The San Francisco call., 1909-07-09
Cutting Rebuke for Ill Bred Theater Goers
Who Talk During Play or Opera
By GERTRUDE ATHERToN

close without loss. But the houses
should be packed. for never in the his
tory of this city has there been such an
ensemble in an opera company short of
those that-before 1so6-came with
world renowned names. and sometimes
then did not give as much for the
money
People have an idea that an opera
company whose highest priced seats
are only 81 must be what is euphemis-
tically known as scratch" in spite
of the lesson administered by Tetraz-
zini But this company is nothing of
the sort, most of the singers being
the first stars of European opera
houses. Several sang last season in
New York. And Colombini is the very
best actor on any stage today. In ad
dition, he has a beautiful voice. as
dramatic and magnetic as his acting.
and magnificent stage presence which
alone would give him Il unique position
among tenors. Fancy a tenor. before
whom you are not obliged to close
your eyes in order to enjoy his voice,
PEERLESS MADAME THERRY
As for Nine. Therry Ca beautiful
Bernhardt, by the way) we have seen
no such actress, save perhaps Nazi-
nova (whom she does not in the least
resemble) in this country for many a
DAY l do not single out these two to
the detriment of the rest of the COM
pany. which is uniformly fine but
mention them particularly because
their wonderful acting in Fedora.
(most dramatic and interesting of mod
ern operas) is fresh in my mind. and
because they monopolize the beauty
and personal distinction. of the COM
pany. Their appearance and their act
ing in that second act OF Fedora" af-
ford an experience to remember for a
lifetime
So, where is Burlingame, Menlo Park.
San Mateo, San Rafael2 1t may be that
all our rich people are out of town at
this season, but they have motors and
they have visited Europe often enough.
to appreciate good music. Today saw
few people from San Rafael for the
first time. But the most consistent
patrons of these operas have been the
Italians, who do not talk. having few
centuries of traditions behind them.
and the Jews. who sometimes do but
on the whole behave far better than the
sprinkling of brother Americans. hav-.
ing genuine feeling for music
SOCIETY MAY WAKE up
No doubt, just as the season comes
to a close. Burlingame. San Mateo. San
Rafael and Menlo Park, to say nothing
of classic Berkeley, will wake up to the
fact that they have grand opera in
their midst worth So a seat, which they
scorned. because it cost but 81. Oh.
unwise, but thrice blessed Mr.. Ed
wards
But, should they wake up in time. let
me implore them to keep as quiet as
the italians. San Francisco is far too
independent TO model itself upon any
one, it is to be hoped they have the
proper scorn for those foolish. money
logged barbarians of New York who
drift into their boxes for an hours chat
and exhibition, people who need good
year in Munich or Milan or any other
musical center, where they would be
escorted to the door and ignominiousIy
expelled if they uttered two consecu-
tive sentences while the curtain was up
or even while the overture was playing
Moreover, being extremely conspicu-
Gus, 1t is the duty of our fashionable
people to set an example to these ig-
norant little provincials, who no doubt
behave stupidity in one way or another
wherever they are. But if they decline
lhlS duty, let US pray IIlAI the press
will take it up, also that the manage
ment of both opera houses and theaters
will in time find courage to close the
doors the moment the overture begins
and make late comers wait until the
fall of the curtain. They long since
took that drastic method in Europe of
teaching selfish people TO observe the
rights of others. and it is time that we
followed suit. We are now consider
ably over a century old and should be
civilized in all things.
July Z, 1909.