The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-07
PARIS At THE THEATRE.
Watching the Skies for
New Stars.
CLARY AND IUMBERTA.
How Theo, the Blonde, Shakes
Empires with Her Nod.
PRINCESS CENDRILLON.
CLARY AND HUMBERTA.
PRINCESS CENDRILLON.


ing themselves to their business. it is at the same
time their constant effort to long vogue to
the particular class of performances which they pro-
duce To effect this they require stars OF these
there but few and it is question whether there
will be any 10 succeed them. Judc has already
adopted style of performance which approaches
nearly to the vaudeville than the operetta, ana
Granier may some time other follow her example.
Hence the necessity of finding new divas succes.
No effort is considered too great to discover them
Certain theatrical directors pass their evenings in
exploring the cafes concerts IN the eccentric quar-
tiers of the city in the hope discovering and
hitherto unknown star They may even be OBJ
served at times stopping in the street TO listen to
the warblings of the little mendcants who sing Tor
charity in the courtyards.
From this multitude OF efforts result occasionally
debuts announced long in advance. and which
are generally unsuccessful. In the fortnight
which just elapsed two theatrical directors have
each produced an operetta star. The one ut the
Boufes girl. seventeen years of age.
named Mile. Clary. who modestly presented herself
rs a new Judic. A great deal of fuss made about
ner and taken to inform the public in adj
vance that she had issued from cafe concert. the
Edorado from whence the theatre had already drawn
Theo. Judic and few other artists of lesser impor
lance. But all this preliminary tapage not having
debut-'Les Noces dOlivette" having very
moderate share of success, the result a disap-
pointment for the debutante and her too Jealous
partisans. star is judged of by the receipts. and
Mile. Clary, Notwithstanding her merits a singer
and as a coincidence did not make money for the
Bouffes.
More fortunate was Mile. Humbertn in the "Bil-
let de Logement" the Fantasies Parisennes. Her
success was very great and if it cannot as yet be
determined whether she will be Partisan star il
have still wait to judge Of the duration of her
vogue. which is only of few days date. there
certainly great chances that shall count q diva
additional the list of our theatrical divinites
Playing in theatre situated at a considerable dis
from the centre OF the city Mile Humberta does
not the less attract there elegant and aristocratic
audiences. and if this vogue continues it is more
than probable that the pretty young chdneuse will
soon be taken permanent possession of. number
of popular authors and leading managers have al
ready proposed to her roles and engagements. She
has confidence in her own success. and in short
time, when the interest excited in her will have in
creased. she will be able to impose her terms.
The star. although only of recent discovery.
to me to possess all the qualities necessary to
captivate the public. Her beauty. her elegance
and her gracefulness, alone suffice to explain the
popularity into which she has suddenly started.
originality which is passport to the favor Of
the Parisians. tits known that owing her fortune
and her education she is entirely independent of the
theatre, and thai it is merely irresistible
for il which has led her to appear the stage.
Facts like these have always certain attraction tor
the Parisians and they have, in no small deg rec,
contributed to render Mile Humberta popular.
THEO AS CINDERELLA.
In the meanwhile, while the MANAGERS making
such efforts to discover new stars an old one od in
point of dxte) who had been in measure eclipsed,
seems to be res1ming her place place in the Partisan
For q long period. owing to a series Of unfortu-
nate creations, the blonde diva found it impossible
to obtain role any OF the operetta theatres. In
despair she determined to change her style of per-
Torrance. When she decided to assume in Cen
drlon" (Cinderea) 1T the Porte St. Martin the role
Of fairy heroine every thought her FUSED up"
''She is done for. There is nothing left Of her."
observed one of her most fervent adorers.
Her admirers decided not to follow her to this
popular theatre, which Is devoted. as every
Knows to melodrama and grand spectacular pieces.
But when they heard of her in this fairy piece
lovelier and more engaging than ever they resumed
the habit OF going to see her and of passing their
evenings at the Porte st. Martin as they had for
merly been accustomed to spend them the Boutfes
at the Renaissance. And now Theo has resumed
her empire over her special public. and her power is
greater than She has every to elictate
herself quitting operetta in which she really
the decline. to play fairy pieces. in which she
reigns without a rival. This Is the first time that
has been seen to play in fantastic pieces of
this kind. The experiment, thanks to Theo, has
been attended with brilliant success; but it estab-
fishes mschevous and expensive precedent.
These pieces, which already cost a great deal of
money to mount. will henceforth prove equally
costly in the Interpretation.
1t was therefore quite a, theatrical revolution to
which Theo attached her name But the greatness OF
the "Jolie Parfumeuse' does not contine herself to
revolutions. After having transformed the artistic
tastes OF the little circle OF adorers who have fol-
lowed her everywhere for the last ten she has
also changed their most inveterite habits. In Paris
the mundane public do not care to go early to the
theatre Ihey dine late. ana the iavorite theatres
such as the VarieteS and the Renaissance. never
commence their performances at least that OF the
principal piece. before nine o'clock.
wuIMs
But this is not the in the popular theatres such
rs the Porte St. Martin. in which Theo is now play
ing. The curtain .Cendrillon" Mt half-pa
IL is that the adorers of the diva al
ways certain of seeing good deal of her from their
arint scene toward the middle of the piece But that
is not sufficient for Theo. She desires that they
should also sec her in the first act. and she has
ser'ss reasons for this lies It .n in fact,
feature of attraction so far as her performances is
concerned. or what in theatrical performance is
but an appearance marvellously lovely, so admir-
ably mise scene that IL sufces to explain the popu
larty OF the new "Cinderella." The pretty head of
Iheo rises suddenly in the centre OF coroeiHe OF
flowers illuminated by the electric light. The coup
dGa is ndescribaby beautiful; no effect like it has
over been seen at the theatre, and IL readily DO
understood that Theo holds to being admired in this
corbe,ue, which. though 1t can add nothing to her
reputation as an artist. is veritable triumph for
her Incompatible beauty.
When any goes to her box to congratulate her
upon performance she always eagerly inc uires
.'Did you come in time to in my corbeiHe ?"
When she receives q reply in the negative she
ally dismisscs her visitor without further remark
This popularity has naturally caused a great dis
turbance In the gastronomic habits of the jeuns e
giants, who would do anything rather than displease
the OF their dreams. Some breakfast later some
dine earlier and all arrange In way other to
20 TO the Porte ST. Martin before eight o'clock
DOT miss the corbeihe. IL is n settled habit. When
the Russian Grand Dukes passed through Paris they
twice advanced the hour or their dinner to 20 and
see rheo her corbeiHe couple Of evenings In sue
cession. Prince Vladimir even made Theo promise
that she would Introduce this luminous cordeiue in
ali her operettas when she goes to sing in St. Peters,
burg.
IDoLATRY AND GAsrnoNoMy.
Certain hdbituts of the Porte st. Martin, among
those who 20 there exclusively for Theo. have ar
ranged to dine every evening i'm the neighborood OF
the theatre during the which follows that OF the
erbeiue. They can in this way manage to 30 to the
theatre early and without imposing ON themselves
the necessity uf hasty and unsatisfactory repsst
But others hit upon III improved arrangement. One
evening the hgurantes, the machnists and the other
employees of the theatre astonished by the
nrIixll ol nrmX OF cnnks scullinns and