The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-16
THEATERS IN INDIA.
Calcutta Only City Where Good
PLAYS Are Given.


Calcutta-that is to say, European Cal
cutta-claims to be the only city in India
in which a first class theatrical company
can put in a profitable season during the
cold weather: and the claim is legitimate.
says the writer who does the dramatic
criticism for the India Daily News.
Bombay and Madras are, to use the pro-
fessiOnal expression. zone horse shows"
where strolling players manage TO exc out
just a little more than their expenses; while
the provincial capitals and hill Capuae are
the happy hunting grounds of amateurs,
against whom, in a limited population, pro-
fessional opposition of any calibre is fruit
less. A circus pays in all the large towns
owing to native patronage.
The average native of India, more espe-
cially the sophisticated town man, is an
avid lover of the play, and here in Cal
cutta we have half a dozen Bengalee the
aters, in the classic vicinity of CORVALLIS
street and Beadon square, opening their
doors nightly throughout the Who'll year
to the crowds that clamor for admittance.
Then we have a Parsee theatrical company
at the Corinthian, in ~Dhurrumtollah and
one has but to pass through that busy
thoroughfare about midnight on any day
of the week to realize the success Of Mr..
Madan'S enterprise. 1t is the same in
Bombay, where the native theatrical pro-
feSslOn is almost exclusively composed Of
ParSeeS, and GuZerati is usually the medi-
I UNI of Interpretation. MIR. Kabrajee, a we'll
known journalist. the editor for many years
ful playwright, and If l mistake not, has
adapted East Lynne for the Parsee stage.
Several other Parsee scholars, such as
Ranina and Patel, are the authors OF very
good acting plays. AS in most other mat
ters, the Parsee dramatists and actors try
to approach as near as possible to the
European ideal, a tendency which is also
to be observed In drama more racy of the
soil. Nowhere is this development, which
L do not think altogether desirable, more
apparent than in Calcutta, the stronghold
of indigenous art.
L was at a performance in the Star
Theater some time ago, continues the cor
respondent, in which a ballet was intro
duced without the slightest provocation.
Tn girls, who, L was told, were the houri
of Sonagachi, were dressed in trunkhose of
q dull yellow and red jumpers trimmed with
daled, and each was armed with a short
staff. The music was supplied by a per-
former on the Mohino flute, a small har-
monium in which only the treble clef is
manipulated. Two rakish-looking native
drummers Dunctuated the monotone by
periodic demonstrations of hideous tym-
pany. There was very little dancing in the
ballet, which was a measured tread accom-
panied by a rhythmic clash of the slaves,
very much after the style OF some of the
calisthenic exercises now In vogue in our
kindergarten schools. From an artistic
point of view the voluptuous and suggest
i've nautch OF TanJore or Delhi would have
been far more acceptable than what was
offered US Yet the audience a~pplauded
ra~pturously.
The internal economy OF a Bengalee the
alter is very little different from that Of
the makeshifts in the European town. The
same inconvenience are present, and the
general construction is such that l hardly
like TO contemplate the consequences OF a
panic. Purdah boxes, the occupants Of
which look through a close wire netting,
are a necessity In native theaters, for Ben
J galee women are quite as alive to the
stalls are the favOrite locale Of the reg
ular habitues, the elite of Babudom. and
they certainly look very cool and nice in
their spOtless white linen pirans, gOld-edged
chudders. d~iaphanous dhoties and patent
leather pumps. The actor TO galvanize
them is the villain of the play, who Is also
the lion cOmique. He may be a jogi, or
he may be a mental. but he has more than
an ordinary share of mother wit. and mis-
style of expression is either that OF Their
sites of that Of Falstaf.
harridan who scolds saIaeiously. Both
these characters ~cOnvulse the house, and
explanations of "wah wah." or "sha-
must not be supposed, however, that the
melodramatic ethics of the hero M hero
inc go unappreciated; On the contrary. no
80 ACA0 Pc nus - AAeHA1 VI a "a III AAA
tive Calcutta unless IL is made up very
largely Of high lights and broad effects.
The Adelphi fare, with a strong sompcon
of Broadway humOr, is what best suits
CORVALLIS street. Paris, on a very French
basis. comes next in popularity.
Native histrionics are shrill and strident
and volcanic. American reserve. of which
Daniel Frawley was an exponent. finds
no favor at the Star or the Classic. Emo
ton and defamation are always at con-
cert pitch. sometimes even several notes
higher. and it requires some heroism q
SIT out the five acts. which, according 20
RoscommOn, are just the measure Of the
play. But a native playgOer never dreams
Of losing the least value OF his money.
on Sunday, the favorite day for premieres
the theaters open their doors At candle
light and close long after midnight. the
bill Of the play including a farce. as a
curtain-raiser. and a melodrama OF historic
or social interest as piece de resistance
Those who pay for admission come early
and remain late. Wherefore. say the or
binary intelligent native Of India Is an avid
playgoer.
Women To BE Attorneys.