New-York tribune., 1886-11-14
STAGE, OPERA AND PLAY.
WHAT MANAGERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THEIR SUCCESSES.

Chouans at the Union Square Theatre, last Wednes-
day night. imagined under no many adverse crcurn-
stances that production effected or how great was
the nervous strain under which Madame ModJeska
gave her successful rendition of the part of Marie
Count Bozenta in the course of n chat about the play
and its reception at the hands OF the public. gave
some indications OF these things which had so little
apparent effect. ave had engaged" said be, "a
stage manager who was responsible tor many OF our
misfortunes On Sunday he came to me and suggested
our closing the theatre for week for the purpose OF
rehearsal. Such a course out OF the question; so
we had to dismiss him and do the best We could tor
ourselves. The scenery constructed under our late
stage-manager's directions we found tar different
from our models or ideas. The local color OF the
Breton interiors conspicuous by ts absence ana
everything had been sacriheed to the trek-scehe OF
the last act However, there was no time 10 ater
all this, AMI by int rehearsng everyday tor twelve
hours We did what you on Wednesday night. we
have now seen that the play is popular success,
tOr not only has every succeeding nisht seen lull
houses, bat The advance sale is large and promising
Satisfied OF this are ing to work to improve IN
every way the production We have already cut quite
freely and the second representation saved fifteen
mihutes-a gan which we shall sull further increase
lhe points suggestcd in the many kindly CRITICISMS
have all been noted and 10 most of them attention as
Tar "a possible will be paid The trouble with the play
IA peculiar To translate French phrase 1t Is
the embarrassment OF riches. so strong are balLac
scenes ard Characters and so ful are his pages OF
elective bits that tries naturally to keep too mnch
OF tho novel. The fundamental changes when nave
been made are ALL think justified, and our w9rk wllL
be one OF excsion only. As to the production think
all that can he done will be the repantng OF the nter
ors, which shall have put in hand at once. We
Zee sure that the play would easily run through our
entire NewYork were this desirable. But
yOu know to produce more than one new play
here before starting on our tour Daniella which IL
our next play already in hand, and though we may
take 'Les ChOuans of only tO reproduce 1t. we must
perforce break its In talking to you OF the ms
haps attending Wednesday nights production ! ise'
mn fatE al- in nf ne
piece can fairly he called pronounced success. oe-
leve IN tue theory, and does Madame ModIeskathat
work OF art, be 1t play. painting or poem, must pe
Judged on ITS own merits alone, attendant crc1h-
stances not beng allowed TO weigh with the Jury hao
the piece failed We should have made no excuses'
The company of the National american Opera will
leave this city tomorrow morning at o O'Clock on
special train to open their season in Philadelphia To-
morrow night Charles E. Locke. the manager said
Yesterday Judging from the data afforded us by the
sale OF seats Philadelphia and Cincinna-l think we
may sarey predict a success tor our coming sea
In Philadelphia, | am told. the sale OF seats was
extraordinary For two days the line was unDrOken,
and the sale OF the seats in the immense house Tor the
hrst night To end before the second DAY was
nearly over The bOx-otce keeper said that the only
parallel he could remember was the sale OF seat
tor Charles Dickenss reading years ago. In Clncn
natl the choice OF seats tor the season was put I'D a
auction The sale realized S12 600, or an advance OF
$1,000 on the box-oice price OF the season tickets
sold. The sale OF tickets and single uckets
later and Is likely, my agent telegraphs, to be
quite as large in proportion. While We are on our
tour we shall still rake New York headquarters,
and several new productions will be got up whlle we
are on the road. Whether they will be produced on
this tour not Icannot say. but probably they VIII
lie kept for NewYOrK opening, on account OF the
difficulties attendant rehearsals while we are travel
Ing There ia possibility of our appearance III oah
Francisco before next year over but as TO tnat nOth-
ing definite has heen settled"
Steele Mackaye has appeared in a new character of
late Instead Of deyotng himself to the dainty devices
OF uxuriousy fitted toy theatre ne Is dealing with
theatrical effect immense scale Every day
sees him at the Madison Square Garden, directing a
force OF some hundreds of work people week from
tomorrow the outcome of it all will be represented to
the public in the shape OF the drama OF cvlil;atoh
" Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show, said hr.
