New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09
"ROMEO" IN ARABIC.
SOME SLIGHT CHANGES IN THE DRAMA
AND THE ACTING FOR THE
CAIRO PUBLIC.
CAIRO PUBLIC.

quotes my mentor as we take our seats in the
low wooden theatre to witness a performance
Of William Shakespeares romantic Tragedy
Romeo and Juiet'-in Arabic.
From our box facing the stage we look down
a OF red tarbOOshe5. broken mere anu
there by the turban Of a sheikh- ON our leit
a few harem boxes with white lace curtains
drawn tightly across the front indicate that the
fair not entirely shut out from the JOYS
of the drama. The peepholes originally CUT "
enable the women TO obtain a clear view OF liie
stage have been in several instances materially
enlarged by the hands Of the fair playgoers, ana
we catch now and then glimpse OF race .'e
flash of an earring, and the RED gio" Vi
lighted cigarette.
impatient for the play to begin the occupants
Of the back benches stamp their rect WIN
logged persistence. and after ten minutes VI
this amusement the curtain is rung up reveal
ing the entire company stin and erect. formed
in two rows the principals. OF course IN 'he
foreground
In a doleful chant punctuated with mournful
groans we have the prologue. and assuTedly ule
'misadventurcd, piteous OverthroWS Oh the
lovers Of Verona never fathomed the depths ol
woe suggested by this Arab choir. The curtain
falls amid VociferOus applause. anu I'VE nm
utcs later rises again revealing the ailoTouS
Romeo clad in red doublet and ky-blue uuhhs
gazing with rapture at the balcony VI H-S '"n'
love. Att,
our Romeo. a noted sngcr-in the Arab style
pours forth his tale cf love in frenZied song ana
at each pause the sympathetic audiencI c'!lI In
in with deep and dolorous A-n-h-a ,"-U,
Of diners ut a charity banquet when the chai'
man in his post-prandial speech dI'ates o" 'iiV
suffcrings Of the starving poor.
no Juliet appearing. the actor comes uuwh
tho stooo anparontly to secure the sympathy
Of the house which Groans "A-h-h-h-h-ht as
ono man. To stimulate him 10 still greater en- -
Romeo harangucs HOW the palcChy, ~" no
audience breaking here and there INTO SONG
with strange facial contOruons, the !heN'''0'e
accompaniment Of Arab vocal music
TIE BALCONY SCENE.
The lovers passionate appeals are heard at
last At the tiny window Of the little balcony
the face Of Il substantial juliet appears anu
while the fair heroine delivers her SpnloiuS'
po,rco with ccstatic gestures, turks III lhe
shade On the .. j. side. Then. reveaiinE MN
SIR he bounds up three stairs leading TO the
damsers window. and pours forth One H'o'e
his amOrOus story in very agony Oh io'c,
The lady Judging from her response. IS NOT
IN he easily won. Voluble Of speech ana mat
ter-of-fact in tone. she seems to say. 40" m
cnrsderatc-O Of you young man to-come-
o. max y me- tne-talk- Ol an
tbe-ncighbors" and then, as squeaky Voc"
within cries Juliet" she slams the Wihdo" III
his face and incOntinently withGraws
In sporting parlance Romeo Is not 10 De ue-
MED Retiring to his corner on the ~ i sue
he fervently claps his hands and heaVes deep
signs. and then as the lady appears again, he re-
sumes his seat This time the fair Juliet proves
more responsive; but again the squeakS voice
within breaks off the wooing. and again the
the third essay binding vows are eXhanged, ana
having had the window slammed IN MS race
cnce more. Romeo cries sleep in peace anu
the act is done. ...
workmanship in the version Of Romeo ana
Juliet" that is being played But the story H.
self has been materially tempered with. The
garruIous old nurse does not appear. ana the
count Of Paris furnishes all the comic rel"l
youchsafed by the translator. This doughty
nohleman's costume consists OF brown NeNet
dOubIet sky blue combinations. Whlch ohly con-
tinue TO the knee. ending there IN niue ace
r,iu. strined socks and brown slippers. juliet
FONTS him to his face. whereat the ARAB play
goers howl with delight.
A curious assembly this. from the western
etandroint At the ultra sentimental scenes
many of them sway their bodies 20 and fro 10
The accompaniment IF their melancholy ana
aurreciative "Ah-h-h-h-h's" But when IN lhe
street brawl McrcutiO and Tybalt IAN hiilrly
l.ud and bOisteruuS prevails ana the unhappy
,.irti,ns are carried of the stage amid the stem
torian laughter of those for whose Dehoot lhry
have died The admiration Of the house 'lpuSi.
IS lavishcd freely On the lovers. especially III
Rnneo and when Juliet. dressed for nor We'd
ding i'm 4 white nuns yelling costume with 4
lace shawl lrapod On her head. appears, me
universal cries Of 'Oh-h-h-h-h" must pe *
trcmely gratifying 10 the ladys soul. 'I' il''
stiu are the marks of melancholy appreciation
:, served for the parting scene. when alter me
in starred Tybalts fall, Romeo. with irenzrl
cries. bids a long farewell 70 the lady oil MS
heart. $500, ,-,,r, o-o,,,
Though lovers ,ighs draw melancholy hoWs
tror, tho region Of the Arab slipper corpOreh
suGerings fail to harrow the Arab heart. In the
last sccrc at the fair IUliets tomb. when a per
feet holocaust is offered 20 the god 81 love IL IS
tba endless passionate chant ~ young Romeo
elonc that holds the house. Romeo indeed -
Tong a-dyiug. not 50 poor County Paris. VINO
jisuatched with a casual thrust OF his rival $
sword, promptly yields up the ghoSI anna Ine
J.liohtnI laughter of his COuntrymen IN 'front.'
silence may reign while Romeo and juliet IN
turn set up their everlasting rest but Whei
old Friar Laurence. aghast at the drelul
tragedy, inserts the tath dagger among "iS
IL =. L.. L1r IN