New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-15
"Madama Butterfly"
and Its Progenitors
IT, Stories of Lott and Long-A Play by David Beasco-
Cbo-Cho-San's Incarnatons - How Naughty
Anthony" Failed and Madame Butterfly
Succeeded-Japanese Music by
William Furst
By II. E. KREHBIEL-

| An adventure in Japan begat Pierre Lofts Madame
1br Longs Madame Butterfly story Madame Butterfly,
b ory begat Madame Butterfly play by David Belasco
Madame uccni The heroine Of the rowing French ro-
it is i'll her third incarnation in the heroine
hook which L. ica and c. Giacosa made Puccn
o. oratc essence she still Older for Dr. Korngod,
rne critic pointed Selca is her grandmother and Lakme
Even this does not exhaust her family history; there
methinq like bar sinister her escutcheon Mr. Beascos
% was much begotte conceived or born OF admiration
T Mr. Longs of despair wrought by the failure
- another pav by Mr.. Beasco This play farce
+ed Naughty Anthony created by Mr. Belasco in
I xhet alteration for production at the Herald Square Thea
re New lork the spring OF 1900 Mr. Belasco doesn't think
- now but at the he had notion that the public would md
something humorous and attractive the spectacle of popular
actresses leg syathed in several layers OF stocking 30 he made
show Blanche Bates he public refused to be amused at the
ara study comparative anatomy and when Mr. belasco
he felt the OF failure in addition he grew heartily ashamed
Of himself His affairs moreover began to take on desperate
aspect the threatened to be runous failure and ne mad
no play ready substitute for Naughty Anthony some time
before friend had him Mr. Longs book but he had care
M tossed aside In his straits it under his eyes again.
and this he play a play and promise OF hnanCia
salvation 1t late night when he read the story but ne
had come to resolve by morning and in his minds eye had al
ready seen Japanese dress The drama lay IN the
hook snugv enough; only necessary dig out and ma
Beo IS at home The dialogue went few pages
time and the pictures rapidly his mind Something
different from a socknged leg now! GmPses OF Nppon-lts
onnns waters bridges flowers gardens. geshas; foil to
their grace and color the prosac figures OF naval olce and an
American Consul All things tnged with the bright light OF day.
the goes the glorles OF sunrise we must
rate the the audience with the atmosphere OF Japan
mused Belaso Therefore, japanese scenes my painter!
Electrician your plot shall be worked carefully the da-
gue and action of the plays people FIRST drop dscoVered
house lights down. white oots with blue full work change OF
drop; white lens top OF mountain open hght
with white straw and red lower part OF drop when
u on lower fooghts blue, and Mr. Belasco emo
tons know find expression TO great extent IN stage hg
But be carried off TO the land OF encanmen as wei
the eve Come William Furst recall experiences on the
Western coast For my first curtain want quaint, soft Jap
anese melody. pp-yOu know how!
And so Madame Butterfly the play was made In TWO
all ready and day alter the hst performance at t
Herald Square Theatre March 5 1000 the city began 70 mum
eager the dramatic intensity OF the scene OF
japanese woman vigil OF the enthrang eoquencc OF notion
less figure looking steadily through hole torn through paper
partition with sleeping child and noddng maid at her eet
while mimic night wore on the lanterns fckeed out one by one
soft ons melody the arpeggos OF harp
season Herald Square Theatre saved some
tine later when Mr. Beasco accompanied Mr. Charles frohna
to London 10 put on "Zaza the Garrck Theatre ne took
Madame Butterfly with him and staged at the Duke OF YORK
Theatre bv the first night OF Madame Butterfly MI
hman the latter playhouse Mr. Beasco al the FORMER
The fall OF the curtain on the little Japanese play followed by
OF enthusiasm which endured so long that Mr. oha
had 10 summon his colleague to take curtain CALL Az
the pathetic play had made its fortune in London and as
paved the for and larger triumph lor
Mr. Longs story The musical critics OF the LONDON newspaper
came 10 the house and saw operate possibilities in the drama Sol
did Mr. Frank Nelson, the time Covent Garden stage man
ag sent word OF the discovery Signor Puccm Inc
composer came from Milan and realized the spot that the sue
had been found Mr. Benjamin f. Roeder busi
representative of Sgnor Pucn and the Records got their heads
together concluded the business arrangements tor the operate
use the material Signor ica and Oacosa Dres
ordinary Co.. took the work OF making the opera
book hand Signor iCas fancy had roamed IN me Lana OF
Flowers before for ne had the betto for Mascagn
Iris The ephemeral life OF ChoCho-San was over IN re-"
months by that time Madame Butterfly glorlted by music
had lifted her wings for fight in Milan.