Mackaye recently will have that touch OF art gwen
to their entertainment whcn, think. Will transform
IT, Beside those who took part IN the erhDlllOn on
| staten Island, have under my direction WnHe
| mcnagerie of wild animals. Thea nave the mVaiu-
able assistance OF haIt .lorgin Jna Nv " ;.S W % % g
effective painter IA living lie mas panied some
! lj 900 SQUARE yards OF canvas so you may mag me
the magnitude of his task TIE very construction OF
rollers large enough to carry the drops was iedt OF
en- gineeriny The drama will be presented
in actual dramatic form. The scene opens with the
virgin forest all the darkness OF primeval gloom
The gray light Ot dawn gradually creeps on the scene
and makes vaguely visible its dim aises and cavern.
and the magnitude OF the forces against
which man had to fight is revealed. Through all tS
steps and gradr al Development we then trace the CIV
iIization OF ths West The sturdy pioneer with axe
and ride hi, sole links To CIVILIZATION Il seen man
tanning his with barbarian nature and barbarian
man. The lie of the plains IL shown as well AZ the
| lite of the forest and | am making graVe msttAe ~
il the educational aspect OF this entertainment IL NOT
marked as the merely interest ng and amuSing" II
was learned that representation OF the celeDra'eu
Custer will form chief episode OF the per-
formanc the interest in this being heightened by the
presence OF Dick Curey the sole survivor OF custer
| band. and Chief Gau who led the Indians to the
massacre. Performances to be given every even
ing and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday after
moons. Besides the CONSTRUCTION oil tle eno'nou
| stage the Garden IL being entirely reseated
That suggestive cheerfulness and repOsetu good
humor which always pervade theatre where pro
nounced success regns are visible in perfection at the
Madison Square. Every connected with the hous'
seems 10 feel the bssu consciousness attendant uDor
the possession OF a 20 oil thing" Said A. NJ Palmer
himself, who ought be the happiest OF them all
In Jim the Penman | think have another IW'
Orphans In fact, success has come to II more 9uck
than 10 that meodrama, hitherto nnapproachaOle Hon
a financial point Ot view. There has not oecn q sing
night since its production that has not seen the 81
Standing Room Only displayed full hali-hour % oe
J fore the rise OF the curtain and our advance SAT-
reaches far forward. Say what one may oil the pa.
from psychological point of view It iis p-ryade'
with fascinating interest to the audience nee'
not tell You that everything now goes as smootniy
clOckwOrk | am busy now with the pro1uctlon o
Mr.. HoweTs play, Foregone Cononslo on wien
in accordance with the scheme OF matinee perlorlIi
an"es mapped out at the beginning OF the season, ",
be seen here Thursday afternoon. IL Il thoroughl,
dramatic play and | should not be surprised to se
make decided hit Ii will be well cast tor beside
young Alexander Salvin. who will take the eentra
part that OF the Italian priest. there will be Messr
Massen and Holland. Mrs Phillips and Miss Burroug
in the cast. IA to what will be done with the pla
should its reception be favorable cannot at presen
definitely say, but it certainly will not be allowed
: lapse into obscurity.r
The rumored negotiations between Bran Stoke
manager for Henry Irving, and Augustin Daly for a
exchange OF theatres for a season seem to have n
suited IN nothing. it being understood that the SUI
gestion was not acceptable to Mr.. DAILY, and so VI
Irving will produce Faust" at the Star Theatre II
stead. and IN of the principal Eastern cities
Days new play to follow " Alter Business Hours
Tuesday next is considered lively than thf
bright comedy. In fact, Mr.. Daily did not open h
season with his best card and admits as mucl
but the prestige OF his European carried u
J piece well for the five weeks of ts The ne
, piece Is entitled " Love in Harness; or Hints