The morning times., 1896-04-15
CHORUS CALLED FOR Cash
Rigoletto Wasn't Sung blythe Hin
riohs Last Night.
Business Was bad and the Audience
Were Given Back Their Money.
The Engagement Ends.

There was no performance at Aliens
Grand Opera House last night. The dis
appointment on the part OF those present
may have been more or less acute, but
there were not many present to the pangs
as a matter OF fact not more than ESQ music
lovers bra we'd the heat TO hear the perform
aDce that was never given
"Rigoletro" was 10 have been given
The audience noticed u certain unrest
among tile musicians, but no Instruments
were touched, and there was much hasten
ing back from foyer to stage and suggestive
whispering. Finally Mr.. Frank Allen an
nounced that there W ould be no performance,
giving the apology that the prima donna
was i'll.
Tie audience filed out and each was
given back his admission fee and by half
past eight the house was deserted as if no
performance had ever been contemplated.
Lack OF funds was the weak point in the
grand operate structure. This keystone
TO the Hinrichs arch was lacking when the
company first arrived and i'll spite OF the
fact that the productions were meritoriOus
ana entirely worthy of public aid did not
support the enterprise. Cash is the rosin
for a fiddier's bow and it's the wind that
sustains an Italian choristers voice.
Manager Ed. II. Allen is out of the city
but Mr.. Frank Allen said: I'VE have ad-
vanced considerable cash to the company
but do not feel justified in putting out any
more. The company came here heavily
encumbered as result OF an unfortunate
Western trip. When money was advanced
to the chorus and imported musicians they
claimed it should be applied to back OBJ
legations for which we are in no way re-
sponSible. A prosperous enga cement here,
which the present one has not been, would
not have settled the claims OF the foreigners
against Mr.. Hinrichs.
Tonight offered the gross receipts tothe
striking choristers and musicians, but they
refused to go on with the opera. Mr.
HnrichS, the artists and our own orchestra
were willing to proceed. The theater will
he dark the balance of the week.
Il feel very sorry for Mr. Hnrichs.
His merit does not meet substantial apprc-
citation and the inevitable had to come.
The company failed IN st. Louis, but their
artistic merits were so euiogistAcaly conl-
mented upon that we believed Washington
| would render paying support to fort
-night-oE grand OPERA The business bas
| been ,discou ra gin gtys poor. If Mr. Him
| riclls would accept, I benefitswe should
| be most happy to donate our thCater."
The musicians seemed in good enough
| iitiInor and not appreciably affected by
| the disaster. They are from New York.
| The chorus numbers twcnt yInen and women
| and they are from Turin, Italy, whence
| they came to sing through the Philadel-
| phia season. They seem hopeless and help
less. They speak English only impericctiy
or not at all, and appear bereft of any
resources. They were gathered at the
| Penns ylvania avenue entrance until they
| were urged 10 move on and they dispersed
| into the black night
| This is an unfortunate finale In an
| ambitious effort Tie operas were per
| formed by splendid artists, and the chorus
| and orchestra, though limited. were aC'
| ceptable. thanks TO Mr. Hinrichs' efficient
| direction.