August 17, 1908.]
(14th August.
MUNIFICENT DONATION.
A few days ago Trotai Li Ming Sum sent the munificent sum of 840,000 to the Kwong Chau Prefect as
a donastion to the flood relief fand. The Prefect has reported Paotai-Li's generosity to the Viceroy.
CLOSING OF OPIUM DENS.
It is reported that the Tartar General bas given instructions to the military officers to close down all the opium dens in the Banner- men Distriot here within one week. The new opiam law states that once an opium house is closed it cannot be reopened. This law will gradually diminish the number of opium dens.
15th August.
EX-VICEROY SHUM DENOUNCED.
Recently & censor in Peking memorialized the Throne alleging that Ex-Viceroy Shum Chun Heun, while he was in the Liang Kwang Provinces, was obstinate, haughty, pertinacions and cruel, and that on account of his degrading a large number of capable officials the Two Kwang Provinces have been ever since in effervescence. In consequence of the above allegations the Throne instructed Viceroy Chang to investigate as to whether there is any truth regarding these statements. H. E. Chang replied that there is no substantial proof.
REFUND OF PENSIONS,
Several leading Baunermen bere have sug gested that to allay the bad feeling against them on account of the drawing of regular pensions from the Government, they should refund to the Government the funds thus received. Most of them are, however, too poor to do so. It is said that there are 2,000,000 Bannerwen in China.
SPECIAL DELEGATION.
over
The Board of War at Peking has cabled to Viceroy Chang that they have deputed General and Commander-in-Chief H. E. Chang Wai Chi as special delegate to proceed to Kwang Tang Province to inspect the troops. He is expected to arrive here next month.
NEW DEPARTMENT CREATED.
The Central Government has recently in- structed all the provinces to form a new depart. ment called the Bureau of Industries. Mr. Chan Mong Tsang, the present Kwong Chau Prefect, has been promoted to the rank of Taotai and is appointed Taotsi of Industries.
CONCERT AT KOWLOON.
A highly successi'ul Promenade Concert was given by the Kowloon Cricket Club on their grounds at Kowloon on August 15th. The promoters of the Concert may congratulate themselves upon an exceptionally large attend- ance, practically every chair being occupied before the concert commenced. The grounds were very prettily decorated, the long approach to the Club House, in front of which the platform was arranged, being an avenue of Chinese lanterns, while four large are lights lit up the scene with excellent effect.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.'
Selection...
125
Lilts and Dance: o' Braid Scotland' ↑ the artists they do not strike the Western eye Song
Band of the 13th Rajputs as being in their proper place. Moreover their Song
. F. T. Chapple scenic effects, anch as a table or a chair, are "The Message," Mr. L. Broughall always lying handy, suggesting a store room Selection...... "The Country Girl'
rather than a stage. Band of the 13th Rajputs Song "Under the Deodar." Miss Helen Thorne Mr. Hutchinson "Toreador,"
Senor Torras
Recitation..
Song
Song Duet.
Mr. Benedetto Mr. E. B. Ayres and Mrs. Kew INTERVAL.
Selection The Mikado," Band of the 13th Rajputs
Song
Miss Parke
Mr. E. B. Ayres Ms. L. Broughall
Mr. Benedetto
PART II. "Down the Vale," Song Song
"My ain Folk,”. Song Selection...... "The Gondoliers,"
Bend of the 13th Rajputs Sparkling Eyes," Miss Helen Thorne Mr. P. W. Goldring ... Senor Torras
Song Song. Song.
God save the King.
AT A CHINESE THEATRE.
A EUROPEAN'S IMPRESSIONS.
To the unenlight ned Occidental a Chinese theatrical performance suggests little more than the beating of drums, the clanging of cymbals or the weird screeching sounds from a two stringed fiddle, the intervals between the noises filled with the high-pitched falsetto voices of the actors, accompanied by posturing more or less intelligible. But those who seek to understand the unusual and the strange will feel amply rewarded for their investigatious by the vista which is opened to them of Chinese life and the view which it gives of the drama in evolution. A Chinese theatrical performance his not perhaps the movement and picturesque scenic effects of a modern drama, but possess 38 an interest &.d a charm of its own. practically no
There is scenery but much more is expected from the artistes and the fact that they can rise to powerful and thrilling situations with a realism and dramatic effect worthy of the best tragedians of the European or American stage to day speaks volumes for the histrionio skill of the performers.
The Band of the 13th Rajputs, under the able conductorship of their energetic Band- master, Mr. Coke, did extremely well, the Scotch selections gaining especial applause. Owing to the stillness of the night the voices of the singers were heard to much greater advantage than is usually the case in an open air concert, and that the audience fully appreciated their performance was shown by the number of encores demanded.
