New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-18
No FRENCH OPERA SUNG.
CAST GOES ON STRIKE.
Manager LCaTcs TO5cH - Salaries
Unpaid id-CrOJcd Sent Home.

Massenet's fairy opera, "Ceudrillon.T which
New-York was to have heard last night for the
first time, sung by the French Opera Company,
at the Casino stil remains unheard. and whether
the verdict OF Paris where the opera was pro-
duced with great success in 1899 would be the
verdict here IS much "A question ever. The
French company wrecked their Casino engage
nent last night on the shoals Of unpaid salaries.
The singers refused 70 appear and the audience.
which had at least half filed the theatre az
sis. when the announcement was made from
the stage that no opera would be given. filed
out again to the box office and got their money
back. Whether this French company Will try
10 give any more performances in this city still
remains TO he decided Last night all the COM
pany were in such a high state OF excitement
that deIiberation was out Of the question.
NJ Charley is the manage Of this company.
He left New Orleans with his troupe on February
2o. and played first an engagement at Louis
vile. According 70 Verand barytoue OF the
company. who spoke for the rest last night. he
lost 5000 on this engagement. Then the com
pany played a week in Nashville where an
other $1,000 was lost. An enga cement or two
weeks in st. Louis still further depleted the
treasury. and when the company arrived in this
city last Monday. after a trip costing 81 300
there was no money
NJ Charley paid his singers once month. and
rayday should have come last week. but r. did
not. Most Of the singers appeared here. how
ever expecting that the New-York Engagement
would replenish the treasury. A few objected.
and substitutions had 20 be made on MONDAY.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Rut NJ
Charley did not receive enough to settle with
his singers from these opening performance. so
yesterday ne telegraphed his wife in New-Or-
leans. il was said last night. 10 try to raise
soon She replied that it could be done If he
would come himself. and accordingly he left
here on the $50 o'clock train yesterday after
noon.
That made the trouble Wh-r the leading
singers in "CendrilIon" reached the Casino last
night and were told that NJ Charley had left
town. the full tide of language at their com
mand. impeIIed by all the cxcitabiIitv the Latin
temperament is capable of. was turned loose
The dressing rooms We're a scene OF noise and
chaos. and through the midst OF the uproar lit
tie sam" Shubert manager or the theatre.
rushed. trying vainly 10 paciCy the excited sing
ers- But they would not he caIule!. They de-
Clared that NJ Charley had run away. and had
10 intention Of coming back to pay their salaries
and they refused up and down 10 sing
Mr. Shubert and or two of the caImev
singers tried 70 point out that "CeudriIlcn'' was
the opera which was quite Il novelty. and
the one opera for which they had new costumes
and really good scenery Their one hope Of win
ming success in Neyv-York lay in presenting II
and making a hit" But all argument was
vain. The announcement had to he made to
the audience that the performance could not
be given.
Hardly had this been done when some Of the
singers got together and said thar they would
present another opera which did not require In
the cast the more strenuous Of the O5iectOrs.
and premature announcement to that effect
was made 10 the retreating audience. But Mr.
Shubert would not permit any such makeshift
change OF bill. He preferred the theatre to be
closed
Whether the company. with without VI
Charley will try 20 give any more operas re-
mains to he decided. There will be a meeting
this morning and the more conservative Of the
singers hone to hear from their manager. All
OF them have got to get back to France some
how and many Of them. IL IS said. might find
IL difficult pay for their passage unless they
receive the money owed them. Three.years ago
a French Opera COmique Company, also from
New-Orleans. played an engagement in the
spring at the Victoria Theatre, and went back
TO France in the steerage.