The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-24
OPERATIC DISCORD.
Miss Lillian Russeifs Detection from the
Bijou ''Patience" Company, and MY. John
A. McCauIrs Version OF the Trouble.
NOW York Herald Of yesterday.l

New York Herald OF yeSterday.J
The announcement in the Herdld's the
atrical advertisements yesterday that "Pa-
tience" was meeting with great success at
the BiIou Opera-House, with Lillian Rus
sell. Augusta Roche, Eduard Temple, and
Harry st. Maur in the principal roles, and
another announcement that the same par
ties were TO appear next week at Niblo's
Theatre in the same opera, may have set
people to thinking why the Misses Russell
and Roche and Messrs. Temple and
81. Maur should leave the former building,
where business was so good, and why the
managers OF that place OF amusement should
make no announcement OF the change In
the cast. The truth is that there has been
q war going on behind the scenes at the
Bijou Opcra-lIOuse. There have been the
iyeliest scenes there during the past week
between the managers on the one side and
on the other the actors and actresses above
mentioned.
The managerial side Of the story was
fully given to u Herald reporter by Mr..
John A. McCaull in his private office in
the Bijou Opera-Iiouse last evening. lie
smoke with q good deal OF feeling on the
subject. "The trouble" he said, "from
beginning TO end Is about as follows:
When went travelling with the Audran
Opera Company the Biiou was given to
Miss Dolaro for four weeks. The Audran
COMPANY met with such success on the
road that we played ten weoks-a much
longer time than was our intention
upon starting out. While travelling
received letter from Messrs.
Bothner, Nelson & Hcrschy asking
me TO LET them have the house for
week, with the privilege OF keeping it
open for two weeks or more II the attrac-
ton they were about TO offer the public
proved a success. | did not know what
piece they intended putting on the stage.
but wrote back my Willingness TO sign
contract with them on sharing terms, pro-
yiding that they would engage TO give em-
plOyment TO ten women and six men who
were singing in the chorus OF my company,
and for whom, knowing them to be de-
serving, | wished TO have employment
during the summer season. Ny terms were
agreed TO. From the Herald / first
learned that Patience was to be the play
and Miss Lillian Russell the chief attrac-
tion.
"Tbe piece met with great success. The
part Of Patience fitted Miss Russell TO per-
lection. She had all the requirements for
the r3ie--namely, q remarkably sweet voice,
a very pretty face, youth, and just enough
knowledge OF acting TO osuccced rs Patience.
Gilbert. YOU know, has written the female
roles in his pieces so as TO make no great
demands for acting upon those who fill
them, To the men fall the acting parts.
Wen, upon my return everything was run
ming along most smoothly. Three thou
sand dollars were taken in the first week, and
for the second week the indications for con-
tinued good houses were very promising.
did not interfere with the company the
first week nor the second, but made it I'M
derst0Od that this week my choruS-slngers
were TO be employed. For this purpose |
had them drilled in the parts they We're to
take.
PRETTY CHORiSTERS DESIRABLE.
"There was every reason why such
change should he made. The chorus was
made up OF women middle-aSed and un-
attractive, whereas the Bii0u has always
been noted for its young and very pretty
female choruscs. Very uniavorabe COM
ments by the public and press were being
made on the appearance the chorus pre-
sented. The chief female roles were not
properly filed. But il all the chorus-girls
had been pretty still would have insisted
on the fulhlment of the contract with me,
and the employment OF ten female chorus
singers and six male chorus-Singers of my
company.
Zone day last week | received dirty
looking half sheet Of note-paper signed by
Miss Russell. 1t was addressed to Mr..
John A. McCaull, and was to the effect that
she had heard that there was to he 4 change
l..t Il "A - ratafl lttel.
change made; that four OF the chorus
singers were about to leave and their places
might be supplied by others, but that il any
further change was TO be made she would
not consent TO appear any more. Wen, i
paid no attention 10 the note, rs am man.
ager here. and allow no other person to die
tate 10 me what shall or shall not do. The
next day Miss Russell came to see me in
my office. She said, did you receive a
letter from me yeSterday?' a letter?' i
asked. 'Ies.' No | answered; but |
received a piece OF dirty-looking note-pa-
per TO which your name was signed, but
did not for a moment believe you had sent
it. 1t was not the way OF communicating
with me that | considered lady would
take She said that she had written it,
and meant what she had written. | as
sured her that she might do as she chose,
that She was not under contract with me,
but that would insist upon Messrs. Both
ner. Nelson, and Herschy keeping the
contract with me.
"From my Office Miss Russell went to
her managers, and they were so frightened
at her threats to leave that they raised her
salary from 800 to $3.50. Business began
lately 10 fall OF. Patience with Miss
Russell in il, had been novelty. When
the novelty wore of it became necessary to
strengthen the cast il the piece were to be
run throughout the summer months. l
therefore suggested that Digby bell be en-
ployed as Grosvcnor in place OF Mr.. st.
Maur, who, l thought, did not play the
part well. Miss Russell hid told me st.
Maur was altogether unsuited for the part.
Miss Roche's husband had said he made u
lamcntable failure in it. Temple had told
me that 81. Maur's rendition was wretched.
Suddenly Miss Russell announced that
il st. Maur left she would not play any
longer than Saturday. Upon hearing this
Mr.. Herschy said excitedly, well, we will
have TO close the theatre Last evening
while was in my office one OF the chorus
singers came In hurredly and said that
Temple was going around among the cho-
misunderstanding to get them to go to
Niblo's with him, Miss Russell, and Miss
Roche. At that became very much ex-
cited myself. Ii was such mean, unpro-
fessional, and contemplate thing TO try 10
steal my company from me. The first one
| met on going on the stage was Miss
Rochc's husband. demanded OF him
whether he was directly or indirectly con-
cerned in the scheme. He said that he was
not. :,