The Billboard 1909-01-16: Vol 21 Iss 3 (1909-01-16)

| The Billboard JANUARY 16, 1909. Paris Week By Week Paris Bureau The Billboard, 121 Rue Montmartre, Producing Managers and Critics, Who Count for More in Paris Than They Do in America, Wrangling Over the Merits of the Shows That Have Been Put on in the French Capital so Far This Season—Other News. HE creatois former say anotber, but the little anybody, and the ‘ts smiling and taking Toe critics right and critics ene thing don’t agree. The and the latter say rumpus isn’t hurt man in the box-office in francs just the same. ubout now are summing up the first half of the year’s business. They say that so far nothing has appeared which ran any danger of setting the world on fire or threatened with any sort of conflagration the River Seine. This attraction and that, they maintain—or at least some of them do—~was miy «a passable success, while still another really didn’t make any money at all. But—as I said in the beginning—the creators, the producers, the men who do only the small things of buying and presenting vlays to the public, dispute the point and seem Satisfied, and it seems to me that if they can see enough money to give them the Giggles. everybody else ought to be laughing glad. Really the season, now that it is somewhat near half done, has not been the worst in the world, so far as Paris is concerned. Far from it. It has been quite up to, or above, the standard, and the outlook doesn’t front upon the poor farm, for any manager whose acjuaintance I so far have made. + Producers of plays in America will no doubt oe much interested in a case recently adjudicated in Paris, arising from an actor, who, of his own volition, left a theatre where he was under contract, to go to another. Andre Brule was playing at a big salary under Director Porel, of the Theatre Vaudeville. Sudfenly he left — without saying Jack Robinson, the Director maintained—and forthwith he was sued for the 25,000 francs ($5,000) forfeit stipulated in his contract. The judge lectured the actor for leaving so unceremoniously. “But,’’ replied Brule, ‘‘I was given parts which were unsuited to me, roles which I ‘ould not také with credit to myself or to the theatre.”’ ‘That's no question for you to determine,”’ the judge said in finality. ‘‘When one agrees to play at a theatre, no matter what the reputatton of the artist, no matter what successes be may have had, unless there is a_ special elause to that effect, he has not the right to judge of the value of pieces nor of the imoortance of the roles assigned to him.’’ The tribunal went on to say that in case such an artist were forced into secondary roles, he might have cause for action, but even then, it would be for the courts to decide (in the event of a dispute) and not the artist himself. Brule. in the end, was compelled to pay the ine to the full amount. * These French players don’t let anybody put it over them when they get up an affair, a fact which was proven roundly and soundly by the Fete de Milliardaire Americains, given at the Moulin Reuge a few nights ago. It was for the »venefit of the Actors’ Fund of France. In the first place, the very best talent from the Paris theatres was there. This assured a corking good performance, and the price ‘harged for places inside the house, made the fete a success from a financial standpoint. To get inside as much as 200 francs ($40) was charged for single seats, and not one sold for less than 10 francs. Miss Pepete, from Cincinnati, lost herself in the crowd, and the finder was given 500 francs. This added to the fun. * Once again the premiere of Chantecler, the nuch talked of play from the pen of Edmond Rostand, author of L’Aiglon, and Cyrano de Bergerac, is announced. And, as usual, the artists, cartoonists, funny writers and so on, are amusing themselves, the public and the professional world no little with their merry quips, at the expense of Rosand and the others who are interested in the piece. I am informed that this time the production s 4 positive go, and I am sure that actors and actresses, all over this part of the world, at least, and a good many on the other side, will ve full of curiosity until it is really an accomplished fact. For two years it has been the most constantly talked of play on this side of the Atlantic. The accompanying caricature is really a masterpiece, the suggested likenesses of the author, Rostand, and the creators of the principal roles, heing excellently carried out. * Theatrical managers are no little interested in the production in Boston of Miss Mary Johnston’s play, The Goddess of Reason, in which Miss Merlowe starred. Acecrding to their ideas of the piece, based upon the very meagre reports so far circulated in Paris, it would not be at all unsuited to the French stage. