The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-31
THINGS THEATRICAL
Lafayette-.soss. Two Brothers"


Jyuro sega .....-..-.-...-........ NJ fuiisaws
Sheisunc Mr. Isu>dSA
Hhk" ...s..........-..-.....-.- WI. isuSiNa
COSTA ...... .... Mr. NamamotJ
V'ohti .......-..--...-.. MT. Nall
I'm >hno '...............--........ VT isustSd
i"'a .sss.......- sada hAcco
II there We're thoughtful persons in the
small audience that witnessed the second
local performance Of the Imperial Japa-
ue'e Dramatic Company last night az the
l.atayette-and there seems no reason to
doubt that few Of those in attendance
had been brought by worthier feelings
than Is mere curlosity-these individuals
must have considered II pity that Otojiro
Kawakami and his wife. Sada Yacco. are
not OF a country more advanced than il
che land OF the lotus. In the tragedy
Sega. the Brothers, added to the curtain
raiser. "zingono. an Earnest Statue
Maker" both players proved possessed of
abilities that, polished and refined by the
tenets of an art that has profitted through
the working OF generations OF master
minds. must have made each the object OF
admiration and emulation. Instead the
crudenesses and imperfections to be ex-
pected under the circumstances render
amusing a great many rather creditable
portions OF the presentations offered and
prevent even the entirely admirable bits
Aibii bciuS appreciated anu
The piece chiefly important. "Soga.
Two Brothers." is the product OF Mr..
kawakami himself. While naturally.
primitive and incomplete. IL shows the
marks of some such eanons of construc-
ton as are observed by better-known and
less unssilled dramatic authors. There IL
q complement Of familiar Characters
nero and his beloved villain and sew
eral seoundrelly assistants low comedy
Inf hot -.
Iish. certainly would be called reminiscent
This plot concerns Gcro Sega and Jyuro
Soga. couple Of young men whose ia
Their has been assassina.ed by order OF
dignitary. Sketsune. The lads have sworn
revenge. Through the affection OF
Geisha, fora. they gain access to the
palace of the murderer. where they are
enabled to see the creature OF their wrath.
Goro Sega restraints himself with such DIFF
ficuity that he has excited suspicion. when
fora, by her dancing. attracts attention
and saves both. She then conducts the
yor his to the apartments OF Sketsune.
somewhat later, but. in the act of kill
ing him. the brothers are captured and
condemned to "harslSiri.' or enforced sui
eide
As has been said. despite such faults as
must have been inseparabIe to an enter
tanment Of the kind. the representations
" NhN o'diN btOuSul Oul StNtIdl Hut
points. Mr.. kawakamis Goro Sega was
interpreted with the aid OF so much ex-
eelieG, pantomime that It was all but
wholly Ineligible. Three or four emo
uonai scenes were well delineated-de-
lineated with considerable comprehension
OF the full effect OF excessive feeling-and
the large number of artistically dramatic
details interpolated was notable One of
these. IN which Goro Sega, emerging from
the house OF Sketsune. under cover OF
darkness counts the steps before him with
bis bloody sword. worthy OF a more
finished actor Miss Yacco's dancing and
her playing also were good. while the
Sketsune and the Manko OF Mr.. Tsusaka
proved commendable and the Iyuro Sega
of Mr.. Fujikawa was worthy Of praise. The
performance. which will be repeated dur
ing the week. should be generally seen. 1t
will be interesting to the casual and alb
sorbing to the studious.
Japanese version Of THE Merchant
of Venice will be given at today's mat
inee. while The Geisha and the Knight"
is underlined for this evening