The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-11-18
ASKS APROPOS QUESTION
is HONOLULU TO BE CLASsED AS
\ GOOD SHOW TOWN.
Correspondent Discusses Honolulu's
Position in the Matter of Dramatic
Entertainments-So Advice.

Editor Star:
In the matter of dramatic entertain
unique. | know of no other city of
equal population, wealth and culture
where the opportunities for seeing
good plays, well presented, are so i'm
tied. Whether Honolulu, if different
" located, would be "a good show
town'-that is, whether it would be
a liberal patron of the stage-is now
worth discussion.
At present the Hawaiian capital is
compelled to be satisfied with such
theatrical performances as come to It
on speculation at widely distant pc
riods. 1t takes what it gets and per-
haps is not too harshly critical of Its
limited supply.
1t is related of young man whose
friends were condoling with him De.
cause business necessities were about
to Danish him to sheep ranch re.
mote from the simplest comforts oi
modern civilization. that to their fear,
that he would have to eat mutton UNI
til he could feel the wool sproutlng
on his back, he replied: "Weil
thanl, God, like mutton
Perhaps Honolulu similarly recog-
nizes the inevitable and likes muJ-
ton" because it can't get anything
else.
1t escapes, however, one of the af-
hictions to which many larger cities
in the United States are subject TO
For instance. when Il dramatic vent.
ure is to be turned loose upon an un.
suspecting and long suffering public
in New York it is very usual to put il
on the stage in Newark, or Hartford
or Providence, first. In theatrical
parlance this is called trying it on
the dog" Sometimes the animal (ant
occasionally the play) will be founc
TO survive the deal.
Now, Honolulu generally knows
that the plays given here, and the ac
tors taking part in them had Il hacb
at the dog iirst. and consequently
there is certain security against aO
solute inanity and Incompetence
Hence, the liberal patronage accorded
to the Frawley troupe for instance
does not necessarily prove that Homo
lulu contains the essential elements q
"a good show town.
But, it may be asked, why is it i'm
portant on interesting to discuss VIVA
is Honolulu's characteristic attitud;
toward shows? Why ask a MAJ
whether he likes an eight course din
ner when all he can have is mutton
Wen. that brings me to the purpose
Of my letter
Why does not Honolulu have show!
of its own? | don't refer to amateur
| theatricals. Far be it from my deslr,
to decry this unique species of enter
| tainment, in which most of thu
amusement is monopolized by the
people on the stage. But as ! wish Il
suggest form of public entertain
ment which will combine elevating
pleasure for the audience with true
artistic cultivation for the partici
pants, hasten to ignore the POSSIBLE
| tiles of the amateur drama.
But why is there no choral society
| in Honolulu? Why should there no
be an organization for practical volc,
| culture similar to those that exist il
nearly every American city? Surely
the voices are here. Why could no
| Sucl al SOClClN SCCult ihc SClNiNSS "
a master and make itself at once tn
inspiration and the practical encour
ager of vocal art in these islands?
Highly expensive? Yes, very like
| w. But. as the old farmer said
when the proprietor of his cheap no
tel demonstrated with him because III
was eating ut every meal great slal
of butter that cost fifty cents ;
pound" 'Well, b gosh, it's wurtl
it," And this again brings me baci
to the question is Honolulu IA GOO
show town." If it is, all the eXpens
es of the organization may be raised
by series of concerts given with suf
ficient frequency to maintain the pub
| lie interest in its work.
| don't pretend to know anything
about the conditions prevailing here
that would affect favorably or the re
verse, the chances of society's sue
cess. That is one of the great adj
vantages of keeping the mind unem
barrassed by facts-one can write 81
much more fiudly. as Mrs. Partingtol
would say But | throw out my sug
gestion with desire to see some on
tear it to pieces if-as probable
| deserves that fate.
j. L. S.
| Honolulu. Nov. IS, 1897.
/ - i. 4 e I-l,.