THE JAPANESE STAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 10

THE JAPANESE STAGE.

The name of tho great Japanese actress Sad'a Vacco is probably familiar to Knglish readers, for her success in a/ondon some time ago was phenomenal. With her husband (Kawn Kami) slio lias recently been appearing in Paris, and in a December number of Lea Annales she writes the interesting story of her career. The theatre in Japan has, in itself, only existed for throo centuries, and was started, not by a. man as ono would have expected, but by a beautiful woman called Okuin i. rier success was so great and tho gifts showered upon her by tho "Samurai” so costly that tho lionperor, to put a stop to a state of affairs considered unnatural and deteriorating, forbade tin* Samurai to appear in a theatre carrying arms. This was equivalent to an edict forbidding them to attend a play, as to deprive a Samurai tlio right to wear arms was tho greatest insult that could be paid to him. At the same time the Kmperor decreed both that all female parts were to be acted by men, and that all plays must bo of au heroic and historical character. Practically this killed dramatic art in Japan, and until a few years back no change was made in tho dull limitations imposed upon actors. It is, in fact, in a great measure duo to Sad'a Vacco that a now future is now opening out for the Japanese stage. Sada Vacco was a geisha—not in a teahouse —but one of those who dance and sing and entertain in private houses. At 15 she married Ksivn Kami, then a riel) and highly considered political! at Tokio. lint presently her husband, defeated at some senatorial elections, turned his thoughts to a hobby that had always fascinated him, and became an actor. His success was immediate and unquestionable, and having gathered together a troupe of efficient pupils he determined to travel, and while exorcising his profession sec something of other countries. At San Francisco, on the day of their opening performance, Kawn Kami’s leading lady—or, more accurately speaking, leading gentleman —fell ill, and the performance seemed likely to fall through altogether. It was then that an inspiration came tn Sada Vacco. She knew 1 the part—she had hoard it so often—and she felt that she could act it. In Japan, of course, it would have been impossible, but in America women’s parts wore always taken by women.

Why, therefore, should she nob try it and save iho situation? Shaking with nervousness And excitement, sho appeared before the audience that evening, only to receive a perfect ovation before the full of tho curtain. But for her timely escape she would have been carried in triumph to her hotel, From tuJit day Sada Vacco has been her husband s loading lady.