St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-04-29
THE STAGE IN JAPAN.
MANY ADVANTAGES THAT ARE
NOT FOUND IN OTHER
COUNTRIES.

Features in Which japanese Theaters
Surpass All Others-The "No' a
Lyric Drama Of the Highborn
Played Without Scenery in Homes
as Well as Theaters-Interestin g
Example of ''No'' Tragedy - A
Family Farce.
BY EDMUND BUCKLEY, PHI. D.
(The University of Chicago; for six years
professor of philosophy in the Doshisha
College, Kyoto, Japan)
Copyright, 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
The japanese theater not only pos
sesses actors that are peers of any in
the civilized world, but in NO less than
three arrangements it enjoys distinct
advantage over any other theater ex-
tant. These are the revolving stage,
the flower path Or approach over the
parquet, and the chorus which can ex-
plain silent movements of the actors.
But these striking merits by no means
exhaust the counts wherein the Jap
anese stage is superior to the rest of
the world. Indeed, until the revolu-
ton Of 1868 upset all presidents, the
theater was avoided by the upper
classes as something common, vulgar
and immoral, suited only to the pave
ment populace of the times But be-
side the popular theater or Shibai
stood, and fortunately still stands, the
mo" or lyric drama Of the highly
cultivated, who follow the play, book
in hand; for the language used is an
clent and hard OF comprehension, es-
pecially when chanted.
The mo" players perform not only
IN theaters but are called into palaces,
mansions, homes or hotels, at times OF
celebration, say birthday, a wedding
or reception. In either case-theater
or elsewhere-there is no scenery. but
the dresses are magnificent, and, of
course, in keeping with the period in
which the drama is set. Indeed here is
the occasion above all others where
the picturesque life of old Japan,
patriarchal, feudal, Buddhist, artistic
and ceremonious, can still be seen,
while all current life has been trans
formed. Though shorn of much of the
formality and etiquette which sur
rounded them. in earlier days. repre-
sensations of the NO are still given
by families who have handed down the
art from father to son for 400 years.
The music needs due allowance for
orientalism and antiquity. but plainly
possesses weird charm in keeping
with the antique idiom and intoned
speech it accompanies. Each piece re-
quires about an hour to act, but since
five or six pieces are given, and the
intervals between them are filled with
kyogen or farces, the entire perform
ance occupies the greater part of a
day, as is the case also in the CONS
mon theater, the Shibai.
An interesting example of the "No"
follows; also farce, both Of course
greatly condensed:
/ NAKAMITSU: A LYRIC DRAMA.
(Nakamitsu, a feudal retainer of Nit
sunaka, is sent to fetch home from
school for punishment Bijiyau, the
worthless only son Of his lord With
them returns also Kauzhiyu. the duti-
full only son of the retainer. The
chorus thus describes the rage of Lord
Mitsunaka on discovering the negli-
gence of his SOM
Chorus-Who, then, to profit wentest
thOu To schOCl2
And can it be that cen a fathers
word,
Like snow that falling melts is scarce
ly heard,
But it's unheeded? All! twill drive
me wild
To point thee out to strangers as my
child!
No sooner said, than out the scabbard
flies
HIS trusty sword and with fierce
flashing eyes
Forward he darts; but, rushing in be-
Good Nakamitsu checks the bloody
scene,
Firm though respectful, stays his
masters arm,
And saves the lad from perilous alarm. |
1.-THE retainer is then himself COM
handed to dispatch the YOUTH
Bijiyau-Little imports it an l die
or live,
But tits for thee cannot choose but
grieves
Il thou do vex thy lord; to avert his
ire
Strike of my head, and show it to my
sire!
Nakamitsu-My lord, deign to be
calm! will take upon myself to con-
trive some plan for your escape.
Mitsunaka-Alas! each joy, each
grief we see unfurl'd
Rewards some action in a former
world.
Kauzhiyu-In ages past thou sin
nedst.
Biiiyau- And to-day
Chorus-Comes retribution; think
not then to say
It's Others fault, nor foolishly up
rhe lot myself for thine own self hast
made.
say not the worlds askew! With idle
pirate
of never-ending grief the hour grows
late.
strike OF my head! with many tear
he cries,
and might, in sooth, draw tears from
any eyes.
Nakamitsu-Ah! young my lord.
ESQ + hut Of like age with thee, how