The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14

of granite suddenly changes to sheer
drop beggars description.
The accompanying pictures give SOME
slight idea Of 'Meng Glunchor,' but ow-
ing to the comparative darkness.of the
jungle and to the loss Of height which
always befalls a photograph OF any In
clned surface they do very poor justice
to one of the most fascinating sports In
the world
A Malay Version of Hamlet"
When was In Singapore l saw a very
curious theatrical performances Malay
version Of Hamlet" played by company
of Javanese actors. The plot was followed
very closely in the Malay transcription.
but the effect of blending Ja,vanese
theatrical art. the Malay language and
the Shakcspearian drama was more
amusing than tragical
Javanese custom compels each character
in play to step to the front of the
stage on his first appearance and an
rounce in a conversational tone what
part he is taking Thus when&my Java
nese Hamlet stalked on to the battle-
ments IA highly edifying mixture OF
masonry, banana trees and other tropi-
cal foliage) he advanced to the foot
lights and said: "Saya ada Hamlet anak
Raja negri Europa" which being trans
lated is: II am Hamlet, son of king
of an European State" Similarly Ophe-
Ia with downcast eyes "Saya ada Polo
MUS punya anak prenpuau,' which IS:
II am Ophelia, the daughter of Polo
MUS
Allowing for the difference in the point
of view and the conventionaliZation OF
much Of the action, the play was excel
lent. The ghost scene offered a fine
chance for the clown, and was most
fa6.
where Hamlet upbraids Ophelia he did 1t
to some purpose. He knocked her down,
kicked her, trod upon her; in fact. dis
| sembled his affection most admirably.
| The audience, composed chiefly of Ma
| lays with a few Cinnamon here and
there, applauded loudly at about the same
points as would be chosen by an European
audience; and when the poison was
| poured into the Kings ear the house rose
| as one man in its excitement.
| 1t Is exceptional. however, for the Ma
lay or Javanese actors to present any
thing except native plays. These usually
consist of the exploits of warriors and
| are melodramatic in the extreme.
| On one occasion ! attended native
| play in Java, and from sitting very far
back In the house, whore could not
hear distinctly, and from an Imperfect
knowledge of Malay was unable to get
the plot quite straight In my nina,
| 1t appeared to me like this: A certain
prince was travelling through the jungle
| on his way to the court Of another prince
| to whom he was bearing costly presents.
| lie was accompanied by two servants.
one the heavy villain OF the piece. the
other the funny man. The villain de-
| cidcd that it would he pous proceed
Ing TO poison the prince and get away
| with the presents, and he accordingly put
! tn, ic nbGarvn1
by the funny man, but too late to pre-
vent his master from taking the poison.
| The curtain fell upon the prince struS-
/ Cling In the throcs of n most complicated
| 1T in the centre OF the stage, the villain
watching In an attitude of critical OBJ
servation from behind a tree on the left
of the stage. the funny man. from be-
OF the stage, uttering loud cries and
| lamentations.
The next scene opened by the banks
| of n stream and the three characters
were the same. but for some reason,
which cannot explain. the prince mad
turned a bright blue color (perhaps u
was the effects of tho poison), Anyhow
he was not dead. much to the JOY OF The
funny man, much to the chagrin OF the
! villain. The scene progressed and came
To a climax when the villain, with elabo-
rate prctencc Of doing It accidentally
pushed the prince over precipicc. AZ
this the curtain also fell
Three more acts dragged their weary
length along. and In each the prince
reappearnd. none the worse for being
Killed but always having his skin ar
entirely different color on the occnsior
Of each resurrection. The play ended hS
the funny man leading a baby elephant
on TO the stage and allowing II TO zap
parently) sit down on tho sleeping form
~ the villain. wherein the prince np
pehred discovered that tho funny mar
was his long lost brother. and made
everybody happy by distributing gifts Y
the crowd of natives who mad suddenl!
appeared on the stage from all sides,
have never succeeded In disentansl
ing the inward Significance Of this play
It's moral teachings arc lost 10 me; al
retain by way Of instruction Is this
that II ever commit murder / Rhal
avoid the acquaintance OF funny nel
with baby elephants.
II might have been supposed that tn
fhindnan, who llYes IN y country wnlc
IL OutHidc the tropics, would have lakel