Arctic Theatres.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 466, 26 April 1890, Page 3

Arctic Theatres.

'[Copyrighted, 1689, by the Author. Joe Jefferson always visits the National Museum when he comes to Washington. On one occasion, not long since, the thread of the conversation was the origin and evolution of the histrionic art. Mr Jefferson waß importuned by the curator to make a, collection for the museum to illustrate this history and to write up the subject for publication. * Why,’ said he, * I should have to begin with the animals ; they are the best actors in the world. We all know that the word caper is from the Latin, and means he-goat, and young goats are among the most graceful performers. There is no such lovemaking on the stage as you can see among the birds,’ paid the greatcomedian, ‘but the finest acting I ever saw was by two fiddler crabs in the .London Aquarium. Thereupon Mr Jefferson laid off his overcoat, which was thrown loosely over his shoulders, and tmtheriafinitedelight of the little,.company present, then and there proceeded to show how the male crab makes love to the female. The entire absence of stage and stage fittings and costume rather, improved the effect. Indeed, all present pronounced the effort to have been one of the prettiest pieces of acting they had ever seen. This episode leads to the study of many problems in the elaboration of our occupations, not the least of which are our enjoyments. There have always been theatres in the world, with special places of performance, I will nob say costly structures, with arena and auditorium, with stage fittings and costumes, and with rooms apart where

the actors, may array themselves for their parts. •" " • ... - It is bub recently that the existence of the theatre pure and simple, with only histrionic motive, has been found out ajnOfig savages. Ib has been affirmed that the costly preparations, the elaborate costume, the performance lasting for days, were ceremonial and always related to religious practices. It is true that most of this has the spirit world in view, but besides their the savages of the arctic region of our continent have their theatrical performances, which have been witnessed by more than one observer. . Captain Hall, in his second volume, gives a very elaborate design of a quaggi, or singing house, among the Eskimo of Hudson Bay, but Dr. Boas, in his last paper, published by tho Bureau of Ethnology, is more explicit in his description. The opera house of Baffin Land is made of snow. It is about 20ft in diameter, and tho majestic dome of crystal whiteness towers 15fb in the air. Instead of chandeliers there is a snow pillar in the centre sft high, on-which the lamps rest. There is nob exactly the same arrangement of seats that we have in our.best opera-houses, the order of sitting resembling more nearly that of the country school-house improvised into a theatre. In fact, the married women stand in ohe outer row, the single women are ranged in front of them, the men sit in front of the unmarried women, and. the children swarm around tho stage. In this the scandal of the poke-bonnet is entirely obviated. They also eliminate the horrid inconvenience of the late arrivals by having the stage in the doorway, so that no one can enter the house after the play begins. The only instrument of music «n the prehestra is a single-headed drum, but quite too much of monotonous singing _ takes the place of stringed and brass pieces, Tho performer improvises the burden of the song just as the leader used to do in the South in the good old days of corn - shuckings, while the women in the two back rows bake up the refrain, tho men remaining silent.. The ballet is exceedingly tame, the dancer remaining on one spot, stamping with the feet and swaying his body. The play consists in trials of strength, ventriloquism, imitation of the noise and action of the animals pursued in the chase, gymnastics, grimaces, and masquerading. Some of their tricks are said to be extremely clever. Dr. Boas describes one that is worthy of the Davenport brothers, in which a man has his hands tied securely and a thong fastened around the knees and neck. In a few minutes the knots are all untied, although the man has lain perfectly motionless. A startling bit of tragedy acting is thus described by Boas : An Angakok threw himself upon a harpoon, which penetrated the breast and came out at the back. Three men, holding the harpoon line, pursued the Angakok, bleeding profusely, through the village. Returning, he pulled out the harpoon, was put to sleep with music, and suddenly awakes without a scar. Of course the blood had been concealed in a bladder, and the harpoon work was-a piece of skilful illusion. The National Museum is fortunate in possessing a bit of ivory carving which is the admiration of all actors and lovers of good acting. It is from the Western. Eskimo, and gives the native artist’s idea of tlire theabre as it ought to be. • The stageV'iava .platform or table 6x5 feet, and 2 feob high. Behind the stage are the musicians! aqd the judges of tho play. In? front of the stage on the floor lie skins and IttteStiftbk filled with good bhihgSj-sausfiges thirty feet long,, and other dainties, while an attefident holds aloft a whale’s tail, ‘le grand prix de rExpositron.’ The spectators, entirely naked, are ranged around tho room just as in-, the Eastern theatre. A seat of honour answering to a private box is reserved for the invited guest, who in this particular play is an Indian from a neighbouring tribe in full costume and. feather. Aloft hang the lamps filled with seal blubber, having moss for wicks. The play begins. Two naked fellows mount the table and rub noses. A large,, strong drum-hoop is handed to them, which they are both to seize, and by means of which, at a given signal, each is to do his level best in dragging, thrusting, forcing the other from the table. The musicians beat the drums. The umpires, with long instruments like boat-hooks, keep the actors within the Queensberry rules. After a; given number of rounds, in which the welkin has been made to ring with shouts and jeers of all present, one or the other is declared victor. The whole aflair winds up with a feast, during which seal blubber, whale’s tail, and the great sausages disap pear. It is quite sure that our hyperborean brethren, although they lack many accessories of our priggish play-houses, have a good time, get the worth of their money, and certainly go as far as we do in honouring those who give them pleasure.