New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-27
CURIOUS SACRED CONCERTS.
SUNDAY OPERA AT AMBERG'S THEATRE.
HOW CAN IMMUNITY BE SECURED THERE, WHILE
OTHERS MUST OBEY THE LAVE

HOW CAN IMMUNITY BE SECURED THERE WHILE
OTHERS MUST OBEY THE LAVE
IT seems curious that most places Of Amusement
are shut up rieidly on Sunday Dy the police OF the
Eighteenth Precinct. whlc Amberss Theatre In Irving
Place eni0vS immunity, though the s0caed sacred
concerts given there genuine theatrical perform
anccs While these performances are good and pure,
both in all artistic ard moral sense, still the fact
remains that they directly Violate Section
or of the Penal Code, which provides that
Performance Of any tragedy, comedy, opera, ballet
farce negro mnselsy, negro or 0!her dancing or any
other entertainment On the stage or any part OF parts
therein is forbidden; and any person aiding in such
cxhbtons by advertisement or otherwise. any owner
or lessee Of any garden, building or other room or
Dace who leases or let's the same for such purpose
E. is guilty Of misdemeanoF.'
Tho ncualtv for breaking this law is 500 besides
annulmept of the license. Theatrical performances are
performances that involve the rise and fail Of
tain at intervals change of scenery, or the use Of
fancy costumes by the performers
Last nights performance at Amberg's was ad-
rorti.ed a. q sacred concert with selections from
German comic opera Die Fledermaus' C'The BAT, y
II was really complete performance Of the play,
divided into three acts, different scenes being set for
each pct and the curtain being lowered between the
FIRST and second and between the second and third
acts The actors were atuIed III inc costumes proper
IN their parts in the play
The curtain was up and the scene set for
The first act when the theatre was opened
last night. the scene represented being a
drawing room. The only part in this act that called
for .,.cia costume was that Of Miss Loewe, who was
drssed as lady's maid At the end Of this act the
curtain descended and when it rose again new and
altogether different interior scene was revealed There
were over forty women on the stage most oil them III
fancy costume Miss Kuhn being in male attire z,
prince Orlafslv while number OF men Were clothed
a. serving men. The curtain was lowered dSdII ~
fbe close Of this act and when raised shoWed piSo
scene. 10. ~ ,,orror,rorco ,.ae df
rectly opposed 10 almost all the provisions Of ue pro
hLit1ry law and thai; lit cannot be classed a. scIoo
concert. ~ -, . 1r,itu,o no
Director schoenberc when seen by q, tribune re, re-
porter said With Laugh that the curtain hal pIooaDy
been used by mistake, and declared ulal the per
Torrance was really sacred concert ana notmle ec
lie referred the reporter to Gustav AhDers VINO ul9
not have much 10 say regarding the uatIer, DeEonu
stating that only selections or the opera were eNe
but nc made no emphatic denial when me reporter ue
ciared that the opera as given was complete, or al
least SO nearly complete that II was PiacucalI Ph
AT the police station Of the EIeii,tehth IIeclC.'
Sergeant Alfred Mcdonald said that he Iad been IN
the theatre several times, and had seen no curtain or
change of scenery. lie had no men VINO understood
German and consequently could NOT zen Whethef INC
entertainment was theatrical performance or nOt:
lie knew nothing OF the violation or inc law unu IL
was brought to his notice last night by the reporter