The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-19
Nj. Charley Departs Abruptly for
New Orleans, Leaving Singers
Stranded in New York.
STRIKE FAILS TO BRING COIN.
Rain-Soaked .Growd Besieges Cast
no Theater Next Morning and
Finally Manages to Arrange
for Benefit Performance.
REPUBLIC Special,

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York, March 1S-The stage en-
trance to the Casino Theater was the
point of attack for small army of ex-
citable GauIs this morning.
Rain-soaked and weary, Thirty-ninth
street at times needed only a red cockade
or two to remind one of the Bienville dis
trict of Paris when France revolts.
Men and women in all sorts of costumes
stood here, some under umbrellas, others
without even that protection, waving
their arms like so many windmills and
jabbering in a dozen dialects of NJ. Char
ley. who has taken a trip to New Or
leans.
These men and women were members of
an organization which had been widely
hcralded as the French Grand Opera
Company" To-day the organization is no
more: the managers of the Casino Thea
ter have turned the cold shoulder of dis
dain to the unfortunate warblers; more
than weeks salary remains to be paid
to them and NJ. Charley who attends 10
these details, has taken train for New Or
leans, where he is due tomorrow.
AUDIENCE OF CRITICS.
Matters came to head last night, when
Cinderella" was to have been sung to a
musical critics.
Just as the curtain was to have been
rung up Rumor, wild-eyed and haggard,
whispered into the ears of the sOngsters
and songstresses that NJ. Charley, the
final dependence for that dear Argent, had
fed and was merrily spinning along to-
ward New Orleans.
An impromptu strike was at once called,
and when a representative of the Schu-
berts faced the excited singers and tried
to get them to listen to the voice of rea-
son, they abated their jargon not bit.
NJ. Verande. whom Charley left in
charge when he started for New Orleans
yesterday. tried to assure the manage
ment that the company would sing just
the same, but by the time this comforting
assurance was given the small audience
lad grown so infinitesimally small that the
ushers told him he had better go along
home, that there was "nothin' doin' to-
night"
NJ. Verande. however, promised that the
three weeks engagement would be fin
ished and that La Traviata" would be
sung tonight But the powers that be
at the Casino Theater decided otherwise.
ORDERED TO MOVD ON.
They held a conference this morning.
and the verdict was that the French
bag and baggage, prima donna and seem
cry. M. Giffroy was on the stage at this
time.
But" he shrieked, throwing his hands
over his head and bringing them down on
the broad shoulders of a scene shifter,
I'VE are ruined
THAT makes no difference" said the
enissary from the Schubert office. You
had plenty OF chance last night We Of
fered you the receipts if you would go
on"
N. Gifroy ran out into rain-soaked
Thirty-ninth street. A dozen or more
singers and musicians had already gath
cred at the stage entrance and were vain
ly seeking admittance.
You can't come in," NJ. Glffroy an
nounced.
How" shrieked Mile. Dementhe, a YER
satile soprano. shall 1 get back to that
dear Paris?'
And NJ. MikaelIy. who sings Don Jose in
Carmen. said:
where is that Charley? Piffi Piff! He
has flew zee coop-what you call eet?-and
I am left to stand.'
FAR FROM HOME.
Some OF the singers live In France and
were imported by Charley for the New
Orleans seasons. Others are natives of
New Orleans: but as far as can be learned
all are in the same boat, stranded, penni-
less. and the majority of them unable to
speak English-far from home.
An impromptu committee was formed
among the principals, with NJ. Giffroy as
It's active head, to find some way to get
the chorus home without swimming. Lee
Schubert offered to give them the use of
the Casino free for benefit performance.
So tonight the committee decided to give
two benefit performances on Monday and
Tuesday nights.