New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08

Dupuis. Mime. Pasca's name has never been very
popular one IN London, nor do such plays as the
Serge Famine" Of M. Georges Ohpet or I'm
Roman Parisienr of NJ Octave Fouillet. ruis the
English taste. It lie no longer the fashion to be
seen at the Frsnch Plays merely because they are
French, any moro than IL is the fashion to have a
box at the Italian Opera. People go to see judo
in Niniche, and 10 hear Patti in whatever abe
chooses to sing but il wish to BIS sure OF seeing
smart house ut either the Gaiety or Covent
Garden, you must find out beforehand what the
play, or actress, opera, or singer, 10 to be; or
perchance. whether the Prince and Princess OF
Wales are to be present The permanent list OF
names on tho boxes of Mr.. eyes establishment IL
very unlike indeed what 1t was five years ago. The
boxes are rented, OF many Of them are, but they
are rented for the most part to people who 20 be-
cause they really care for music, or who have not
found out that society no longer gives itself rem
devious at thu opera.
Society, moreover, has enough on It's hands with
out either French plays or opera. The season Is
not thought gay one. but with six parties night
1t is possible for the most volatile butterfly to
occupy it's valuable time between dinner and bed
time supposins dinner parties to break up at half
past 10 L. and bed time to arrive ut any hour OF
next morning ON which You may chance to Tx. IL
was on Thursday that I ssw in some paper COM
plant of the thin houses at the Gaiety the night
before. Well, on Wednesday evening Lady Sails
bury had al assembly in Arlington-st., and Mrs.
Childers received her friends at the same hour in
Piccadilly. Lady Kosebery was at home to two
hundred people In Lansdowne House, and Mrs.
Cyril Flower gave party In Surrey House, which
the irresistible strains OF the Hungarian Band pres
emily turned into dance. Lady HeSchePs draw
ing-rooms were open at the same time, and am not
sure that complete the catalogue Of the evenings
occupations with Lady Goldsmids ball. Possibly
no one person present at all these entertain
ments. but not few went to three out of the six,
having dinod out beforehand. / don't know
that the theatres in general suffnr from this compe
ttlon. Their audiences are not drawn exclusively
or mainly from the world which fills great houses as
midnight or 10 dancing at o'clock in the morning.
The average play-goer belongs to the middle class
which Mr. Chamberlain once described rs finding
its enjoyment by the firesde meaning, perhaps,
the Birmingham Preside.
The latest operate novelty is, naturally, not o
novelty but reproduction at the Avenue Theatre
of Ofenbach's BaIbe Bleue," with Miss Florence ST.
John in the role created by Mile. Schneider at tho
Varieties in Paris. This work never ranked
among the most brilliant Of Its composer,
nor did Schneider care much about the part of BOa
lotte, which I remember seeing her play ut time
when her personal attractions and her voice had
gone to keep each other company elsew here. The
performance at the Avenue is not above medioc-
rity, Miss ST. Johns B0ulotte excepted Schneider
played the part in the only style Paris would then
have tolerated, accentuating the indelicacies, and
suggestions of something moro than indelicacy,
with which it abounded. Miss st. John, with an
equally sureknowledge of her London public, turns
the rose queen into a romp with no particular harm
In her. 1t Is not in any case character which
shows to the most advantage the most artistic side
of Miss st. Johns talent, but is given with that
buoyant spirit and dramatic effect In which she is
never deficient. The music is sung no other
actress devotng herself to this class of opera
now sing it on the English stage. Gw.s