The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-27
HMLLE. NITOUCHE"
IS HEARD IN FRENCH
Starts the Promised Opera
Bouffe Season at the
Century Lyceum.
ISBN 40 MEANS NEW HERE

Iuc.en Ronheur. who has closed the
season Of the Theatre Francois. which
held rs enlightened sessions on the roof
Of the Century Theatre In the so-called
century Lyceum. last night gave the
trst representation In a promised season
a, opera houffe in French. Mile. Nj
,ouche" was selected The solemn an
,ouncement went out that this work OF
Herye and Meilhac and Millaud was to
be heard in New York for the first time.
Such s the arrogant ignorance OF youth.
In it, own name the operetta has been
sung here repeatedly in French. English
and German. Then. American librettists
have pillaged the work mercilessly time
and time again.
Lotta Crabtree acted the English YER
sion toward the close OF her career. call
Ing the play "Mamselle Nitouche' and
robblng II OF much OF It's original char
scter. Although she played the piece
only three weeks in the autumn OF 1884
Lolita as she was called, had ceased
10 be a Broadway actress even then
she repeatedly acted It outside New
York and brought II back again and
again to the outlying theatres. A year
after the introduction OF the operetta
In the vernacular the eminent Jude.
then long past the flower of her youth
and charm. although her artistic intel
lgence was unimpared. came TO Wal
lacks Theatre TO conquer new world.
She selected Mile Nilouche" as the
vehicle In which TO make her fresh
,riumphs. She acted Demise The the
operetta was acted at the German The
stre FOR various visiting celebrities.
so the work was not new last night.
There was n more or less unfamiliar
singer for the title role. This was
Clara Lardinois, who has sung here In
concert as Blanche Arral She has also
appeared once here in operatta under
the name OF Clara Lardinois. which wac
the title she used last night. Mile
Lardnois was heard at the Casino In
The early sos in A Dangerous Maid
which George Lederer produced fer Sam
Bernard. Then she disappeared. TO re.
turn here as Blanche Arral and sing In
concert
Nile. Lardinois IL Belgian and has
reputation in her own country as wei
~ IN Paris. She was educated for the
stage at the Conservatory in Brussels
vent then 10 the opera ComiQue and
In addition TO singing the light soprano
reert1.re appeared in musical piece:
a, such theatres as the Gazette. Rem
ta.ssance and Menus Plais.rs. After
ward she returned TO the Theatre Roya
u L.eEe and was for some time attached
70 that Institution, Desire Defrere !!
ha-ytoue Of the Chicago Opera Com
rauy. Genna Walska is a dancer from
laa ~ ,
once during the present winter. Claud'
Benedict, under whose direction the per
Torrance was given. has been durnl
the season one Of the principal actor
Q. the Theatre Francois
The Century Lyceum could no: pos
SHY be thought well adapted to theatri
cal performances OF any character. /
no better suited TO operatta. NJ
Bonheur should find more suitable
quarters for his artists and their en-
tsrpr.Ses
Notwithstanding physical drawback
In the production. Mile. Nitouche wa
fectyei with every evidence Of en-
,husastlc approval by last night
audience. There is much about III
ope-e,ta 20 he commented. II possese
a remarkably fine musical score. catch,
lyrics and a graceful tout ensemble
which should appeal not alone 10 tn
Partisan element among theatregoer
hui 10 all those seeking somethin
different from the American style o
musical conedy