The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-17
DIFFICULTIES AND REPRESENTATIVES In
CPERAIIC MANAGEMENT.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
The letter you tlid me the honor to insert Sun
day last was not an aprca, al mfse1tc0fdtdD1,
neither did it contain word about the share
holders OF the Academy OF Music, editorial OF
the same date assumes. 1t was simply plain
statement OF memorable facts ana opinions derived
from long experience in operate matters; and If
any portion OF it really struck the writer OF the
said editorial as being "pathetic,"I can only pray
for his speedy recovery from dangerous state OF
morbid sensibility.
In my last letter ] declared the excellence OF
enc2nltte which distinguished the Ang'o-It Italian
operate stage to be unattainabe in New York
under existing circumstances, and, this being the
case. ask why an operate manager who adopts
the star system which prevails in nearly every
amatic theatre in America should be abused for
not having an Astral company while all his ORA
matte c0nJTtTes are excused2
We have all heard Of the naughty boy who
cried Tor the mo0n,' but some of our critical
Endymions want not only moon but leach bright
particular star"-all the planets with their
satellites, the twelve considerations, the milky
way the entire musical nrmament-m short,
'lrettcd with golden nresr-perhaps even
a 'young comet with its playful tail"
thrown into the bargain-and all for
the small charge Of 81 currency, ''Ge,enda est
CARTHAGE"
have said that the star system predomnates all
over the United States and may add that it pre-
walls more in New York city than anywhere else.
Mr. Forrest, Mr.. Sothcrn. Mr.. Charles Mathews,
Mr. Fechter, Mr.. and Mrs. Boucicault Mr.. John
Brougham, Mr.. James WallacS, Miss Lydia Ihomp-
son. Miss Lolita, Miss Maggie Mitchell, Miss Agnes
Etne Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams Mr. and Mrs.
Florence, Nine. Janauscnes, Mlle Aimee, not to
speak of others, are AL ''stars," and almost in
-,txtx,
much abused by some critics, is an absolute ne.
cessity to managers for the pubic imperatvely
demands 1t. When there is star people
will not attend the theatre. 1t was so with Mme
Parepa-Rosa, Mlle Nilsson, Herr Wachtel. and |
might give many other instances Even the man
ayers OF two leading New York theatres-ar Les
ter Wallack and Mr. Edwin Booth-withdraw thcm
selves from their stages during the greater
part OF the ear in order that when they do
forward it may be as '.stars.n And, with the single
exception, perhaps. OF Wa,ack's Theatre, what
theatrical establishment is there where the e,-
tonTage could stand any COMPARISON with the chief
attraction or bear the oGtraGeOusly tone Of
"crlticism" which has been applied to nearly every
member OF the present Academy troupe, excepting
Nine. Pauline Lucca' Ind when has such tone
Of criticism ever been applieo elsewhere Neverin
my recollection, with all the woefuly bad acting
occasionally brought forward in support OF the
central figure; and yet an operate manager, who
has twenty times more difficulty to contend with
In forming company evenly good throughout and
very much more expense to incur than any dra-
matte director, meets with consideration but
each individual member of his troupe, II not equal
to It's "starsr is mangled in reputation and in
suited by epthets which coald only apply topersons
guilty OF heinous crimes.
remember having recently seen, on the occa-
g.t~ thn AnaA
with which l have every reason to believe
the direction was satisfied, a compile rendu
stating that there was an "omlnous display
OF empty benches" Was this, may ask criticism
or malevolenceY But performances are sometimes
condemned even before they take place, and peo
pie nferentaly advised not to 60 to the opera, as
may be seen by the following paragraph, clipped
from morning Journal
ssThe painful want OF talent in Mr.. MaretZek's |
company will be even more apparent In the singing
Of Don Giovanni this evening than on its previous
production, for the iceblcness so apparent before
will be emphasized By repetition, anu Lncca more |
than ever Will be compelled to sustain tue per- |
fOrmancc."
This was OF course, nothing less than an attempt
to injure the manager by keeping the public away
from his theatre.
Now what would be said in this commercial COM
munity II newspaper reporter were 20 go 10 q |
store and state next morning In his journal that |
there was ian ominous absence OF customers ~ or |
ii lie were W tell Tue puDiiC tiat tic saiu stoIe-
keeper was gong to reopen his establishment for |
the sale OF painfully bad goods ~ Would not the
trading classes say that an inquisitiOn was placed
over them, and try TO shake on the incubus |
C0dte Qui cOdte 1t were absurd TO call such arti.
Giles criticism; but they cannot even be justified
upon the principle OF guarding the pub |
lie against imposition; they have no basis
in fact or science OF conscience; and, If not
the result Of caprictous exercise OF power,
the offspring or whim and c0nceit then they are |
prompted by personal animosity, written 10 cause
annoyance aud Injury and should he t,cated |
accordingly +. Goethe once director or the Wei |
mar Theatre, speaking OF sury critics, says some
thing to this effect 81 invite man TO dinner, |