The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-01
PRIMA DONNA TOPAY'
WAR TIME DAMAGES.
Metropolitan Singer Refuses
to settle European Claim
at Old Rate.
STAGE NEWS AND GOSSIP

80 '''' 'ililf'S ~ Nv slflIo-
poiitan Opera House is just about to
enter "A prolonged legal battle with the
foreign opera house in which she made
her reputation and from which she came
to the Metropolitan Opera House as "a
guest still under contract to the in
stitut,on. Now this opera house. claim.
ing mat the singer has no; kept her
contract 10 return there every year for
u certain number of performances, de-
ihands that she pay up the sum settled
upon as her liability for breach of con
tract. This amount Is determined by
her regular salary when a member of
THIS musical theatre.
The prima donna says yes" but with
a string 20 II. Pay she will. az that IL
easier titn going abroad to sing. Then
IL IS also cheaper hut how could the
opera ~hicndant expect her to pay just
as much rs she would in war time?
iteaIly-weli. que voulez vous. with the
opera house only giving occasional per-
forfnances on account of the war and
most OF the singers appearing Mt half the
amount OF their usual cacnets or less.
now could any irtend,nt suppose that
she should pay Just what she would II
the opera hous" were open and the seats
always occupied Cpuld any Reasonable
~intendant expect anything of the kind ?
FOR even II 4 singer is at the Metropolis
TAN opera House does II follow that she
mas "A gold mine always at her hand
There the matter stands. But il
seems probable now that the opera
singer and the opera house abroad will
eventually he able to come To an agree
ment based on war time conditions.
The wilstachian tube has Transmitted
some astonishing news t. the world.
II seems that Whitford kaue. the excel
lent actor who plays the part VI William
IN "Hohson's Choice is IRISH and in
terested In the Irish theatre In this
country and elsewhere. Most Irish
players are more interested In the Irish
theatre in other countries than their
own. since they are all willing to come
yer here or anywhere else To act and
cave the Irish theatre HAT AZ home.
But their interest continues vital enough
for the purposes of the press agent.
And here the w.lstachian tube comes
in with the following startling news:
"Wh!tf'rd Kane. who Is appearing in
'H"hson's choice AT the Comedy Thea
tire. received Saturday by registered mail
the manuscript Of a new play by John
Milllngton Synge, the author OF The
Playboy of the Western World Mr..
Kane is the leader OF the Irish theatre
movement in this country and is asked to
consider the play for production
Mr.. Kane must he an nor power
In the Irish theatre II he IL able to bring
into existence a new play by John Mill
lngton Synge. In accordance with the
best Information ON the subject John
Synge died on March -, 1908. 1t was
not thought, therefore. that lie was in a
position To provide new plays for Mr..
Kane or anybody else by registered mail
OF otherwise. But the w~ilstachian tube
works IN devious ways its wonders TO
perform so IL may be right.
When Grace George finally finds time
Ia produce James Bernard Eagan's play
she will conhne the representations to the
Ray nous" nero. n" drama - not
a'toGeth"r unknown IN other American
cities. W y Brady gave th. u.' of
town rights "a Henry Harris. who pro-
du'"d IL 100 lG' tan of 100, with FL
muuI Br''so in the leading roll" Whcr
Lena .\,hwsll acted II At the tkingswty
Theatre ~ London the year before the
leading parts were taken by Norman
Mokinne', Allan Alueswor,h and Mss
.Ashwell
The actors Of the Irving iltrc Theatre,
headed by Arnold korf. will he seen in
a new war play on Wednesday II is
called Lea Lyon and deals with the
German campaign N rialic.a. Arnold
Korff will play the role OF a Russian
grand duke.
Now its the models that are getting
scarce. To he sure. there his been a
greater demand for them this year than
there ever was before, but nobody would
Suppos" the situation had grown 50 ,irs-
pera;c. Listen to PhlIip Vernon. who is
responsible for the t'sshion SHOW now IN
Town Topics at the Winter Garden
A.-I -. ....fxl d. 49,. 49,. z-- IT
country
There are not moro than A hundred
and "A htlf good models ~ this country.
and | know because ! have known the
market since | was rs Formerly a per-
feet mode. was supposed to measure
thirty-cicht and she was fortunate to get
So a week, Now molels on Firth ave-
nue. receive from SIS 10 $50 a week and
they are hard to get mt that. The best
model Is the girl Who can wear her
clothes smartly and measure not more
than small thirty-siN.
I'm chicago last winter I found II
almost impossible for any money % get
the. sort OF models 7 needed for the
fashion show. II has got TO ho a very
profitable line 81 business, for good man
nequius always find their services IN de-
maud and tn" pay il high Then the
season lasts the whole year II they are
capable. Il is a very profitable occups-
ton for women
Then there Is another scarcity in tho
market. although II would never y" sus-
pec'cd. There Is r heavier demaud for
chorus girls than the supply ~ present.
with the large number Of really good
looking young women TO he seen In the
prevailing musical plays II is astonishing
10 hear that they are 10 he found with
diflculty. But II appears that the
cabarets allure.
Much less to do say' the manager
who was lamenting YESTERDAY Better
pay and practically nom of the Disagree
allie CONFLICT that comes in the case Of
= large number of chorus girls IA ono
piece. II often happens that the girls
have sufficiently good voices TO sing In
evening dress, walking about tho room.
Then there are likely to he ten or more
A. tho outside IN M" little musiral PLAYS
giNcn iu the ~rcstRurants.
with no matinees. little more than
an hour Of work and no changes NJ COS
tune the girls fnd II much more agree
able 20 aupcar IN the cHharetS than take
cart iu the big productions So there Is
. decrease in the supnlv and u CORE
spending Increase IN tho compensation
demin icd''
So there YOU are, T.ifc Just consists
OF one worry after another. Not only
are the models harl To find. but the
, chorus girls are getting scarrer every
day,
AppJVAIc AT THE UOTEIc