Ten recreational parties

A JAPANESE PARTY

A Japanese Party may be made very attractive and picturesque if Japanese costumes, properties and music are featured.

Write the invitations on Japanese paper fans and ask the guests to come in Japanese costume. Light the room with low-hanging Japanese lanterns and decorate it with Japanese screens, hangings and flowers. Artificial cherry blooms, which look surprisingly like the real ones, can be made in the following way. Out of pale pink French tissue paper cut little circles about one and a half inches in diameter and make a pin hole in the center of each circle. Slip these circles on bare branches, creasing them around the branch so as to give the effect of a budding blossom. The hostesses, who are in Japanese costume, should preside over the tea trays. Have the guests sit in small groups on the floor and be served tea and rice cakes in Japanese fashion. By way of entertainment the story of Puccini’s opera, “Madame Butterfly,” can be told in some such charming way as the following.

THE STORY OF “MADAME BUTTERFLY”

A girl, dressed to represent Madame Butterfly, tells the story of the opera while appropriate bits of the score are being played.

Use an end or corner of the room and decorate it to represent a Japanese garden or interior. A Japanese screen as a background, one or two low-hanging lanterns, lighted, a rug and several vivid cushions on the floor, some cherry blossoms or a low bowl of Japanese flowers make a very suitable and effective setting. Madame Butterfly, dressed in a pale gray or wisteria Japanese kimono and brilliant obi (sash), enters with short, pattering steps. She wears a chrysanthemum in her hair and perhaps she carries a Japanese fan. She kneels upon the cushions and bows in oriental fashion to her audience. After the prelude to the opera, she begins the tale of Madame Butterfly. The story must be simply and vividly told, bringing out its pathos and charm. When she finishes she bows again to the audience, rises and makes her exit with the same little pattering steps.

Oriental bow: Kneel on both knees and bend directly forward so that the head almost touches the ground; then slowly assume an erect position.

If the narrator can sing one or two selections from the opera, especially the famous solo “One Fine Day,” of course it adds tremendously. It is very important that the music harmonize with the words, which necessitates careful selection and practice. Probably only an accomplished musician with a feeling for atmosphere can successfully do this.

The following song and dance can follow Madame Butterfly’s story.

JAPANESE SONG AND DANCE

Music. Geisha Dance, by Eduardo Marzo in “Dance Songs of the Nations,” John Church Company, publishers, New York. Words of the song by Margaret Lacy.

To be sung by the dancers themselves, or by one or more soloists while the dancers go through the steps.

In a forest of Japan a pretty maple grew.

She coquetted morn and even with the strong bamboo;

Maidens hung on her their lanterns when they came to dance,

And she watched with exultation each admiring glance.

Then her leaves would gently whisper, nestling in the breeze,

To the pretty maidens dancing there beneath the trees,

“O! O! Dance, O pretty maidens, dance ye on the grass below,

Forward bending, lightly swaying gently to and fro.

Each of you will have a hero, loyal, brave and true,

But not one will be more loyal than my strong bamboo.”

When the bamboo heard her singing he was filled with glee

And he nodded to the maple, so that she might see

That he loved her very dearly and was worthy, too,

Of the trust that she confided in her strong bamboo.

And the maple peeping over saw his signal sweet,

Sang again unto the maidens dancing at her feet.

“O! O! Dance, O pretty maidens, dance ye on the grass below,

Forward bending, lightly swaying gently to and fro.

Each of you will have a hero, loyal, brave and true,

But not one will be more loyal than my strong bamboo. O!”

Stage this song and dance in the same setting that was used for the Madame Butterfly story. Before the dancers appear, place bright cushions, one for each dancer, on the floor in a semicircle. Have eight or more dancers enter from each side with little pattering Japanese steps, take their places behind their cushions and bow in oriental fashion to the audience. They are dressed in bright-colored Japanese kimonos and sashes, with chrysanthemums in their hair. Each carries a fan which is held stiffly in front of her chest, with the forearm pressed slightly against the body. The head is held to the side in a prim little fashion such as one sees in old Japanese prints. Every gesture is formal and studied. (This is the Japanese pose referred to in the dance.)

Japanese Dance

For the introduction any number of measures may be played while the dancers enter and take their places.

Figure 1—16 measures.
Starting on the first word of the song, “In,” make the following motions, keeping time with the music.
(a) Sway to the R side.	1 meas.	through word “grew.”
Sway to the L side.	1 meas.
Sway to the R side.	1 meas.
Body and head held erect.	1 meas.
		4 measures.
(b) The same motions, but starting L, that is,
Sway to the L side.	1 meas.	through word “bamboo.”
Sway to the R side.	1 meas.
Sway to the L side.	1 meas.
Body and head held erect.	1 meas.
		4 measures.
Repeat through word “glance.”		8 measures.
Interlude—Japanese pose.		4 measures.
Figure 2—16 measures.
Walk with the quick little Japanese pattering steps described above around the cushions to R, coming back to place on word “below.”		4 measures.
Repeat (b) of Figure 1 through word “fro.”		4 measures.
Walk in the same fashion as above around cushions to L, coming back to place on word “true.”		4 measures.
Repeat (b) of Figure 1 through word “bamboo.”		4 measures.
Interlude—Japanese pose.		4 measures.
Figure 3—16 measures.
Repeat (a) of Figure 1 through word “glee.”		4 measures.
Nod head slowly forward.	1 meas.	through word “see.”
Raise head slowly.	1 meas.
Repeat.	2 meas.
		4 measures.
Repeat (b) of Figure 1, through word “too.”		4 measures.
Same nodding motion repeated twice, through word “bamboo.”		4 measures.
Interlude—Japanese pose.		4 measures.
Figure 4—8 measures.
Repeat (a) of Figure 1, through word “sweet.”		4 measures.
Repeat (b) of Figure 1, through word “feet.”		4 measures.
Interlude—All dancers kneel slowly forward and down on both knees without losing balance or bending body, and slowly sit back on their heels in oriental fashion.
Figure 5—16 measures.
Repeat (a) of Figure 1, through word “below.”		4 measures.
Repeat nodding motion of Figure 3, through word “fro.”		4 measures.
Repeat (b) of Figure 1, through word “true.”		4 measures.
Turn head slowly to R side.	1 meas.	through word “bamboo.”
Turn head slowly to L side.	1 meas.
Hold head, face forward.	2 meas.
		4 measures.

As the dancers sing the prolonged “O” of the last two measures they bend their bodies forward so that their heads almost touch the floor. Repeat the music until they rise and exit with the same little pattering steps.

PANTOMIME OR PLAY

“Cat Fear,” a fanciful Japanese comedy in pantomime by Marion N. Gleason,[A] or any other Japanese play or pantomime, may be added in order to make a complete evening’s entertainment.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] The Womans Press. Price 50 cents. Royalty of $5.00; $2.50 to Y.W.C.A. groups.