The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-13
ACTING FOR THE sultan.
performances Given to 4 SeemlnsIy
Empty House NJ Ytldlz Kiosk.

PARIS, June Life does not promise
to be too gay for the dethroned Sultan
Abdul Hamid in his Allatini villa at
Salonica. He has lost with his crown
his favorite amusement. his theatrical
troupe. .-n
This little company was composed Of
Italians and it's manager, Arthur Stravolo,
has just reached Paris. his occupation
gone. unless the Young Turks relent and
allow his return TO cheer the fallen Sultan.
Fifteen years ago. Stravolo relates. he
arrived in Constantinople with a second
rate operetta company. In accordance
with an old custom all foreign companies
had to play every other night at the
Yildiz Kiosk TO relieve the monotony OF
the Sultan's existence.
Abdul Hamid was so pleased with
S%travolo's performance that he asked
him to form a permanent troupe for the
court. Stravolo. two of his companions
and the wives Of the three enrolled them
selves. each couple being assfred Of a
monthly salary OF sieo. StraS9lo was
permitted to engage an extra man or two
when the IA required il. but no further
woman was allowed; il there wa a fourth
female role one of the men had TO take the
part.
The actors. stage hands. prompter and
all other employees had honorary rank in
the imperial bodyguard, Stravolo I"
sergeant, the next most important actor
as corporal and the rest as p~rivates.
Promotion was rapid. A good perform
ance meant a step upward, SO that Stra-
volo was a Lieutenant-Colonel when the
fall OF the Sultan put an end TO advance
ment and TO pay.
The repertoire gave the Sultan the
choice of $50 pieces ranging from broade-t
farce N operetta to comedy and drama,
Equiibrists, clowns, conJurers ana M
provisers Of poetry gave variety 70 the
programme,
The artists were bound TO he ready to
play at any hour of the day or night, An
orderly used tn come to the barracks oil
the bodyguards with the command for a
certain performance, the company was
hastily collected from the various quarters
Of the city and each had to he at his most
at the hour appointed.
The Sultan was particularly fond OF
operetta and rough and tumble, farces'
He did no care u for grand opcra.
His favorite pieces were the -Ilascotte,
Under the sea- and .Traviata" and
Norma" IL he was bored after a piece
had started he would order a change, so
that the company had always to be pre-.
pared to pass from farce to opera, from
comedy to drama in u few minutes
One thing he would not stand; no scene
must show a death on the sta ge, and even
illusions TO the last hour were barred.
so that when -Cavalleria Rusticana wac
given the curtain had 10 fall before lUe
danouement came.
The theatre WINS composed OF fotirtee"
boxes in a single row, with movab'' snm,
tiers in front of each. II was decorateu
entirely in gold and was lighted by elac.
tricity. Looked at from the stage w
house seemed empty. The actors cohn
See nobody. The Sultan. ladies ~ Luz
court and eunuchs were hidden he'inu
the shutters. Occasionally n little shr'"n
| Of daughter broke the silence, coming IRON
some lady OF the court whose feellnS "
amusement had driven her thus 10 trans
Rress the rules OF etiquette.