The times., 1899-05-21
MANILA THEATRES.
Spanish Opcrettn the Chief Form of
Amusement.


(Sllnila Correspondence New York SUM
Theatrical in Manila are not in a very
settled state yet. owing probably to the
uncertainty that still seems to exist as to
whether the population is to consist of
Americans or Filipinos or Spaniards or all
three. Although there is an excellent op-
portunity for an American vaudeville COM
pany TO win soldiers hearts. all organiza-
tions have fought shy of the city up to
date
Outside of one or two purely Tagalo the
atres the only steady place of amusement
is the Circo Filipino, which is occupied
part of the time by a stock company of
Spanish operetta singers. During the last
few weeks there has been quite run on
'zarzuela," or Spanish comic opera. The
company is composed of Spanish singers,
who probably drifted in from Spain when
the Philippine archipelago was a colony
of their nation. The productions are not
at all extrayagantly got up. but the dia-
logue seems TO please an audience of two
or three hundred Spanish residents each
night and the singing and dancing are
enjoyed by Spaniards. Americans, and Fill
ipinos alike. The place is advertised TO
open at $50 every night, and the bill gen.
orally is composed of three one-act oper-
ettas. There is a change of bill nightly.
and continuous performance. The latter
feature is made possible at present by the
assistance of a giee club, composed of fifty
Spanish soldiers. who occupy the stage be-
tween acts and sing Songs Of their native
land. To the Americans this is one Of the
big features of the entertainment. No ac-
compartment is used. the men all relying
on the pitch given by the leader at the
start. and his baton movement throughout
the selection.
The Circo Filipino on the outside ap
pears to be jumble of sheds with CORFU
gated iron roofs, but within there is fair
sized auditorium with a cement floor. The
butacas or orchestra seats are wide ma
hogany arm chairs with cane bottoms. and
arranged with an aisle down the centre.
AT the sides are couple of rows of chairs
extending the length of the place, and di
rectly above these are the balconies where
the box parties sit. Seat checks are pro-
cured at Il little window outide the door
and presented to one of the ushers who
finds the seats indicated.
The members of the audience smoke as
many cigars and cigarettes during the per-
formance as they choose. Although the
place is fairly well ventilated at the sides
the atmosphere sometimes gives a hazy
look TO the stage, which is the regulation
small theatre stage fitted with curtains
which do not rolll up, but are simply gath
cred and whisked above by the ropes,
which run puckering string fashion. Di
rectly in the centre of the stage at the
front is the prompter's cage. The prompt
er stands three-quarters beneath the stage
libretto in hand, and the actors depend on
him to get through their lines. He reads
every line of the dialogue indicating the
man who is to say it with his finger, and
keeping a neck ahead of him all the time
To an occupant Of front seat the perform
ance is made highly absurd
The orchestra is an up-to-date organiza-
ton OF Filipinos. directed by wise look
ing, gray-headed man, who wears glasses
and smokes cheroots throughout the per-
formance The bass viol is stationed di-
rectly behind the director, who occupies
the centre. and the first and secnd vio-
Inns are arranged on either side. The reed
instruments and horns fill out the ends.
The orchestra is composed of fifteen pieces
and handles fairly difficult music with
much grace.
Eight-thirt is little early for regula-
tion Spanish diners to reach the theatre
so il is usually the case that the audi
ence is not complete until near the end of
the first act. A jangling bell gives warn
ing that the show is about to begin and
at the second ring the footlights are turn
ed on, and the orchestra plays up the cur
tain. Perhaps the operetta deals with
Spanish police in pursuit of villains wear
ing the old-style Spanish knickerbockers,
sash and turban, and are counterparts of
the average creation of the American car
toonist who wishes to caricature Spain.
The women OF the play wear Spanish
shawls, and have their hair arranged in
dizzy towers on top of their heads. The
comedian introduces himself with glo-
rious stage jag, and has an excellent op-
portunity to display his vocal powers in
song with greatly overdone reels and stag
gers. He sobers up in time to crack some
fine jokes. at which the Spaniards of the
audience nearly split their sides. but the
American, as a rule, has to content him
self with enjoying the amusement of his
neighbors who are familiar with the Lam
guage. During the course of the piece the
rasping old father OF the two buxom young
women probably decides to get drunk with
the rest, and then there is a trio and some
glass clinking, and a little dance to Iiven
1t up.
Then there is more trouble with the lady
of the house and an all around reconcilia-
tion and down come the curtain. The
Americans have perhaps understood a
bunch of words here and there and have
a vague idea of the plot. They OF course
show their delight at each song by hearty
handclapping. which custom. it seems, is
not widely popular with the Spanish pso-
Pile unless at the end of the acts. The dem
onstrations of the audience are therefore
divided between handclapping and kissing.
If some one disturbs the play by loud
laughing or conversation he is downed
with a volley of loud Kisses.
At the Filipino theatres of Manila it is
the custom to show appreciation b. tossing
coins on the stage in lieu of bouquets. The
Spanish soldier chorus is a pleasing inno-
walton. and the members seem to enjoy
theft songs, which are given with gusto.
Nearly every man wears a white drill
coat adorned with a small knot of Spanish
colors. Some of the men have saved
enough of their pay to enable them to don
white trousers. but the majority of them
appear in the blue madras affairs in which
they probably fought against the Ameri-
cans six months ago. Gloria Espana" is
one of the fayorite songs of the Spanish
soldiers, and the peseta gallery is each
night filled with Spanish prisoners out of
the walled city on permission who demand
vociferously that the glee club sing it.
Whether 1t is considered that the singing
of Gloria Espana" would not be pleasing
to the Americans under the conditions
that exist, or not, is not known, but it is
a noticeable fact that the chorus invari-
ably declines to sing il.
The Spanish soldiers listen TO the chorus
through a song and then scream and ap-
plaud for an encore. When the curtain
goes up for the encore the din breaks out
aagin, and the cry is Gloria Espana," The
opening notes plainly tell that Gloria Es-
pana' is not to be on the bill Indignation
breaks forth, and the leader is compelled
to silence his men until the racket sub
sides. He makes a fresh start on the same
piece. but the crowd will have nothing If
not GLORIA Espana" and breaks out afresh
The leader dismisses the men and retires
in disgust.
Some of the presentations are decidedly