The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-24
QUEER SCENES in A
MANILA PLAYHOUSE
THE NATIVE DRAMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
What a Theatre Goer Can See for
Thirty Cents in Mexican Money.
Description of the Play, the Play
ers and the Audience--Good Cheer
While the Programme Lasted.
Manila Letter IN Chicago News.

Manila Letter IN Chicago News.
Yesterday I visited a Filipino thea
tire: and though the others present en-
joyed il in a different way, l warrant
none of them enjoyed it more heartily
than / did
1T is conducted i'm a large nipa build
ing that stands beside our road into
the city on Cervantes street. Passing
in at the gate, an Enclosure was found
where were booths, at which disposed
for sale were bottles of pop and of So
called lemonade, cigarettes, sweets of
various kinds-or, as they are called in
Spanish, dulces, that word including
all forms of sweets, candies, desserts
and the like.
The performance was announced at
43O, but | was early, so a half hour
was spent in looking about, engaging
in good-natured chat and chaff with
all the waiting men, women and chill
dren. But | should say all children,
for such they are, no matter what their
age. one old fellow wore red breeches,
and / believe firmly he belongs to Gen.
Pho del Pillars famous Twelfth regi-
ment that we were chasing last week.
y
bore him no grudge for shooting at me-
The Audience.
There We're bellies and beaux, and
the beaux presented the bellies with
necklaces OF tuberoses and rose ger
anium leaves skillfully strung on
thread and making a pretty band; but
when they were all assembled inside,
the odor of the flowers was too much
like funeral to be cheerful The wo-
mems clothes were immaculate,
starched stiff and looking as fresh and
neat as possible; their neck handker-
chiefs are their pride, and are bordered
with lace, said in many cases to be
very valuable. One girl whom I no.
ticed seemed got up specially for the
occasion and was quite conscious. She
! had on long black stockings, and was
the only one I saw who bore that dis
| tinction, all the others scufiling around
| in their wooden-soled slippers suspend
ed by the band across their bare toes.
| This particular girl showed by her
manner she knew she was pretty, and
| she was. in spite OF having INDUCED in
| the Spanish custom of putting powder
| on her face but she was not shy, and
| if | had been able to speak Tagalo I
am sure could have fed her on dulccs
at the lunch counter all afternoon. I
insight even have made it with Spanish,
! but l didn't.
The Band.
| The band regular Filipino band
| played in an open nipa building outside
! the theatre, and everybody walked
about and chatted in the most good
| natured way possible. They We're as
! happy as children and laughtd and
talked to me, and some things 1 under
stood and some I didn't, but it made
no difference. The band, on my appear
ance played Marching Through Geor-
| gia" and Rally Round the Flag
| Boys" and all smiled and looked al
me, and it was so good-natured 1 for
got to be embarrassed by so much at
tention. A little interruption occurred
while the Rally Round the Flag" was
going on, for there were some game
cocks picketed nearby, and one pulled
his picket in, and Immediately there
was a fight which adjourned the band
| and caused everybody to rush, excited
to the spot. But the owner shortly ap.
peared and stopped the fun, SO we Went
back and rallied round the flag some
more and ate dulces and drank pop and
chatted until the changing of the bel
inside warned us of the approaching
| performance.
The play bill at the door announced
"The Martyr Husband in which "E
pastor Leopoldo" and La pastora
Leogarda" performed; last week it was
"The Crime of Love-" and possibly thi:
was the sequel.
Sociable.
My ticket had cost 80 cents CMexi,
CAM and entitled me to an orchestra
seat, but l got a preferable position il
a small box situated at the rear of The
middle aisle. raised about six inche.
above the aisle and surrounded by 6
railing draped with blue cotton stuff
There We're three seats in the box. and
some pretty girls in a group near m,
We're having a lively time, gigGlng, at
tracing my attention so that ] saw
had something to do with it, but coulC
not tell what until one of hem, evi
IDENTIFY on a wager, came over and sa
in my box. She was eating a roasted
ear of corn. and seemed to feel very
silly after she had come, and / allowed
her TO depart after We had said a few
things to each other which neithe
understood, and all the time the res
of her party kept up their giggle anC
chatter.
An old gray-haired usher stood nea
the door and directed people, while an
other-a fat, good-natured old fellow
in slippers, and whose cotton trouser.
tapped around his ankles-met them il
front of my box and escorted then
down the aisle. The band now cam,
in from outside, and, taking the usua
place, played waltzes while the seat
filled and everybody chatted anC
smoked, till finally bell on the stag,
set up a dreadful changing and the cur
tain rose.
The Play.
The dialogue was in Spanish, and /
began by each Of five people, who wer,
seated i'm a very stiff row, reciting il
a most stilted manner both of voicr
and gesture, an Introductory stor,
concerning the betrothal of Don Some
body or Other to Dona Somethin:
Else, without their having anything I,
say about it themselves. In course o
time the girl appeared and told he
story in high, squeaky voice. Sh,
was got up in a sort of Diana style o
dress made of green satin, covered
with gilt embroidery and spangles, an,
L-IvERHTA
THE uP-To-pATE
LITTLE LIVER Dill