tum cumsese Daawa"—By "7H ington, (ely & Walsh. Shang Mr. L. C. Arlington's scholarship, and deep knowledge of Chinesq Drama have been employed with, wonderful effect in this admirably, Produced book. The conscientious reviewer could devote a good deal of space to the production alone for the eye is delighted by the beautiful colouring of the 118 Plates which illustrate Mr, Arlinge ton's letterpress with representa tions of all the dramatic equipment and of scenes from Chinese Plays, thus greatly adding to the interest of the reader. It must be sufficient to say that the highest standards of book production have been me voked to present this work to the public in a limited autographed edition of 750 copies 6
In following Mr. Arlington throught his description of the rise the Chinese Stage, it is apparent at once that, whatever may be thd differences in. expression between the Chinete Drama and the Euros pean Drama, both have in fact the same origin, Just as Shakes speare's predecessors were thd writers of the old Morality Plays, 80 the Chinese Drama is direct descended from the sacred play which have been handed down front the 12th century. The really vital point about the Chinese Stage is its development. through the cons turies entirely independent of any, foreign influence. The British stage has always been susceptible to fore eign influence and it has beet enriched on that account. The same applies today to. the America tage and, not Toast of all to the German, but although the Chinese stage rejected—or rather was never able to assimilate foreign influence Mr, Arlington finds that ite Technique is actually being adopted con the Russian stage. Thereby it may eventually have its effect British dramatic art for the cul of Russian drama is a feature off certain dramatic activities don at the moment. There ard those who would prefer: to seo Chinese influence asserting itself directly without the intervention of the rather morbid atmosphere off Perhaps n's book may inspire tha endeavour to produce some suc direct contact. There is little doubt that Chinese excellence in descrip= tive art could make a valuable cone tribution to the scenic side of dramatic production. It might '8 good corrective of that meretrie of oriental play which however popular from the box effied point of view, cannot please, those who maintain that truth and beauty, are not incompatible allies of art, The comprehensiveness of Mr Aslington's review of the Drama can be gauged from a brief survey. of his 15 chapters, He first of all touctios on the origin of the Drama, to which reference has already been made, and he shows that the Chie nese wore, in all probability, the pioneers of the marionette onter= tainment, which in England to-day atill exemplified by the Punch Judy Show. He goes on to discuss orchestral music, the orchestra of the stage, the training of actors, masks and conventions, supersti tions, the personalities of the chiek Chinese actors, the various details, of theatrical equipment, and he finally comes to the synopsis of thirty Chinese plays. He adds fan Appendix the beautiful legend of the God of War, on which Chie nese dramatists have richly drawa, The synopses of the plays are designed to enable foreigners to attend Chinese theatricals with some chance of understanding the progress of the action on the stage. They might also be studied by the scenario writer eager for new plots for the screen. An amusing chapter deals with the superstition of the stage. Here Chinese actors show themselves no less susceptible than their English confreres to the manifestations of sill-luck. They also have thei own professional slang which is extraordinarily graphic and terse. Where an Eng~ lish actor talks of "gagging," the Chinese use an expression which is equivalent to the term "keep the pot a-boiling." The gag of the English actor is usually employed to cover a contretemps such at the, Into entrance of another actor oF the delivery of an incorrect: line. The Chinese producer's are seen in the admission that "keeping the pot ad boiling".
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.