Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-24
THE MANILA THEATRES.
SPANISH oPERETTA THE CHIEF FORM
OF AMUSEMENT.

for IL Spanish Song-Filipino Acrobats.
Theatricals in Manila are not in q
very settled state yet, owing probably
to the uncertainty that still seems to
exist as to whether the population is
to consist of Americans OF Filiplnos
OF Spaniards, or all three.
Outside OF one or two purely Ia
gallo theatres, the only steady place
of amusement is the Circo Filipino,
which is occupied part of the time by
stock company OF Spanish operetta
singers. During the last few weeks
there has been quite run Oh Zarzuela,
or Spanish comic opera. The COM
pany is composed OF Spanish singers,
who probably drifted in from Spain
when the Philippine archipelago was
q colony of'their nation. The produc-
tions are not at all extravagantly got
up, but the dialogue seems to please
IN audience Of two or three hundred
Spanish residents each night, and the
singing and dancing are enjoyed by
Spaniards, Americans and Fi.ipinos
alike. The place is advertised to open
atS.30 every night and the bill gener-
ally is composed of three one-act oper-
ettas. There is change OF bill
nightly and a continuous performance.
The latter feature is made possible ut
present by the assistance of a glee
club composed OF fifty Spanish SOL
diers. who occupy the stage between
acts and sing songs of their native
land. TO the Americans this is one
of the big features of the entertain
ment. No accompaniment is used,
the men all relying On the pitch given
by the leader at the start and his ba-
ton throughout the selection.
The Circo Filipino on the outside
appears to be iumble of sheds with
corrugated iron roofs, but within
there is fair-sized auditorium with Il
cement floor The butacas or orches-
ira seats are wide mahogany arm
chairs with cane bottoms, and arranged
with an aisle down the centre. At
the sides are couple of rows ofchairs
extending the length of the place, and
directly above these are the balconies
where the box parties sit. Seat checks
are procured at little window out
side the door, and presented to one of
the ushers, who finds the seats.
The members ot the audience smoke
us many cigars aud cigarettes during
the performance as they choose. AL
though the place is fairly we'll ven
tilated at the sides, the atmosphere
sometimes gives a hazy look to the
stage, which in the regulation small
theatre stage fitted with curtains which
do not roll up, but are simply gath
cred and whisked above by the ropes,
which run pucleriug string-fashion.
Directly in the centre of the stage at
the front is the prompter's cage. The
prompter stands thrce-quarters be-
ueath 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 neck ahead Of him all
the time. To an occupant of front
seat the performance is made highly
absurd.
The orchestra is an up-to-date or
gauization of Filipinos, directed by q
wise-looking, grav-headed man who
wears glasses and smokes cheroots
throughout the performance. The
bass yiol is stationed directly behind
the director, who occupies the centre,
and the first and second yiolins are
arranged on either side. The reed
instruments and horns fill out the
ends. The orchestra is composed of
fifteen pieces and handles fairly diff
cult music with much grace.
Eight-thirty is little early for reg
ulation Spanish diners to reach the
theatre, so it is usually the case that
the audience is not completeuntil near
the end of the first act. A jangling
bell gives warning that the show is
about to begin, and at the second ring
the footlights are turned on and the
orchestra plays up the curtain. Per
haps the operetta deals with Spanish
police in pursuit of villains wearing
the old style Spanish knickerbockers,
sash and turban, aud are counter
parts of the average creation of the
American cartoonist 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.
At the Filipino theatres of Manila
it is the custom to show appreciation
by tossing coins Oh the stage in lieu
OF bouquets The Spanish soldier
ch rus is a pleasing innovation, and
the members seem to enjoy their
songs, which are given with gusto.
Nearly every man wears Il white drill
coat adorned with 4 small knot of
Spanish colors. Some of the men bave
saved enough of their ray to enable
them to don white trousers, but the
majority of them appear i'll the blue
madras affairs in which they probably
fought against the Americans six
months ago. "Gloria Espano''is one
of the favorito songs Of the Spanish
soldiers, and hopeseta gallery is each
night filled with Spanish prisoners
out OF the walled city on permission,
who demand vociferously that the
g!ee club sing it. Whether it is con-
sidered that the singing Of "Gloria
Espana' would not be pleasing to the
mericans under the conditions that
exist or not is not known, but it is a
noticeable fact that the chorus invaria
bly, declines to sing it. The Spanish
soldiers listen to the chorus through
song and then scream and applaud for
an encore. When the curtain goes
up for the encore the din breaks out
again, and the cryis "Gloria Espana"
The opening notes plainly tell that
"Glcria Espana" is not to be on the
bill. Indignation breaks forth and