Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
ALL IN READINESS
FOR OPERA OPENING
M UGH local interest attaches to the
VII forthcoming production of "The

AN UGH local interest attaches to the
vi forthcoming production of 'rhe
A'A t'ilibuster" ut the Auditorium
next week by the Edgar Temple opera
company, for the reason that several
of the musical numbers were composed
by Louis +. Gottschalk, whose home is
I'm this city and who has many friends
here. Mr.. Gottschall is now conducts
ing the Merry Widow orchestra In
New York city
Rehearsals of N"The Filibuster" con-
tinued through all of last week and II
Is said that. the opera could be staged
tomorrow night were 1t desired. to
hasten the opening. In all probability,
however, the first performance of this
work in the west will not be given in
Los Angeles, but in some one of the
smaller cities near here-perhapS In
Riverside, Friday or Saturday night.
This is the operation popularity termed
trying 1t on the dog"
Eleanor Kent, prima donna soprano
of the Edgar Temple organization, was
the last OF the principals to reach Los
Angeles. she arrived here last Thurs
day, accompanied by a maid and o
bulldog. Fritz Fields. one of the
comedians, who preceded her by two
days, blew into town with fur-lined
overcoat over his arm. This was
Fields initial joke and 1t got a laugh
much advertised pony ballet" and the
chorus have been hard at work for the
past ten days, and there seems to have
bean ample preparation to assure q
smooth opening performance.
Chorus to Be Feature
According to managerial announce
ments the company is made up of a
large cast of eastern singers, a big
beauty chorus, a pony ballet OF SIX
and a strong male auxiliary chorus.
An orchestra of sixteen musicians VIII
interpret the score, under the baton OF
Fred Eustis.
Definite announcement regarding the
policy to be pursued has not been
made though 1t Is said the season VIII
be devoted to the presentation OF
number of the more recent light opera
successes, alternated occasionally by
the revival of popular standard works.
"Floraoora" Is on the list and so is
robin Hood"
The libretto of "The Filibuster" is by
John p. Wilson and Mark E. Swan;
the lyrics by Mr. Wilson, and the
music by William Lorraine, composer of
Peggy from Paris and the popular
"Salome" intermezzo, with additional
numbers by Mr.. Gottschalk. Mr., VIII
son is himself here experimenting re-
hearsals.
The scenes of two of the operas
three acts are laid on the Pacific coast,
so that II Is, In a measure, California
opera. The work was well received
in the east, where such well known
singers and comedians as Frank Lalor.
Charles E. Evans, Louise Cunning,
Edna Fassett, Peter f. Daley and
Ethel johnson appeared in its cast.
Has Recognizable Plot
"The Filibuster" is said to have a
we'll defined plot. The story satirizes
the oft-recurring revolutions of South
and Central American states and in
cdentally, emphasizes the accusation
that most OF these revolutions are in
stigated in the large business centers
of this country by capitalists who hope
thereby to reap advantages in the way
of governmental concessions.
The struggle between two rival busi-
ness men. each anxious to secure a
concession for the mining of nitrate
deposits in the republic of Concarne,
provides the motif for the operas plot.
One of the contestants fits out a fill
clustering expedition to overturn the
existing government and organize a
new one, with a man at its head who
will grant the desired concession. The
other dispatches a war correspondent
TO the scene of action, his mission being
to report the war. blame 1t upon his
employers business rival and, If pos
sib,e, secure the concession for his own
side.
There is graft in Concarne as well
as farther north, and when things begin
TO happen they move swiftly. OF course
there will be '1anguorous, dark eyed
senoritas" and queeriy accoutered SOL
diers and all the other folk of the
usual South American political tenn
blor, as IL Is depicted on the stage.