The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-01
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

-Sothern contemplates coming to America
next season.
-Flotow, who composed "Martha," has
brought out new opera, ''Zilda."
The Brignoli Opera Troupe lost sixteen
hundred dollars in one week by singing to un-
appreciative Philadelphians.
"A crown of massive gold and profusion
of rings and diamonds have been presented to
Mario at st. Petersburg.
-Gazzaniga is about to marry Signor
Abites. 1t is to be hoped that the Signor's
name is not typical OF the singers welded
life.
The dire, tors Of the New York Academy
Of Music want to get Mapleson and his burn
ed-out company from London to take perma-
nent charge.
-stHumpty Dumpty," the new pantomime,
by Fox, OF the Olympic, New York, is the
most elaborate ever brought out in this coun-
try, and its performance is successful.
On the occasion Of the srst presentation Of
Auber's new opera, Sun Jour de Bonheur,"
the composer was sent for by the Emperor and
Empress, and congratulated ut the close Of
each act"
AT the Louisville theatre on the 9th, Edward
Hanlon, the gymnast, while performing on the
horizontal bars, fell heavily upon the stage,
dislocating his shoulder and bruising his head
badly.
The most startling natural effects are said
to be now produced at Niblo's, New York, by
having colOred glass shades over the foot and
top lights. Red for sun and green for moon
light.
-Barnum has presented his impoverished
employees with check for five hundred dol
lars, and offers to lecture for them on condi-
tion that the receipts be divided pro rata ac-
10 @Io r,a n, h,,
the benehciaries.
The receipts Of Bourcicault from his works
are not less than $50, 600 per annum. A fol-
lower in his footsteps, Mr.. DAILY, Of New Y'rk
city, is receiving an income IF $4,000 per
annum from "Under the Gaslight," which
has had positive success in dozen or more
cities.
During the past thirty-three years, fifty
one fires have occurred in London theatres.
Eight times the hames got such headway that
the houses were destroyed. The causes Of some
Of these fires were curious eighteen were
caused By gas; four were lighted by stumps OF
Cigars.
l-At the Salt Lake City Theatre the "naked
DIANA" is strictly prohibited, and immoral al
luhions would condemn actor and star forever
tobtter neglect. IF ballet is needed the bal
leigirls dare not wear their skirts higher than
uH to the ankle. Smoking, tobacco-chewing,
swearing aud drunkenness arc punished with
ln6tant dismissal, and do not occur within the
Wills Of tho theatre, which is grand structure
il the style of the Imperial OF Moscow, Russia,
Jhd standing on large public square.
n The "Grande Duchesse" after run Of one
hundred and fifty nights, has been withdrawn
from the French heatre, New York, and is
succeeded by La Belle Helene" Of the latter
piece the Tribune says: The performance be-
longs to o class which wo cannot but regret to
see coming into vogue. Seduction and illicit
passion are not made respectable by the coun-
tenance OF the Homeric Greeks, and an adul-
terer is just as wicked in tunlc and buskins as
in dress-coat and calf-skin boots. The por-
ton of the legend of Helen which has been
selected for the plot OF this opera is intrinsicay
unfit for the stage. The language does not
improve it. The gross points are made more
gross the text is loaded with indecent innuen-
does; the action in several places IS simply
vile and the costumes OF certain characters
arc more lascivious than anything we have yet
seen in O respectable theater. Two or three
wears ago "La Belle Helene" would not have
been tolerated in New York. If it become
popular now we shall glieve for the degeneracy
of our people. Let 1t be remembered that this
play is not satire. It contains no bitterness,
and, save an occasional fling at little fashions
of the day, il CONVEYS no reproof. Vice here
is triumphant, and virtue is represented only
bv red-haired idiot. Moral filth is exposed,
not that it may be target for the shafts OF
sarcasm, and ridicule, but merely because it is
filthy. There are people who revel in this sort
Of drama, who will crowd the galleries of the
French Theater all the more for reading what
we have written-people who ,gloat over the
literature which southey called the furniture
Of the bagnios; but to such we : 40 not SPEAK
men. however, Who having enjoyed the fun
and viyacity of the ''Grande Duchesse, without
penetrating it's thin crust OF decorum, may be
tempted to seek for similar amusementin La
Belle Helene :" all such we recommend to stay
awcy. If we must have Offenbach, in the
name OF decency let her Hishness OF Gerotstein
come back again.