The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-04
Orchestra Refuses 10 Play, and the
Audience in Philadelphia Is Dis
missed.

Boston, Dec. 3.-The members of
J Colonel Maplesons orchestra, playing
at the Boston theatre, went out on a
strike last night and it was necessary
to dismiss the large audience just
whep they expected to see the curtain
go up. The Imperial Opera company
! with Colonel J. H. Mapleson as man
ager, and backed by an English cap
italist, opened a season of grand opera
! IN New York three weeks ago. They
were in Philadelphia last week, and
when they left the Quaker city, Colo
mel Mapleson was short 200 to his
| orchestra. He gave as an excuse that
| money which was to come from Lon
/ don had not arrived, but said that the
men would receive their salaries in full
when it did arrive.
When the Boston season opened on
Monday night Colonel Mapleson's mu
sicians were very laxative and made
all sorts of threats Manager Eugene
Tompkins of the theatre came to the
rescue and paid the musicians their
salaries for the opening night. He
was obliged to repeat the act Tuesday
night to avert a strike. Yesterday
morning the new opera, Andrea
Chenier," was rehearsed, and Colonel
Mapleson's musicians were augmented
by 10 members of the regular orchestra
of the theatre. This only added fuel
to the flames, as it showed the men
plainly that they were not really neces-
sary for the production of ordinary
operas, such as were on the programme
for the last three nights of the week.
They at once notified Mr.. MaplesOn
that they would not play unless 81, 900
was paid them on account before the
curtain went up. Manager Tompkins
had paid the salaries for two nights
and thought that was all that would be
expected from him.
Andrea Chenier" had been adver-
tised extensively, and the advance sale
gave indications that there would be
an enormous crowd for the evening
performance.
Colonel Mapleson must find some
way out of the dilemma, so he put a
piano in the orchestra pit and ar
ranged for a sort of lone horse ac-
compartment of the opera
But another kick came, and this
time it was a crusher. The stars of
the company refused to sing the opera
unless the regular orchestra furnished
the music. This was the straw that
broke the camels back, and just be- |
fore the curtain went up Colonel Ma
plesOn was forced to go before the cur
tain and dismiss the audience. All |
money was refunded as the people |
filed out but it was anything but |
good natured crowd. The members of |
the orchestra say that if the check ar |
rives before tonight they will finish the |
week, but otherwise they will not draw |
a bow.
Tonight, Mr.. Eugene Tompkins, pro-
prietOr of the Boston theatre, an
nounced that the grand opera season |
was at an end. The manager of the |
theatre said:
The grand opera season is ended be-
IL ma
orchestra. We have been trying to get !
another orchestra together, but could
not do it in time. The company has
entirely disbanded. but the artists will
remain here and, if possible, arrange
ments will be made for a sacred con-
cert for Sunday evening for the bene-
fit of the chorus and the employees of
the company"
The trouble is with the orchestra.
Mr. Thompkins guaranteed their SAL
aries IN Boston, but they demanded
that he pay them for the salaries
which were run uD in PHILADELPHIA. |
This Mr.. ThomDkins refused TO do.
Following the strike of the orchestra |
q general Generalization seemed 10 set |
n. Nine. naplata-Ban was especially
indignant, and would have nothing more
To- do with the capitaine. Two or three
,thers sided with her and Colonel Maple
icn was powerless to harmonize the war
ing elements. The result was that Mime.
0naplataBan and her allies left the
heatre and the city. The q musicians
rom New York also left for that civ
Onight.
Stage Manager Solomon claims that the
) hole trouble has been fOmented by the |
Opera company in New
FORK and demand that most of the com
ANY were willing to continue
Colonel Mapleson said he was all right | :
'ut was paying too high salaries to ac-
ors and the rest had TO suffer Il was /;
ecided tonight to give Andrea Chenier''
nd the fourth act Of 1.-The Huguenots.' {
saturday night. and a grand sacred con- |
ert Sunday night, the net proceeds of I
eth performances to go to The most r
eedy Of the members of the company.