The Morning herald., 1875-10-15
loving people could he gained in theatrical

loving people could he gained in theatrical
entertainments, but where they are de-
ce;vei whenever t!ey attend the theatre
in the class of amusement offered them,
it makes al impression that Ii not
very soon forgotten, aud We may safely say
that this is one of the reasons that the
Opera House i. not s, well attended as II
might he, considering the population Of
Wilmington. This is precisely where
most theatrical managers make their mis-
takes, and companie. make their appear
ance before audiences that are really not
much better than bakers dozens or corpo-
rails guards. 1t has been suggested BY the
management Of the Opera House here that
they rent or lease the building, and for
tiat reason must engage any company
that offers. Bu, We will leave it with
their own Judgment and ask il it would
not be better 20 bring twelve or fifteen
firs.-class entertainments year, and have
them play to crowded houses, than TO roll
I'D the curtain on such affairs - scour the
AL nlaces for fear OF severe criticism in
Ike I: les, and barely pay for gas. Mere
snlsieur affairs they are at the best, and
are really nothing more than impositions
upon the people humbugs that carry of
the money ard dethrone that confidence
which should exist between theatr,sl mar
asemcnts and the public.
Another mistake that managers make is
in their advertising. 1t is done with no
thought of the resul, that must follow. All
shows, good, bad and ind. erent, are rated
in the advertisements as the very best, i'm
ported directly from Europe or made up
from frSt-class New York actors and ac-
tresscs. And the public are most wonder
fully spprised Of the fac; by occular de-
n,ons.ra,ion that theatrical managers, as
we'll as other people, are given somewha,
10 exaggersiioa in :, ,temen:s. The lines
OF distinguishing between good and bad
are in this way broken down, and in this
way people are unable TO tell by advertise
nleats which is tirst-clas show. If first
class entertainments were alone given,
then these lecepiieas would be easily ave:>
ted. People wouli visi. our beautiful
Opera House, knowing full well by the
confidence that they would have in the
that they were going to wit
ness an evening" amusement tia: wonld
compare well with what thev had been
promised by a;lver:i.emsnt. But in this
matter the managers Of theatres are rot
altogether at fault. The news. apers are
10 a certain extent morally responsible,
for they are addicted too much TO giving
fulsome notices that misrepresent the
whole subject matter, Transforming it on
paper from ;he mediocre 70 the finest his
trionic efforts.
IN evidence Ct the depressing effect
trashy shows have, is given in the failure OF
the Juvenile Mexican Opera Compan, a
really meli.orious musical combination to
appear, for the simple reason that the peo-
pie had been imposed upon so much that
they anticipated in it just such humbug as
had rewarded their patronage in the past.
They failed to buy tickets aud hence the
failure of the company to app ar because
they were not given support. The truth
Of the matter is that the people have had
poor shows, until they are tired Of it and
want some fair return for their money.
Let the management try frst-class enter.
talaments, and they will find the confidence
established that We speak Of, and far bet
ter attendance at the Opera House. But
Of turlesque Hamlets, dilapidated Rich
lieus, and shaky Richards, We lave had
enough. We an1iously hope for some
thing better.