The morning times., 1897-01-11
A REVOLT IN THE CHORUS
Merry Little War in a Local
Opera Company.
ALL AMONG THE AMATEURS
Lively Controversy Among the Cast
of Christiani's "Galante Cayal-
1erie IT welve Ladies Secede
and Are Joined by Star Singer.
Questions at Issue.

There is a rift in the lutte that has been
playing SO sweetly Of late in ''Galante
Cavallerie,' the operetta soon to be pro-
duced under the auspices OF the Gernania
Maennerchor
An even dozen of the fair and sweet
singers OF the chorus are out with the
management. They have rebelled, seceL ei.
1t has been said that they are suiking, but
that is not true; they are only pouting, and,
by the same token very pretuly.
They have a recruit to their ranks Of
one gentleman, who was to sing a part
written for q soprano, a male part, and
who has been supplanted by Lady, WHO
is to look lovely IN male attire.
This makes the number Of recalcitrants
thirteen, which is sometimes very lucky
number. and especially if it is oyerpay-
ment by a bank teller.
1t is said that the trouble in the chorus
of Gala nte Cavallcrie'' is the Jealousy
on the part of the amateurs OF ladies who
are regarded as professionals. and who
have been given front seats, way down
by the footlights. This, of course, is not
true, but it is true that the operate row
now on hand is big enough to prove that
the whole cast is professional, or is getting
tHeTe DIT u Hftiy pdCe.
The Fear at One Time.
The trouble is of more than two weeks
sta nding At one time their was fear
that the lack OF good feeling among the
ladies of the chorus would cause post
ponement, If not failure, on the part of
the management to produce the opera.
This danger stage, however, is passed.
r.n ait,tr rirt ytn "A
taken, all seem to be satisfied that the
entertainment will be a success. The
twelve young ladies and the gentlemanhaye
thrown up their contracts and say they
will not take part unless the management
accede to their terms Exactly what
these terms are could not be definitely
learned, further than tha. the fair rebels, it
is said, demanded that the genuen an be re-
assigned to his original part, and some
other things"
One OF the ''other things" IL was stated,
was the retirement of two young ladies
who have had SOME professional experience.
I'm case these demands are not granted"
said one of the seceders, Saturday evening
I'VE will organize chorus OF our own and
then well see" This utterance was by
no means a petulant threat by one of the
''kickers,' as they speak OF them selves,
for a meeting was held on last Sunday
evening at the residence of one of the
rebels and a temporary organization
was formed 1t is not intended. it was
said, to go any farther with the matter
until it was seen what course the Maenner-
chor management will pursue.
The young ladies, to whom objection is
understood To be made, are the Misses
Bordeman, WHO have had considerable ex-
perence on the professional stage, their
last engagement having been with The
Wizard Of the Nile'' company These ladies
are termed professionals by the 'kickers,
and it is claimed by the latter that they
have no more theatrical ability than the
amateurs OF The chorus, and they think
1t unfair that they should be pushed to the
front by the stage manager.
AS regards the ability of these young
ladies, however, there appears TO be a
great diversity of opinion. Prof. Emil
Christiani, who wrote the opera, and Mrs
BoeSenberg Weber, a lady OF acknowledged
musical talent, say that the Misses Borde-
man are very competent singers
Prof Christiani said last might that the
trouble doesn't amount to much. Some
Of the ladies OF the chorus" he said,
Showed disposition to run things, and
when they found they could not they
left the troupe"
+ When asked " hat was the objection to
the Misses Bordeman, he said there was
none, nor could there be. The girls had
had a great deal of experience and know
their business without having to be told
or pulled or pushed ar round the stage. So
hRir heir 8
cerned that should not be any objection,
| for they are Washington girls. who have
risen by their own merits,
Filled Their Places.
$50 far as the ladies who left US are
concerned" he said while we are sorry
for it, their places have been filled, and
| the performance won't lag ON account OF
their absence"
| Another cause OF dissatisfaction was the
substt uting of Miss Ida Wilhelni for Mr..
Conrad Richter in the leading male role.
| Speaking of this, one of the ladies who left
| the chorus said, why the idea was
| ridiculous, to make such change. The part
was for a man, and should have been given
| TO a gentleman, especially as Mr.. Richter
| was assigned to it first
| differently. The part, he said, was written
for a soprano voice, and for that reason he
gave it to a lady. After trying Mr.. Richter
he then gave the part to Miss Boyer and
afterwards to Miss Wilhelmi who, he says,
besides having an excellent voice has had
a long experience with the Twentieth Cen.
tury Girl Company.
As to what viii be the result OF the
present differences no one seemed willing
| to vent ure an opinion. The seceders appear
| to be waiting to be invited back, while the
| management are quietly awaiting their petit
| tion to be reinstated.
How long this condition OF affairs will
last is not known, but whatever is done
| tending to reconciliation must be done
| soon, <or at the next rehearsal the chorus
will be chosen.
| REFUSED TO VACATE.