New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
on THE LONDON STAGE.

Wv III IL I<C-N WV - -''''''
London c", 1.-THE fall season of Grand Orera
r. Covcnt Garden. which tie old carl Rosa COM
puuy gives each year, was begun Monday Under "i-
usually Favorable auspices Several singers OF the
hrst class have been specially engaged for the Lon
don son. end the management Is negotiating ioI
the services OF others one Of the stars whose
sppee rance Is locked forward to with Interest Is
the Cheyaler ScCve, whose engagement WAS an
nounced by the Associated Press before II became
known IN London. He will make his first Atpear-
ancc IN London as Tristan. with compatrio''
Alice Esty. singing Isolde The proportion OF Ndg-
In the seasons bill is much larger thth ever
be fore. All of the operas are sung IN EnshFh'
The season. 1t is believed. will prove SUCCESSFUL
ono. Though from the point OF view OF society "o'
n brilliant one because of the absence or the i"An-
ionable vorlG from London. Those who care for
opera for music's sake. however, Will b. Wei en-
tertained and the season should be particularly OF
interest to Americans. because nearly hall OF me
company 81, from the United States.
MonGl, night save London its first Opportunity
TO hear LA Hohem,." Puccni's new opera. which
has made fine impression on the Continent
Mcssrv. Salvi Magei and Homer Lind ana the
Misses Bessie Macdonald and Alice Esty were the
principals in tie cast. "Tannhaus~f was sN'''
Tuesday. with Barron Berthad. Ludwig. Lima and
Marie pumI singing. Wednesday 'FauSt WIN
How'd Il ,ubj.,,e in the title role Alexander Bevan
as MHNIlSi1pn'lts. u. w I"Ib"SDh ~ '''N'''''
and Miss Esty as Marguerite. Carmen" on
Thursday, introduced Mile. Ollt2ka in the title
character and on Friday Gounod's Romeo 81
JuIle;tc'' was sung with Mr. Auhigne ana MISS
tsty in the tile parts. SIR. d'Aubiene, who comes
OF the wcll-known Virginia family OF Dabneys' pnt
has adopted the French spelling Of the name FOR
stage purposes. has been studying abroad since
his last appearance with the Metropolitan Opera
Company in Ncw-Yorl and his style shows marked
advances.
While opera #; reasonable prices II the singers
be worth hearing never lacks patronage In Lon
don. theatrical managers are complaining OF pac
business and casting about TO discover the rea-
sons therefor Several OF the beet houses which
are presenting plays with all the elements neces-
sary Tor popularity under ordinary conditions play
TO haf-ompiy rows or TO paper and some nave even
taken to Offering gif, inducements to draw money.
TIE question Is being seriously discussed whether
tie tn, air.cal business l. ovcrdone here though
the general verdict Is that the increase In numbers
Of the suburban theatres Is drawing business away
from the centre OF the city. . -
Wilson Barrett has signed with Williamson :"
Musgrove the firm which managed the fortunes Of
Mr.. Bellcw and Mrs Potter IN Austria Ia Tor tour
melodrama. The Sign ~ the Gross Is stu max.
ing money in London. Before be- goes Mr.. barrett
Hardy noel Under the cree wood Tree"
e. H. Hcdmondis opera season came To an IN
new opera RIP Van Wnkic." on the mounting ~
which much money Was expended became uhpopu
The theatrical week has seen two notable sgc.
cesses-that Of Louie freer In ,nh S1s.hhn m.
Henry Arthur Jones's. The Liars" a. the CRIT
teri9a Theatre on Weanc. day. .-,. ,,.,,,, -, ,i.
Nc" has ended d'sastrOusly. and tn theatre. III"
drst hat this was due TO the nc.s OF Ml.. Richie
and % her und'rstudN. but Tho hou-' 'i' iDi urrn
open since The management admits that The
cribng is feiiurc 10 M Amcrio'n 2naii,y o. me
huuor which the English were unabl" fo IN -
". :. Gilbert. after 80 many year. ~ di'ii .
euishcd successes ii comic o. era iibr'rsi IN col
liberation with Sir Arthur Sullivan. rciurncd to
serious play writing only 10 MAX" failure liis
new com,d,. The Fortune linntcr" vi, was
Thc critics ara un"nimous in their verdict that thu
play lacks the elements 81 strength ard popularity
and that no amount ~ carpoh my unkcring or
revising could nfu-c LIE into b.. tlis. aftcr NJ.
OF the possibility ~ failure. ih1 h" had resolved TO
forsv ear comic opera Tor moi" important work.
he afier The fi.,s,rous "frsntiugharc Hall had
met an unhappy f.jc ten years ago. that ne would
Sir. Gf6cr, nh-.ounces 10 an Edinburgh Inter-
viewer that ne VIII write no Wore plays. Ne says
fom 5 y%ihfIrf criticism Hitch ny Is written addn s: W WV
London giticT attack an author ns y he was rs, a
posed to put myself forward ~ co"kshy for these
p,!c"ssIng plays. Mr.. Gilbcr, remarked.
THE fact IS. managers cannot Judge ~ = play
when they see # in manuscript. II Pincro send'
good play. bu, bccau.c it is by rincro. ana II Il
stranger. though clever dramatist. sends Irving
over good because they can't Judge Of it,"
In conclusion. Mr.. Gilbert criticised III" poor
meas and rroi.otony OF English acting - cXcmp-
fed 10y Sir Henry Irving. Becrbohm Tree and
I GcOrgr Alexander
THE Children If the King" "hich Wa given at
the Court Theatre tonight under the management
Of Arthur Chudcigh. IL = translation from the Ger
man Of Rosmcr. which was founded on The Grimm
brothers legend Of the Goose Girl" 'issy kof.us
Is the star OF the production.
THE Sign 81 the Cross" will have - aOth per
formance in London noHt week. after which viii
bc shelved. ana Wilson Barrett VIII briefly rerv"
Of his earlier successes. giving first par" to
THE Silver King" "Tho sign Of the cro4s'' has
been translated into Inc Gotman. and m.d- it's
Continental debut rac.ntly nj the FreG"ricF VIII
helmsiadt Thcair" In Berlin receiving, the ap-
proval OF large public ard ii" hearty conI" ~.
nation OF The critics. which T. practically, the rope
titiOn ~ IT, history q cvhorc.
\ new mcOdramd called Sporting II1k" come
what on the Ines Of The Sporting Dusho for
whose authorship Ccc Raleigh and Sey nour n ks
responsible. will l." presented At ~ the sub
urban theatres fhiy month. IN" staging VIII be-
particularly elaborate including scenes at the train
ing stables EcwInar ket. the Hotel Cecil. great
London resort Of Americans. ~" Weighing room
and the track At Epson Downs