give a diff
sused light, with no concentration Of
any particular actor"
ST suppose the dresses are generally
very superb?"
''Oh, yes! most gorgeous, and in the
classical plays are of the most ella borate
character, the correctness in detail Of
ten being copied from old drawings and
original paintings"
us there dancing and singing some
times?"
Certainly. The dancing becomes
very attractive after a short residence in
Japan, especially the classical dances,
which consist Of some exquisite poses;
but don't ask me to praise the singing.
If you ever heard jap sing you
would never forget 1t, am quite sure.
No, the actors are very poorly paid,
though Danjero and others of high po-
sition get quite respectable salaries"
Nov, what is your own opinion? Is
there living art in JAPAN"
Decidedly. In spite of the influence
of the west generally on Japanese life, +
noticed no traces Of Japanese art hav-
ing become westernized, nor did 1 OBJ
serve a too general and slavish irnita-
ton Of old patterns and designs. I came
across many examples of real originate
ty, proving to me most convincingly the
existence of true living art. The fact
is the mere traveller forms wrong con-
illusions from erroneous premises. The
art of the country must not be judged
from the rubbish exposed for sale to the
tourist and specially manufactured for
his delectation, such as the gold dra-
CONS on black grounds, the common
bronzes overladen with detail, and so
on. When one has lived in the country
for years, one gets the opportunity, in
some of the out-of-the-way villages,
and in some Of the very best shops, of
coming across the true art of the coun-
try In the exquisite carved woodwork,
the cloisonne ware and the silk mbroi-
Q6TGu crepe SlullS, Illdlly Ol THESE lGSl
being quite poems in artistic coloring
and conception Of idea. The Japanese
are not very keen to sell such things to
Europeans, and generally many decep-
tions are practiced ON foreigners. Even
collectors are often deceived. And this
is not so surprising when you are told
that Jap thinks nothing of destroy
ing ninety-nine out of a hundred ficti-
tiously stained examples of old stamps
so particular is the forger Of such arti-
Giles, SO that there is not a postage
stamp in the world that these clever
people have not initiated, and so accu-
rately that it is only by analyzng the
adhesive gum that even government
expert can expose the fraud. THE
Sketch.
.M(9v MA