The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-05-26
MODERN THEATER
OPENED IN JAPAN
Plane of Histrionic Art Here.
tofore Has Been on
= Low Basis.

Toxic. May 26.-The great event OF
ehe season 10 the opening of the first
theater Of the European type In japan.
Far advanced as regards all institu-
tions OF practical utility. Japan Is ser.
iously bahind In the matter Of modern
establishments whose sole end would
be to provide amusements for the Jap
anese or for their guests from abroad.
Only yesterday, Toxic was without n
modern theater. This lacuna Ia now
filled.
Despite It's pompous title, the Teike-
kuza Imperial Theater) is without
governmental administration and re-
ceives no subsidy from the national
treasury. The product OF private en-
terrrise. II will perhaps inaugurate a
new era in the social and literary life
Of Japan.
Two reasons mainly account for its
having been undertaken. In the first
place. not only foreign residents in
Japan. but tourists from other coun.
tries. whose numbers are constantly
growing. and especially foreign nota-
bles entertained at the japanese court,
could not gather In any place OF pub
lice entertainment. In Toxic. aside
from the everlasting geishas. before
whom one squats on ones heels, peo-
pie found themselves reduced to Wis
iting places that bore the name of
theater. but we're more like malodor-
Gus barns. and Witnessed the misera-
bic tragedies Of the old kabuki Poor
fun, that Jaran's dignity. as well as
her good name for hospitality. was Ia
mentally compromised. A large. fine
theater became real need.
Only for the Lower Glasses.
Unharrily by It's origin and it's
whole history the Japanese theater Is
rather lowdown institution, at best in.
teresting only uneducated tradesmen.
Neither the noblesse nor the intellec-
tuals ever attend Its performances.
a. they have at their command much
more refined amusements. such as the
mo" and the lyric dances.
II required nothing less than the re-
peated protestations Of the celebrated
Prince Ito to convince the Japanese
that great modernized country with
out a theatcr Of the European type
lacked and essential cog in the me-
chanism OF its social organization.
The building cost 100000. It is sit.
uated In the fashionable quarter Of the
capital. facing the foss OF the imper.
ial palace. Although the Japanese
A1a nA1u ran ar,hst orturo ssDnratc
sance" and tell you that II copies that
Of our grandest theaters. Its outward
aspect appears rather heavy to west.
ern eyes. The interior Ia quite pretty.
but full OF defects. of which the worst
10 the prosenium arch is so law that
people In the upper balconies can
neither hear nor see the performers.
japanese and Western Art
The mural decoration and those OF
'ie great ceiling are the work OF Wa.
da. who has studied In France. and
whose designs agreeably combine our
conceptions with those Of the Japan
ese art. The stage retains the old
fashioned scene-shifting arrangement
20 that backgrounds are changed In
full view OF the audience without drop
ping the curtain
Connected with the Imperial theateI
n the school for actresses founded
four years ago by Nine. Sada-Yacco
who has now given up its control
From this schol will come ballet dan
GERS and young actresses who will re
place the men who still play female
roles. In the early days Of the Japan
ese theatcr women were always to be
seen on the stage; they were Danish
ed by Tokugawa for moral reasons
but have been timidly returning dur
Ing the last ten years. The school fol
actresses means much. for 1t admit.
only girls Of good family. educated ant
respected. II aims to employ womer