New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
THEATRICAL TALK.
OPERATE NoTEs-TRAvELLING ACTORS.


Wilson persistent student OF Nspoleonc literature
and when a reporter called him last week he was
deem I'm the details OF Tanes last attack on and Plon
Plon's" defence OF the COrsican genius. 1 scarcely
know what started my thoughts In this erection
said the comedian who first showed New YORK how II
was possible for man sill lie of on his ear" but
have now nearly all the works published In English that
treat OF NAPOLEON and his family. have also big col
lection Of magiclanern slices showing their kenesses
and places Of interest connected with them On Sunday
nights sometimes entertain my friends with illustrated
lectures or at least they good enough to say enter
tain them But many OF them actors and therefore
not incapable OF practising deception. This bust
pointing to fine bronze likeness Of Napoleon in his
Younger days. was given me by some OF the students
OF Columbia College for directing performance they
| got up.
"what drove me into comic opera Well think the
fact that had not succeeded very well IN my ambtonl
to be an of Juvenile parts When first went into
the business wanted to play the youthful heroes, and
for three seasons played walking gentlemen ana
juveniles the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia,
| under the Gemmill-scott management i was born In
Philadelphia of Quaker parents so there was certainly
nothing in my ancestry to lead toward the stage 1t
must have been depravity that took me there
read Forests life and took to heart his advice thata
young actor should know how TO fence, sing and dance
Accordingly 1 worked away at these accomplishments
and I got chance to appear In comic opera
found their usefulness 1t was in 1882 that McCaul
gave me an opening in the part OF Don sancho in
The Oueens Lace Handkerchief The adaptation had
II said been made by monk He was mummy
enough have been abbot. didn't do very well the
first night and McCaul said 10 friend OF mine: Wilson
doesn't get along very WELL But McCaull lets MS
comedians build up their scenes, and after week
or so had worked mine up till 1t went capltay The
next opera I appeared in This Merry War;, and
have been at 1t ever since"
"Wbat are you studying now !"
The Oolah' This is almost entirely new libretto
] \ aaa1a an
interest and have been working at 1t since The con-
tract with the Casino management calls for it to be done
in seven weeks from now think the story T da re
with the peculiar state or the marriage ana divorce
AZ s s9oT the sd an declare that they cannot
live harmoDodsly and thereupon ne divorces thell
getting divorces of trlnng quarrels, and after
they had been separated for time remarrylng 10
should be again united till after The wife had in the
interim married some one else out OF TINS Law grew
consideration became nominally the husband OF me wire
made fortune about to retire in order to marry
girl he devOtedly when for an extra large fee be
induced TO undertake HIS bride OF day
is seen sleeping lounge. The Oolah Is sitting up
in another where he can also be seen lie 10 sup
posed to be keeping watch but has dropped of to sleep
Prince gains entrance. kisses the lady ana disappears
She wakes up and declares mat the Qoan Is s guilty
aud this is decidedly dissereeable to both He is con
the deed while in communicable state. and this dread
hauns hun continually. think the situations and the
the music is in LecOcqs best VEIN"
ave shall do only one opera this season."
said Mr.. Stanton the busy director Of the Metropolitan
Opera House. 1T will be Wagners GOtter-
dammerung and though net scenicaly elaborate as
'Cortez II is nevertheless heavy production At one
time It said that this opera could never be given
properly except at Balreuth, bet think we shall DO
able to show the contrary We shall do even more for
there they ended the opera with the burning of Wahaa
a,Aa ffn thu a. srnn.
ton OF walhaa to present the apotheosis Of Brun-
hide and siegrIed In this last ableau we are max
ing many experiments, and it is hoped that the result
will be something beautiful. Although the opera is in
wagners latest forming. indeed. the third of
the famous tr0logy 1t ia not so heavy some OF his
other works. The cast will include Nemann
Lehman, Brandt. Fischer, Robinson, Won Mde seidl-
Kraus Messlinger and Traubmann 1t will be brought
out on Wednesday next"
"What were tue other operas of the season !"
sfegfried,' Euryanthe' The Trumpter and
Cortez. We promised five novelties and shall keep our
promise, something that operate managers do not
always do"
How is the rest OF the season laid out ="
"On January 80 shall begin two series Of perform
ances of the Triology, The walkure,' segried and
Gotterdammerung' These will be given IN that order
on the Monday Wednesday and Friday OF the two weeks
The season will end on February IS 49,. ..,u. .ou
"Is there any truth in report that the entire organ
aNo There was a proposition made to me to take
have been great undertaking, as principals chorus;
orchestra scenery dresses and properties would IA, an
we could not obtain permission TO play the wagner
in GERMANY ne g aTs 5eere oneosed D" w0h
have been great triumph tor TINS COUNT c TO n ag o
opera But OF without the strongest part Of our
repertoire the scheme would have been hopeless NO
one has yet secured opera House after our season
ends. I have been informed that Campanin wants 1t,
and that Mr. Locke would also IKE TO give SNORT
season, but neither has vet secured lease
An actor and manager VIII, had just returned from
tour in Canada told reporter how companies manage
TO play in the small OF the Dominion and in Mich
igan and northern New York and Vermont to weekly
gross receipts Of perhaps not more than 4OO and yet
make a living profit Such companies consist OF from
ten people including business manager, who
is doorkeeper, advertising agent press worker and
occasionally when his duties at the door over and
he can be used In of the later acts actor. He
runs on TO the next town during the day, bills and
works it with dodgers" banners and photographs,
and gets back his company in time for the night per
formance These companies have an extensive
reperory. and stay week and sometimes two weeks in
towns which have not more than six or eight thousand
Inhabitants Their prices OF admission are only TO- 20
and 80 cents they must draw 500 people night TO
get average receipts OF 500.
ain such show" said the actor, the property man is
an important adjunct He the stage prompts when
necessary, borrows furniture and properes-ths last
not always easy task In small towns and where the
equivalent is generally S0cent passes Yet eager
is often the desire OF people to get into show on the
deadhead principle that furniture dealer will for those
passes lend suite covered In handsome plush side
boards tables, chairs, etc. and cart them TO and from
the theatre In the morning the property organizes
from among the unemployed urchns OF the place corps
OF programme distributors who leave in every import
ant store and a copy OF the nights bill This
contingent wnen starting its labors looks like
Fastan's army through reversed opera glasses
The boys also paid in passes but to the gallery 1t
keep the hopedfor audiences thus
advised of the character of the nights entertainment
in many OF the towns there is daily paper and
II there is its circulation is limited that when
stranger gets in and wants extra copy he has often
20 10 the Office and wait till it is pulled of for him.
"The manager OF the travelling company either rents