gie and Playfei Moods as Seen In the Dramas of Cheng Yen-chin Now on the Local Stage By Grorce ith the promise that Mei Lan-will soon open a Shanghai mn,'patrons of the drama should the opportunity to enjoy the his "foster-pupil," the ed ingly popular and still rising atic star, Mr. Ch'éng Yen-chin, is now acting in the T'ai ai in Hankow Road, Here is ire opportunity to witness, in d kaleidoscopic succession, as ere, the art of, the two foremost ile' impersonators of the prefly, Mr. Ch'éng prefers. to phasize historical works rather "those abounding with super-on and the supernatural, While, such were her natural charms- that ithe hundreds of beauties in the six palaces could not vie with her for the emperor's love. Finally, her sun of triumph set, for her resourceful end jealous rival, Yang Kuei-fei, a newcomer to the imenol seraglio, had prevailed upon the emperor to banish the unfortunate Mei Fei to a life of solitude.
After the rebellion of the treacherous An Lu-shan, Mei Fei met her sad fate at the hands of the mutinying soldiers; and the play ends with her appearance in a dream before her imperial lover. The work is, roted for the scene in which Mei Fei writes a poem, lamenting her loss of the royal favour and for the dance of the frightened swan, which is done to the accompaniment of a white jade flute. One of the prominent characters is the eunuch, Kao Li-shih, "Tomb of the Mandarin Ducks" or "Yuan-vang Chung"
One of the many tragic roles is that of Wang Wu-chieh, who, on failing to meet her beloved because of a meddlesome mother, died of grief. The hero also ends his life. For Romeo and Juliet, a friar was their sympathizer; but it was a Taoist priest who had the remains of the Chinese lovers interred in what he. called the "Tomb of the Mandarin Ducks," for, like the lovebirds, these small ducks are [believed to be inseparable.
"The Test of True Love"
Wednesday, November 7 isto iwen "The Test. of True Love" wh'éng Ching Chi."
Ch'én To-shou, who was engaged to Mise Chu Fuku, became afflicted, fore his wedding, with a virulent ase. While the girl's mother made very effort to break the betrothal, her daughter held firm her resolution to remain faithful to one man." Threatening to take her own life should anyone inter-fore, she set out for the Ch'én home to nurse To-shou, who, wasted with "Wen Chi's Return to. Han. dleeae, was mort unsightly to lok was a Chinese woman, hi had lived for 12 upon. "The sick youth, on see! yanans, she, wears how faithfully his fiancee. waited -Jupon him, could not bear to allow her to go on with her great sacrifice. When, in spite of lifs protestations, she cared for him even last moment, more tenderly, he, determined not ra, the heroine, "like to stand in her way,. took poison men oF Violetta, is doomed to with his wine. Discovering his ruse, an operatic death. Very appeal the girl snatched and dark the however, are the swiftly mo} deadly potion. Fortunately, they works, in which comedy situ were rescued; and the Chinese play.
are numerous. wright, a champion of the virtues he dates given for the various always, has a magnificent opportformances will not, except for unity to show To-shou completely fons extraordinary, be changed. h excellent works as "The nance of the Flower Boats," or Fang Yuan," "The ' Red ter," or "Hung Fu Chuan," and on have already been presented 60 are not ineladed here with two historical dramas, two love ys, and the Inst which admirably strafes the "playful mood" s0 r to the heart of the Chinese wright.
"Wen Chi's Return to Ha Wen Chi's Return to Han" or en Chi Kuet Han," is to be proed on Tuesday, November 6. awards the beginning of the rd-century A.D Wen. Chi, nese woman of high birth, had n captured by the southern barus, among whom she lived for years. She became the mother of sons, Ts'ao Ts'ao, who had t Chou Chin with gold to the ntry of the barbarians to se Wen Chi's: freedom. Bidding sons farewell, in a tearful and trending, song, she returns to Apart from its ions, the drama thed for its rich variety vocal si Mr. Ch'éng Yen-chi—very much like a youthful scholar.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.