Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-10
America" at the Auditorium.

The managers of the Chicago thea
tres intend to provide plenty of at
fractions for the hordes of visitors
that will pour INFO the city for the
next six months to view the wonders
of the earth at jackson Park.
The unfortunate experiences of the
Philadelphia and Paris managers
during the terms of the worlds fairs
in those cities seem to have had
stimulating rather than a deterrant
effect on the men who guide the for
tunes of Chicago's houses, and there
is mistaken confidence that the APP
preaching season will be phenom
email.
Every class OF amusement, from
the cheap and nasty exhibit of the
dime museum to the dazzling splen-
dor of the spectacle, will find its
patrons in the cosmopolitan throng
that is coming to the worlds fair
city.
McVicker, the dean of the man
agerial corps. Will divide the season
between the BLACK Crook and the
..Old Homestead. Dave Henderson
has arranged to revive his burlesques
from the Ara ian Nights down to
Ali Bahia"
Lillian Russell and troupe are to
sing in light opera at Hayman II
Davis Columbia. Uncle Dick Hooley
will stick faithfully to Legitimate
comedy and drama. There will be
an abundance OF farce comedy at the
Grand" and the manager of the
Schiller has the latest adaptations"
by Mr.. Frohman.
Abbey. Schoeffel IL Grau. the re-
nOwned triumvirate of grand opera
impressarios, are preparing to put
spectacle on the vast stage of the
Auditorium that will attract and as
| tonish theatre-goers from one end of
| the country to the other. Only n few
details are as vet known about the
piece. but these are sufficient to stamp
| it as the most colossal, unique and
magnificent work of the kind known
| to the modern stage.
| Plans for its construction were
| laid year and half ago under the
| guidance of Imre Kiralfy, whose sue
| cessful management of spectacular
productions has gained him inter-
national fame.
1t comprises prologue and thirty
| tableauX. bears the title America. y
and has for its subject the rise and
progress of this country from the
| time of Columbus landing to the
present.
This historic theme will be illus
trated by scenery. music, ballet and
mimetic action.
Dialogue will be used to some eX-
tent, but will be subordinate to the
other features. The scenes, which
are described as enchantingly beau
tiful. were painted in Paris by the
corps of famous artists connected
with the Grand Opera House
Antonio Venanza, celebrated
Italian composer, wrote the entire
musical score, and is at present in
| Chicago directing the preliminary
rehearsals of this particular depart
ment.
The costumes, exquisite in design
| and texture, were made in London,
Paris and New York, and cost for
time alone: cost, in fact, does not
seem to have been Il consideration in
| the creation of this gigantic scheme.
| One hundred and twenty thousand
dollars will have been the outlay be-
| fore the curtain rises on the opening
nirht, and heaven only knows what
the expense will be thereafter. Sew
en- hundred persons have already
signed contracts to appear IN the
piece. The ballet, numbering 200,
| is to be a vision of loveliness-a bal
let worthy the name-fresh from vi
emma. Milan and Paris, where the de-
lightful thing was born, and where it
now exists in its prime. Luigia Ger
ale. of the Hof theatre, Vienna, will be
the premiere dancer. Others of
no less celebrity, from the other side
of the Atlantic. will assist her. The
..Corvphees." who arrived with the
chorus from Europe the other day,
are a lot of beauties, representing
nearly every nation in Europe. prin-
cipaliv Italy and France. The prin-
cipal dramatic and vocal parts will
be assumed by Louise Beaudet, Lottie
! Gilman. Miss Russell, Miss Malcolm,
Herr Barnemann and Signors Brigh-
emit, Otavi, Biagirelli and CamPana:
The first performance is announced
for April II, and the season will Con-
tinue for six months following that
date.