Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-26
New York
lie
COPYRIGHT

NEW YORK. SEPT. 26.-If you
like things oriental Ne sure and visit
the Chinese theater in the Bowery.
when in New York. There's M
sham about IL. it's really Chinese
and the chances are that you'll be
the Only occidental in The place, for
it's visited BY few C%aucasians. Fur
the-more. II j. real art, no sham
about that, either. only YOU must
he patient and appreciatlve. Sit
through the entire performance and
you'll be rewarded.
The performance begins at z
o'clock. and ends near midnight, and
through N all. with only d few min
utes ~respite. a Chinese orchestra
clangs out an accompaniment on
hideous sounding Nhinese instru-
mcnts. But il is a necessary ac-
compartment and ia written n suit
the action az the play.
Americans thought they we're
getting something new in drama
when Eugene O'NeIli's Strange In
terlude" was produced, so lengthy
that a dinner intermission ~ neces-
sarv. Chinese performances make
ONeill's play look like a short
story. There n NO intermission for
dinner. although. VIZ YOU wish. you
may buy oranges and candy from .
Chinese who wanders through the
theater with "A tray heared with
these dainties-
There are plenty Of distractions
To one who IN unRcrustomed 20
Chinese theater practices. There u
the property man on the stage. He
In Just ~ important "A member of the
cast a. u the star. Appearing in
his shirt-sleeves and without a cos
tune. his presence is rather a shock
"a newcomers. But he hurries
about the stage. placing q chair for
one character. n stool for another
and seeing that the proper symbols
are present TO represent scenery.
weather. and the like. oblivious a.
parently. 10 anyone but himself.
The Chinese language is used ex-
clusivelv. even on the play bills.
~ you must follow the action ~
the play carefully IL you expect to
get the story. And the action is
not difficult ~ follow. The actress
e. are nothing less than adorable
and the costumes a delight. And
speaking ar actresses. IL IL d recent
innovation. comparatively. in having
women take parts on the Chinese
stage. Formerly all pares were tax
en- by men. Which is but an indica-
tion Of the ever-growing freedom
Of the oriental women
And 20 | advise YOU ~ 70 early
ard stay late. avoid stepping on the
Chinese babies playing in the aisles
Of the theater. and notice the in
terest with which the Chinese them
selves. and the theater will b. full
az them. follow the efforts ard art
Of their native countrymen.
Want 70 have a look ~ = deserted
village. not the sort Oliver Gold
smith wrote about Well. journey
down 70 lower Manhattan, the bank
ing district. Of a Sunday Afternoon
or evening. Between the tall walls
OF streets that swarm with activ-
ity week days. you'll scarcely find
= soul. Shops and restaurants
closed. streets hare ~ traffic. ~
deserted in fact that the visitor feels
that he has Suddenly come upon a
city swept clean ~ population Nv
some cataclysmic event. He feels
his insignificance beneath these
great piles of masonry nv much ~
perhaps did the first man wander
Ing alone among the primeval noun
tains. But it's an experience well
worth t. And here Is peace and
quiet.