The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-27
THE THEATERS ATMANILA
Manila Cor. New York SUM-

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 F'ilipinos or
Spaniards or all three. Although there
IS an excellent opportunity for an
American vaudeville company to win
soldiers hearts, all organizations have
fought shy of the city up to date.
outside of one or two Tagalo thea.
tiers the only steady place of amuse-
ment is the Circo Filipino. which is oc-
cupied part of the time by a company
OF Filipino acrobatS and part of the
time by stock company of Spanish
operetta singers. During the last few
weeks there has been quite a run on
zarzuela, or Spanish comic opera. The
company is composed of Spanish sing
ers who probably drifted in from Spain
When the Philippine archipelago was
colony of their nation. The productions
are not at all extravagantly got up, but
the dialogue seems to please an audi
ence of two or three hundred Spanish
residents each night and the singing
and dancing are enjoyed by Spaniards,
Americans and Filipinos alike. The
place is advertised to open at $3.50 every
night and the bill generally is composed
or three One-act OperettaS. There is
change of bill nightly and a continuous
performance. The latter feature is
made possible at present by the assist
ance of glee club composed of so Span
ish soldiers, who occupy the stage be-
tween acts and sing songs of their ma
tive land. To the Americans this is one
OF the big features of the entertainment.
No accompaniment is used, the men all
relying on the pitch given by the lead
ed at the start and his baton movement
throughout the selection.
Etght-thirty is a little early for regu-
1ation Spanish diners to reach the
theater, so it is usually the case that
the audience is not complete until near
the end of the first act. A jangling bell
gives warning that the show is about to
hRPjn CaRnn6 ri 10
lights are turned on and the orchestra
plays up the curtain. Perhaps the
operetta deals with Spanish police in
pursuit OF villains wearing the old style
Spanish knickerbOckers, sash and tur-
ban, and are counterparts of the aver
age 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. The
comedian introduces himself with a
glorious stage jag and has an excellent
opportunity to display his vocal powers
in a song with greatly overdone reels
and StaggerS. 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 q rule,
has to content himself with enjoying the
amusement of his neighbors who are
familiar with the language. 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
liven it up. Then there is more trouble
with the lady of the house and an all
around reconciliation and down comes
the curtain. The Americans have per-
hapS understood a bunch of words here
and there and have a vague idea of
the plot. They of course show their de-
light at each song by hearty handicap
ping. which custom, it seems, is not
widely popular with the Spanish people
unless at the end of the acts. The dem
OnstratiOns of the audience are there
fore divided between handcIapping and
kissing. If some one disturbs the play
by loud laughing or conversation he is
dOwned with a volley of loud hisses
At the FipilinO theaters in Manila it
is the custom to show appreciation by
tossing coins on the stage in lieu of
bouquets. The Spanish soldier chorus
is a pleasant innovation, and the mem
bers seem to enjoy their songs, which
are given with gusto. Nearly every
man wears a white drill coat adorned
with a small knot of Spanish coIors.
Some of the men have saved enough of
their pay to enable them to don white
trousers, but the majority of them APP
pear in the blue madras affairs in which
they probably fought against the Amer
leans six months ago. GLORIA Espana"
is one of the favorite songs of the Span
ish 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 it 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 invariably declines to
sing it. The Spanish soldiers listen to
the chorus through a song and then
scream and applaud for an encore.
When the curtain goes up for the encore
the din breaks out again, and the cry
is Gloria Espana!" The opening notes
plainly tell that Gloria Espana" is not
to be on the bill. Indignation breaks
forth, and the leader is compelled to ST
lence his men until the racket subsidies.
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 decid-
eddy artistic and replete with sparkling
musical dashes which the leading people
Spanish joke is cracked between songs
it relates to the Americans. Then there
are looks of regret among the Ameri-
cans when the leading lady glides
strikes a lot of 'z" creations which she
rolls around under her tongue and then
fairly hurls herself in a glorious climax
of articulation at the villain. The secret
of the play is out and the English
speakers are not in on it.
Between the acts the audience gets
up and walks back to the foyer, which
has dirt floor, to get drinks of citric
acid lemonade and handfuls of peanuts.
The women Invariably sit upstairs and
gaze down at the crowd of smokers be
low. 1t is often midnight when the
Circo Filipino curtain goes down for the
last time, and sleepy coachmen wake
up and prod their steedS homeward
with their patrons.
Danger of Piano Practice