The San Francisco call., 1909-12-19

devil of grand opera" She was called
vivacious, piquant, alluring, wayward,
saucy, chic, petite, pretty gay, ca
pricious impish, and if 1 had die
tionary handy I'd give you some more
adjectives, not one of which fits her,
though the complex essence of all does.
r HERE is story many times told
that a newspaperman first sug-
gested to FRITZ schef the success
she would make in comic opera The
tale remains unverifed, but the fact
remains that somebody induced her to
forsake the realm of heavy opera to go
into the fanciful land of light opera.
Certainly her tastes lay in that direc-
ton, and, besides, it is a matter of
recent history how former journalist,
John Fox Jr., induced her to step with
him for second time over the thresh-
old of matrimony. AS to this matri-
monial asiness. however, it is given
capital is to be made of it, under pain
of theatrical managerial displeasure.
A comedienne is not supposed to be
married, neither is a soubrette queen,
and a comic opera queen least of all
should be presented in matronly ap-
correspondent once upon a time when
the United States was administering to
Spain a little spanking, and the per-
suasiveness of his address induced
pretty FRITZ schen to become Mrs.
Fox But of that fact little need be
said, except that before the public each
chooses to stand in his or her own
shoes, the one a novelist, the other
comic opera star. Each for each, and
both for both, seems to be the way
that affair stands.
~ UT to get back to the reversion of
the prima donna of grand to the
prima donna of light opera.
Charles Dillingham; was watching her
and decided that she would present
something new to American lovers of
light opera. She would give them the
voice of a grand opera singer, the art
of a consummate actress in light roles,
and, if she could be provided with
suitable role, she would be a bigger
money getter" in the new line than in
the old. Dillingham; told her about
this. She refused, as it was probable
from the first she would and then ac-
cepted, as was likewise probable that
she would
The rest is comic opera history. ex-
cept what's coming, and that's proph-
ecy. Through the medium of such
legitimate artists as she is there will
dawn, eventually, an era when music
plays will be musical plays, and sing
ers, half baked from amateur choirs,
and favored graduates from the chorus,
will learn that success in opera, light or
heavy, depends primarily upon a solid
foundation of training and art, and
that a pleasing and graceful person
and a pretty face are not enough to
win permanent or stable honors in
musical theatricals. Likewise, with
few more singers like FRITZ Scher. a
revival. or real comic Operd--not neceS-
sarily of the old brand of bandit opera
will be developed and American
music be given a real and splendid i'm
pulse.
May FRITZ ScheT live long and pros
per, and may her trill remain as pretty
and her capricious spirit remain unim-
paired. May she long resemble the
above pictures.
~ NE of the things in which FRITZ
Scheff is interesting herself dur
ing her present tour of the
United States is the condition of the
dressing rooms of the various theaters,
and she has some very frank things to
say, quite regardless of the feelings of
managers.
81 complained" says she. "in a GER
tain western town about the miserable
cubbyholes which passed in his play
house for dressing rooms, and he told
me that l might dress in my hotel and
make up on the stage. as his red ear
came within two blocks of the theater
Many artists in Europe, if they had
to mt I'm with the dreeSino ronrns in