PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS
Page 30
INTERIOR OF THE JAVANESE THEATER.—Not a remarkable histrionic production was any play performed in the Javanese Theatre, but it was interesting, as was anything connected with these gentle people. Centrally in the quaint village was a structure, somewhat larger than the others, made of bamboo, thatched in the native style and illuminated at night. From this building emanated the sound of instruments strange to an American ear, deep-toned and monotonous, but soft enough and by no means unpleasant. It was a sort of liquid rumble. Even those who did not become familiar with the Javan Village will remember the odd melodious boom which echoed at times along the Plaisance, which meant that a play was going on in the Javanese Theatre and that the orchestra was at work. The sound came from hollow music boxes, bronze gongs and singular looking drums in considerable variety, the gong band which appeared at the village being an excellent one supported by a wealthy planter. In the view above, the band is at the rear and the play in the theater is fairly on. The performance was unique. It told of the love and manifold adventures of a prince and princess, but the actors did most of their work in pantomime while the tale was indicated loudly by one of the band who was among the group placed on the stage just in the rear of the actors. The movements of these were graceful in the extreme, and, to those who could comprehend what it was all about, the quaint play so quaintly given was no doubt full of interest.