The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-22
MR.. GRAU'5 MISTAKE.

There is tradition to the effect that Mr.
Grau is an impresdrto OF brilliant parts.
| Perhaps he Is. We are free to say that be
has brought very clever and sprightly
bonGe company to New Orleans embracing
a pretty and engaging primn donna, two oil
the finest comedians In the business, and re.
surrected tenor OF marked dramatic ability
and with q wealth OF interesting vocal ruins
| Mr.. Grau came here upon q three weeks en-
| gagement at the Varieties and, during the
| first two-thirdS of that engagement, the
! patrons Of the theatre distinctly and
conspicuously enjoyed themselves. The per-
formances were admirable above the
standard Of opera bouFe, as we have been ae-
customed to seeing 1t. What Paola Marie
lacked In chic, as compared with Aimee-and
1t was not very much-she fully offset by her
delightful voice and method; while In all
other respects the ensemble of the company
was clearly superior to that OF recent prede-
cessors.
During the early part OF the present week,
however 1t TRANSFERRED that Mr.. Grau intend
ed, after concluding his engagement with Mr.
Hall, TO move down to the Bourbon street
Opera House and inaugurate fresh season
In that charming theatre. It furthermore
transpired that these additional performances
were4to be given at popular prices or in
other words, at ST. per seat. After having
charged the public So at the Varieties, and
before the engagement at that theatre had
closed, Mr.. Grau caused 1t to be announced
that he proposed giving the same entertain
ment In another place at half price.
Now there are several reflections suggested
by this episode. We claimed In the begin
ming that Mr.. Grau was charging too much
that he would take In more actual money
and afford pleasure to much greater num-
Der OF people, without any extra expense to
himself, by adhering to the customary rates
OF 81 admission, Mr. Grau disregarded this
and insisted on the 49,
He received more patronage than we expect
ed, because his company was better than we
expected; yet our proposition held good. for
there have been few occasions when full
house at 81 would not have made larger
showing In the treasury than what we saw
present there at 81. That was his affair, how
ever. We merely mention it In pass
ing. But 1t does seem to US that
Mr.. Grau owed something to the theatre
with which his first engagement was made,
md to the public whose Electromagnetic enjoyed
It such heavy rates. He owed 1t to the the
atre not to announce In advance further
series Of performances at half-price, and he
'wed It to the public to give them the benefit |
u his entire repertoire. Instead of observing |
hese obligations, he has greatly Injured the
business OF the present week at the Varieties
" announcing his programme for the
Bourbon Street Opera House at 81,
md, furthermore he has withheld sew
raj of his strongest attractions from
eople who have been paying him 81
Or repetitions Of what they had heard many,
many times already. AS retrospect, 1t Is
OF agreeable to the regular patrons of the
'arieties to realize that they have been
living their money In larger quantities than
as at all necessary, and as prospect 1t La !,