The New York herald., 1921-01-02
Did You Hear
About the Change of Flavor in Play the Little I'M
portance of "Ermine' in London as Well as the
Hard Facts About the Foreign Pictures?

TIME curious experiences of the
play called "Weibteufep from
Il it's production at the Irving
Place Theatre until it's final emergence
at the Playhouse as a fullfiedged
metropolitan success under the man
agement of w. A. Brady make an in
teresting history of dramatic camou-
fage. The play by the Austrian dra-
matist, Karl Sch6nherr. had been a
great success before Rudolf Christians
brought it out at the Irving Place
Theatre. It had an almost unprece-
dented number of performances there
Soon after it's original production An
dreas Dippel had seen it's possibilities
for the American stage and planned
the manner of it's production here.
He set out to engage George Arliss
for the role of the ailing old husband
and Olga Petrova, who was then still
contemplating a career on the dra-
matte stage. was 10 play the heroine
A popular actor was TO be engaged
for the role of the young soldier.
George G. Tyler, manager of Mr.. Ar
liss, was also interested in the scheme.
which might have been an important
incident in theatrical history had not
the United States entered the world
war then and made the execution Of
the plan impossible. From that time
g.. hA V.la a
tive production out of town last spring
It was not heard OF. Indeed it was
only by changing the flavor of sauer-
kraut to garlic and placing the scene
in the Pyrenees- that the present pro-
duction was considered possible.
How .Erminie" Happened.
Rudolph Aronson before his death
wrote his memoirs. and there is some
interesting information concerning
"I3rminle" in one chapter. THE date.
MAY 10. 1886. will long be marked IN
the history of comic opera" Inc wrote,
because on that evening 7 began the
presentation Of 'Erminie' the most sue
ccssful operetta OF modern times This
marvellous operetta was staged by
Harry Paulton. the author Of the IL
bretto and Il enjoyed 1880 perform
ances at the Casino alone. which is al
most unprecedented. The first knowl-
cdge I had Of Erminie was early in
1886 when Mr.. Edward Cerson cabled
me from London. saying Can procure
for you FOR $500 new operetta by Paul
ton and JalSobowski entitled Erminie'
and now playing at the Comedy Theatre
in London to fair business. at once re-
piled Send libretto and IL satisfactory
will wire five hundred. Before this
could be done. however. Frank Sanger
purchased the American rights TO the
opera In conjunction with Willie Edouin
and Miss Melnotte and finally arranged
with. me for it's production at the Casino.
In the course OF It's phenomenal run
they received 100000 in royalties on
t. This Is another forcible illustration
that occasionally a fair success in Eu-
rope may make a great success In
America"
News of Two Tavoritcs.
May Yohe. who has been living in the
Northwest for tho past ten years,
will this week return 20 the stage in
San Francisco. She will be seen in
Marrying Mary" In which Marie Ca
hill used to appear. Miss Yohe has not
been seen In the East for years. Her
most successful engagement here was az
the heroine of "The Lady Slayey" at
the Casino.
Emma Trentini. VIII came back 90 the
United states TO appear In operetta, has
been unable TO find anything suited 20
her purposes and will sing IN vaude-
vile.
The Success ~ PavIown.
Last season, when Anna Paviowa was
anxious to return 20 the United States
and her terms were made known TO va
rious managers. there was no particu-
lar eagerness to bid for her services. in
spite of an absence Of several years
from this country. The famous dancer
always offers herself and her company
for a fixed price. which is said to be
this season no more than $4,000 a week.
Transportation and such outlays fall.
Of course. on the imprcsario. Nine. Paw