The Washington times., 1913-02-16
CHINESE PLAYHOUSE
IS REPRODUCED IN
THE YELLOW JACKET
Imagination of Audience Heavily
Taxed in Oriental Drama at
Columbia This Week.

King Solomon is held responsible for
the old epigram about there being nothing
new under the sun. The monarch of
the ancients lied. There is. THE YELL
low Jacket the Chinese play which
comes to the Columbia Theater this
week direct from a four months run
at the Fulton Theater. New York, is as
old as the hills, as new as the morning
paper, and more unusual than triplets.
THE Yellow Jacket has been ac-
claimed by critics as the most unusual
dramatic piece seen on Broadway
within the memory of the Oldest in
habitant. Described on the program as
"A Chinese play done in the Chinese
manner" it is redolent of all the mys-
terry and charm of the East, and is
characterized by many novel things.
By Author of mistress Nell"
1t was written by George C. Hazelton.
author of Mistress Nell, "and Benrimo.
who for twelve years was the leading
actor and stage director for David
Belasco. Both authors are familiar
with the Chinese drama, both have
lived in San Francisco, where Chinese
plays are presented in the native fash
the spirit Of the stage which makes the
Chinese theater different from the thea
ter of all other countries
THE Yellow Jacket" treats Of funda-
mental things, fundamental characters.
and has fundamental story which is
as easily understood by Americans as
it is by Chinese. The story of the play
has to do with the governor Of
province, who has two wives and
wishes to get rid of one, the mother OF
his only child, In order that he may
more fully possess himself Of the sec
ond wife. In the second act this in
FAINT son has grown to manhood and is
forced to contend with his half-brother,
the Dahodil. In order to reclaim his
position in life. to establish himself in
the estimation of his subjects, and to
gain the hand of Plum Blossom, the
girl whom he loves.
Imagination Is Necessary.
During the three acts of the play the
setting OF the stage is not changed.
The property man. the orchestra, and
the announcer remain in their positions
before the gaze of the audience. and
Imagination is called into effect to pic
ture the change Of scenes, which is
The Yellow Jacket is due primarily
to the fact that all people, no matter
what their education or their experience
in playgoing, can imagine.
Mountain peaks are made of tables
and chairs, flowing rivers are simulated
of stools and a strip of canvas.
Heaven is q balcony at the rear of the
stage. The ajestic palace is con-
structed OF q strip OF red cloth and two
fish poles. In the telling such thing
does not seem possible for such a play
understandable, but IL is all very easy
TO understand and very delightful I'm
the understanding. once you see 1t. In
The Yellow Jacket the stage OF the
theater is a copy of the stage Of the
Chinese theater In San Francisco-the
jackson Street Theater.
The company which presents the play
in this city is the Identical company
which has appeared in it ever since its
New York opening early in the fall. In
this company are Thomas Jackson,
Signor Perugini. David Powell, Antoi-
nette Walker. Saxone Morland. Reginald
Barlow, Grace Barbour Mark Price,
> Juliete Day, ]. Arthur Young, Schuyler
Laid. Fanny Addison Pitt, and twenty
others.