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but I have deemed it better merely to give the As to the play itself, much might be written. impressions of a European spectator. Before doing so, it might be as well to explain that plays are roughly divided into two kinds -- the historical or classical play and the comio or tragio built on events of the present day. It is doubtless a sign of the evolution through which Chins is passing that performances of the latter sort are growing in popularity, a d though they may include much that is trashy and not worth reproduction the obange is bound to have some enlightening influence, for, in China as in the West, the stage wields a powerful influence for good or illi Theatricals have been & great national amusement of the Chinese, and the representation of historical plays have made the common people acquainted with notable events in national life and have iven them a knowledge of the great men who have left their impression the nation. While much good has followed from these productions, they have also, it is to be feared, been responsible for creating this is a digression. I do not wish to moralise, a distrust and dislike of the foreigner. But Rather let us try to understand the theatre is a great deal of unnecessary noise, bat as it is. The first impression is that there it is Doticeable that the drown
musicians never the words of the actor. Then the visitor will perhaps uote that 110 little attention is paid to dress. In most cases the costumes are exceedingly elaborate, especially in bistoric productions, sud, what is equally significant, the enunciation of those taking leading pars is usually very clear. There is rather more speech making than a Western audience would like, but the eyes are used very cleverly, and eating and drinking never seem to be overlooked.
Generally speaking, the drams in China is Lardly so far advanced as it was in the Eliza bethan era in England. By that time scenery had been introduced, but in the Flowery Land there is still an absence of scenery. Those who have any knowledge of theatricals know what a terrible bandicap to the performer that must mean. Furthermore it limits the selection of plays, for of course every play that is written even in China has to produced on which has no external aids to
a stage the under. standing. When speak of plays written in China it will be understood that there are no playwrights or dramatists in the Celestial Empire as we a:derstand them, and most of the plays which are presented are historical productions, or perhaps I should say they are representations of bistorical events That being so, their significance is as a rule easily appreciated.
Perhaps I had better say a word or two about what is seen on the stage before I make any reference to the artists themselves. For instance you may see a man appear on the stage. He is seen to stoop and walk a few steps. That means he is coming out of a chair. This would represent his leaving a carriage. Or he might indulge in something like a jump. Miss Helen Thorne (Mr. Coke) Perhaps he comes on the stage rapidly, whirls was at her best in selections from the "Country ground two or three times, and leaps. The intelli- Girl and "l'hé Gondoliers
with band gent would see in this a rider on a prancing accompaniment, while Senor Torras was deser-steed, from which he dismounts to tell the vedly encored after his song the "Toreador." audience who he is. It does not follow that he Mention must be made of the duet by Mrs. Kew and Mr. Ayris which was excellently rendered, while Mr. Hutchinson, whose voice carried extremely well, recited examples of amusing speeches by itinerant Cockney quacks, to the great delight of the audience. But, where each perfomer did so well it is impossible to single out any for especial praise.
Refreshments were dispensed during the evening, and a flashlight photograph was taken. The Cricket Club are heartily to be con- gratulated on a very successful evening and a record attendance.
The full programme is given below:
The play I remember most vividly was that in which a Chinese general was sent to quell a rebellion in the North. He was accompanied by his two sons, whom he sent out reconnoitring one day, and while they were discussing the situation & village a maiden overheard their conv-rsation. They of course discovered her, and one of the sous became NO enamoured of her that he decided to go home with the girl to her mother's house. His brother reasoned with him and tried to rouse bim to a sense of his duty but all to no purpose, and while the damsel and her lover went off he returned to his father. The General, on learning of his son's dereliction, was furious and set out to find him with bis soldiers He arrived at the house where the girl and her mother lived but the Women од hea ring of the approach of the army bid the young man and declared to the irate father that they knew nothing of his whereabouts. However a search was instituted and at length the wayward youth was discovered. The General ordered the women to be put to death for their deceit, while the son was also punished. The scene where the damsel on the hillside overheard the discussion of the two brothers was represent- ed by the man standing talking face to face and a chair being placed at their side the girl step- ped on it and looked wise. Is not there some- thing delightfully quaint about such picture ? But more interesting scenes were to follow. When the young man was concealed two coolies rose from their seats, held up a piece of wood, under which he passed. The youth was supposed to be hidden. It did require a little stretch of imagination to realise that the man sauntering out behind the scenes was out of sight. A mild shock followed when the coolies, having no further use for the wood, threw it with a bang on the floor. By and bys the soldiers appeared and as they drew near the place of concealment the wood was brought oat and the young man stood under it, the searchers meanwhile passing all round him. Each time they passed beyond him the wood was dropped and the hidden man stood
action soon establish bis identity, and that makes a formal introduction, but his speech and accomplished, the auditor is able to realise his importance in the play. But unlike the Western theatre, the Chinese stage is not reserved for the actor. The orchestra have a place there, but what seems most incongruous of all is to see coolies, not over cleanly, squatting on chairs or stools in easy attitudes, occasiona ly obtruding between the audience and some resplendently dressed figure on the stage. These coolies are the scene shifters, the supernumeries who in other lands are behind the scenes, and though they are too well trained to impede
at ease.
But at last he was discovered, and the coolies.whose duty it was to hold up the wood retired to take their rest, leaving the youth to face his angry father.
That is typical of most historical plays, and it will explain in part why Chinese theatricals are so unintelligible to the Western auditor who
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