The evening world., 1894-01-11
"L'AM|CO FRITZ" IS DULL.
The New Opera Not Enthusiast
cally Received.
Chorus Girls Evolve a Bright Scheme
Other Stage News.

There was not a very large audience
at the Metropolitan Opera House last
night to hear the first performance of
Mascagnfs opera. L'Amico Fritz" and
those who were not present have no
cause for regret to-day. The opera. of
which we have heard 30 much, turned
out to be an exceedingly dreary affair.
utterly lacking in any dramatic quail
ties. filled with interminable duets. and
evidently written without Inspiration.
one can almost hear Mascagni, after the
success of "Cavalleria Rusticana." say
ing to himself, Now I've got to write
something else while the irons hot"
and that something else" 1t Is not
difficult to see in "L'Amico Fritz"
palpably the result of much labor.
There are suggestions of "Cavalleria"
at times-just fieeting suggestions and
nothing more As general thing,
there Is little music in "L'Amico Fritz"
that Is worth repeating. A pleasant
duet under n cherry tree, solo in the
march. are the best episodes. The
audience dozed, In spite OF the fact that
Calve, sang the role of Suzel. and sang
and ner efforts did more for the audience
than Mascagni and "L'Amico Fritz"
Signor de Lucia sang the role Of Fritz,
Sichel Nine. Scalchi was most i'm
pressive as Beppe. The others in the
cast cast We're Sig. de Naschetti; Sig Mastro-
meister. The opera was charminsly
staged, and the rural scene In the sec.
ond act with its real live chickens and
real wet water was very pretty.
A nephew OF the late Tony Hart Har:
the continuous performance given by
j. NJ Hill's entertainers at Hermann
Theatre. Mr.. Hill says that he. has IN.
the he deiinestion ] Of Of irish ; Character. CT Ut
"It would be a good scheme for you
to take Sandow out with you" remarked
a cynical manager on the Rialto ,yester-
day to one OF the many actors who con
Template going on the road.
oh" was the reply. you could use
him to lift the c. o. DIS out of ex-
press Offices"
Princess Nicotine" have rebelled al the
idea of leaving New York to go on tour
with the opera. They invented all sorts
Of excuses for lingering rehind with
all entreaties. Finally he relcnted In
favor Of one gir!,, who is, a widow with
After this at least a dozen of the girls
declared that they were similarly situ-
ated, and several of them took chill
dren to the theatre in substantiatlon of
however, met with failure.
The famous star. John l.. Sullivan, says
he Is not making any money during this
theatrical depression. but that ' as long
satisfied" Eating a place is very good.
and II is to be hoped that Mr. Sullivan
finds that 1t gives him muscle. Next sea-
son he is going to have "farce,comedy
piece" as he doesn't lind melodrama
pleasant.
Frank c. .Thayer. a. young and ener-
getic theatrical man, has been seriously
| I'll in Albany for the last five weeks. He
tion. He is said to be rapidly improving
and expects to be able to take active
part in business again, very shortly.
!" Forget -Me-Not" at the. Fifth Avenue
Theatre next Monday night, but in order
to give Charles Coghlan time to study
the role of Sir Horace Welby the play
will not be given until later in the week.
The role OF stephanie, in " Forget Me
Not" is one of Miss Coghlan's favorite
parts.
And now It is rumoreh that Henry
Irving and Wilson Barrett are to appear
together in Othello," as soon as they
get back to London. The Rialto laughs
at the rumor. for II you say Barrett
to Irving he, smiles significantly
and says: "Ah, ha! Yes, / know
him. a good man." and II you say
Irving" to Barrett he freezes and re-
marks - respect Mr.. Irving-an emf
nent actor" And this, construed care
fully, and with a profound knowledge OF
professional doinGs, means that they do
not love each other.
At the Metropolitan OperaH House last
night very distinguished box party saw
the performance OF "L'Amico Fritz" 1t
was given by John w: Cox In honor of
cluded N. and Nine. Paul BourGet.
Gilbert Parkel, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur,
Miss Edith Black, Miss Woerz Hugh
A. Murray and Miss Murray, Miss Pow
ELL Mrs. Gillig and John A. HoaGland.
A dinner at the Waldorf preceded the
operatic entertainment.