The Detroit times., 1911-05-10
"B0O-ERS" CAN'T QUEER FRED
WHITNEY'S- NEW OPERA

Fred C. Whitney's faith in his own
ability to make Londoners capituiate
to The Chocolate Soldier" and his
confident prediction that the new vi
ennese operetta, Baron Trenck.'
would be a success when produced In
dear old Lunnon', have been justified,
according TO his brother, B. c. Whit
ney, who with Mrs. Whitney. has just
month in the British capital.
London has rarely started light
opera toward greaterN success than
The Chocolate Soldier which will
run for three years in all likelihood,
and Baron Trenck certainly Is sue
cess despite all that was done to
queer It," said Mr.. Whitney. 1--WE
were there for the opening of Baron
Trenck,' and II was a remarkable per.
Torrance In many ways. George Ed
wardes has been king of musical com.
edy and light opera, In London. so
long that, the entrance OF my brother,
an American, into the bargain, into
Edwardes territory, struck that man
ager and his supporters as 'poaching'
and they resented IL bitterly.
For Baron Trenck's' premiere the
opposition had a paid body OF boo
ers' in the top gallery and while they
did not interrupt the performance
during it's progress, they broke loose
at the end and 'boo-ed' themselves
hoarse That's nice little way they
have in London. What Is known as
the lower classes over there, express
disapproval as loudly as approval OF
theatrical performances. The stalls,
however. liked Baron Trenck' 30 well
and the Britisher Is a great stickler
for fair treatment TO all-that they
remained to applaud and finally
drowned out the voices OF the 'booers,
although II required about 15 minutes
to do IL. The attendance and box Of
fee receipts have steadily increased
since the opening night-a pretty good
test OF popularity and success.
I'VE went over TO Holland for few
DAYS and when we again went to see
Baron Trenck' on our return, found
that Fred had made many desirable
changes. al Hoibrook. the. New York
stage producer, staged the piece, and
1t is beautiful. Americans are sure
to like II. Fred will probably send IT
on tour here next season. He viii
make a production Of Richard Strauss
Rose Cavalier in this country and
send II on the road next fall and will
produce II in London, in Covent Gar
den"
Fred Whitney seems to have cor
nered the Viennese light opera COM
posers' market. for he has two new
Oscar Straus' scores, two by Franz
Lehr. and one by Albini who wrote
Baron Trenck" Mr.. Whitney will
get right into the international man.
agerial game this summer when, after
launching the enterprises already
mentioned. he will send an English
company to America to produce the
big Drury Lane melodrama, The
Whip" take a musical fling with
Kubelik. the Bohemian violinist. for
so concerts, In this country, and, TO
reverse the order, take erratic but tai
ented Arnold DAILY to London, right
into Sir Charles Wyndham's Criterion
theater, where he will present Mr.
DAILY in a new play. and also make
productions of FRITZ Scheff's success
mile. Modesto" and Christie Melon
AIDS present successful vehicle, The
Spring Maid"
II, G. Whitney will devote his sum.
mer vacation to pushing work on his
magnificent new home in Crosse
Pointe which he hopes TO get into I'm
July,