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Billboard containing a fuller account of the anew poetic drama. A series of motion pictures likely to attract crowds all over the world, have just been put {nto film form here. The Clement-Bayard Dirigible wus used by the picture makers, and in every way the flight was a success. Starting from the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower, the huge ship of the air circled over some of the most interesting parts of Paris, the trip extending as far as Notre Dame and the City Hall. Christmas Eve saw many ‘“‘first-nights’’ in Paris. Somehow managers thought it an opportune time for new pieces to come out, and say howdy-do, but whatever the reason, there were At the Little Palace, were the premieres of Le Coup de Lapine, by Maurice de Marsan; Pied de Grue, by Fernand Kahn and La Croisette; Les Ailes Coupees, by Damartin; Le Gratte-Lune, by Meudrot, and Isait, by Chastel and Bonnamy. Each of these is a one-act comedy, save the last, which is a one-act musical piece. At the Olympia, Noel a Seville, a musical affair for the Christmas days, was put on, the music being by Valverde. The book was by Maizeroy. Two of the new vehicles were at the Theatre Michel. These were Feu la mere de Madame, by George Feydeau, and La Compartison, by Pierre Mortier and Andre Mycho. Both playlets are oue-act comedies. Le Vertu de Fanoche, an operetta in one act, by de Valmonca and Lust; La Derniere Caresse, an Egyptian pantomime, by H. M. Saint-Georges, and A Nous les Princesses, a two-act revue, by Messet, Jax and Lacoste, were the new pieces presented to the public from the stage of the Princess Theatre. The night before this deluge of first performances Came two or three others, the principal among which perbaps was a play which had been talked of more or less for some days beforehanc. La Beaute du Diable (The Beauty of the Devil), by the two authors, Jules Mary and Emile Rochard, was the vehicle, and by reason of its pretty settings and the opportunities it furnished for well-known and favorite players, created a good impression. The plot of the melodrama, for such it is by admission of all, is built upon the doubt concerning the legitimacy of a very beautiful girl, and as in another play at this same theatre (The Ambigue) the wife commits suicide—this time to justify herself in the eyes of her husband, and father of the young woman who “‘has the beauty of the devil.’’ + The latest thing in the motion picture business on this side is the ‘‘Kino.’’ This is a small and inexpensive apparatus designed for amateurs, and can be worked from a tripod or in the hands. So far as I am informed, this is the first machine made especially ror the amateur trade to be put on the market. A word to the wise is sufficient. Last week I told of the formation of societies using motion pictures as a means of instruction. While that field is new and practically undeveloped, the manufacture of moving picture machines for the youth of the country to use igs another tip well worth looking into. Think of the fun the young folks (and old as well) can have making motion pictures of mamma and papa? Or baby’s cute doings? Or sister or the brothers? It seems to me that such a thing, so simplified that it could be operated by those who tow use the ordinary cameras, would supplant that now very popular form of amusement. There is no use talking, the more one into the business the more wonderful a: uses to which the motion picture machines adapt themselves. * Miss Ethel Levey, who is making qnite a hit in Paris, dancing and singing, with an occasional imitation, has been compelled to abandon her work for the time being, on account of a dangerous growth which has developed on her vocal cords. She is now in Bordeaux, under treatment of Dr. Moore, who recently operated on the throat of Alfonso, the young King of Spain. The actress has known for some weeks that she would ultimately have to submit to the knife, but she intended putting it off a month longer at least. Her work at the Theatre Michel, however, put a rather heavy strain on her voice, and she was compelled to drop her duties for the time and go under treatment. In a note received from Miss Levey, just before she left for Bordeaux, she said: “T shall continue to take vocal lessons when I return, and I am sure when America hears me again, people will at least find some improvement. I have had many offers, both here and from home, but I shall be at the Michel until spring.’’ Most people in the profession remember little Georgette, Miss Levey’s (and Mr. George Cohan’s) little girl. She is with her mother in Paris, and talks French like a native. She, too, is taking music lessons, in addition to her schooling in French and Italian. + In my last letter I mentioned about a lawsuit between M. one side, and Henry Fevrier, M. Messager and M. Broussan o the other, over the proposed production of the opera, Monna Vanna. The case will come up for hearing January 21, and will be of more than passing interest, because it will forever put on record (for France, at least) who stands before the law as the more important: The man who makes the libretto for an operatic production, or the person who composes the music. As already outlined, Maeterlinck’s famous story was made into a libretto by himself for an opera, the music being by Fevrier. Maeterlinck desired one singer to take the title role, Fevrier and the directors of the opera, Massager and Broussan, selected another. Rehearsals have been announced, and according to those who profess to know, the opera will soon be given its premiere. + L’Oeuvre, produced a few days ago at the Theatre Femina, is being talked of quite a litHe emane theatrical folk nere. It is by Man — ks the may something Maeterlinck on the rice de Fuaramond, and may tragi-comedy. The name sail is “‘La Dame qui n'est plus aux Camellias ‘The Woman who is no more of the Camelias). The title is misleading, as it bas absolutely no connection with the famous Dunas heroine, but based upon a very novel idea. It is a symbol ical poem, and De Faramond intends to show wealth, political power and nebility in their relations to a life of sensuality. + At the Theatre de L’Ambigu a new a woman has attracted some attention, it was not hailed by the critics as a passing. success. They all, mitted the originality of the the plot had its foundation. La Roscotte is the title of the piece, which is in five acts. Mme. Georges Maldagne is the writer. The story tells of a certain sets, who loves her husband devotedly. She becomes jealous of another woman and com mits suicide after making plans that her death might be laid at the door of her husband, in case her suspicions prove correct. This is done by taking two other women into her confi dence. To a tenant on her estate, Katherine, she leaves a letter, which is not to be opened until two years after her death. This proves the innocence of her husband. To a poor, mistreated and embittered farm girl, La Boscotte, she intrusts the mission of throwing suspicion on her husband (through a second ietter, which is supposed to be found on her corpse) in case he weds the object of her jealousy, Rene de Breult. The husband proves that the wife was correct in her surmise, for three months after her death the wedding takes place. La Boscotte gets in her work, and upon returning from the wedding, the Lusband is arrested for the murder of his former wife. Henry, son of Katherine, himself passionately in love with Rene de Breult, in his turn loved madly by La Boscotte, who tries to dissuade him from his purpose, goes nobly to his rival’s rescue. He has found his mother’s letter, which clears M. des Croissets, and this he brings forward at the right time. * Actors and actresses here are taking quite an interest in the saving of the Batzac house. They have given more than one benefit for the fund. be described as a under which it Is to play by though more than however, adidea upon which Mme. des Crois CLEVELAND, O. The New Year opened very prosperously for all the managers, and from the viewpoint of attendanee, the first of January was the biggest day in the theatrical history of this city. Every house was sold out for the matinee and evening performances, standing room being at a premium, and long before the performances began, firewardens forbade the sale of.more tickets. The attendance for the week following was good, and from all indications business will be greater this month than in any January of the city’s theatrical history. No peopie in the world are quicker to respond to the ery of distress than the actor folk. This was evidenced by the splendid vandeville performanve given under the auspices of the local Red Cross Society and the Cleveland News, for the benefit of the earthquake sufferers in Italy. On last Monday, at high noon, at the Chamber of Commerce Hall, the following wellknown stars, plaving in the city for the week, participated in this entertainment: Robert Mantell and Marie Booth Russell, in Shakespearean readings: Harry Lauder, in funny songs. and antics; Jane Grey, monologue sketch; Sol Marcosson, solo. Assisting from this city were Mr. Ed. S. Wright, a prominent newspaper man and traveler, and Bob Satterfield, cartoonist. The attendance was large and a good many dollars were realized for the unfortunates. Harry Lauder, the famous and funny Scotch comedian, played a return engagement last Monday afternoon and evening at Grays Armory. The auditcrium was packed and everybody appreciated his songs. The vaudeville company appearing with Mr. Lauder was the same as heretofore, and pleased very much. Opera Honse. Robert Bruce Mantell treated lovers of Shakespeare to a splendid repertoire of the immortal bard’s plays. Colonial. Miss Jane Grey appeared as The Girl in the famous Belasco piece, The Girl of the Golden West, and proved her right to stardom. The attendance for the week was large. Keith’s Hippodrome. Another excellent, highclass vaudeville bill attracted big crowds all week. Miss Valerie Bergere and Co. opened for a five weeks’ run, presenting The Prairie Flower. Others were Count Lamberti, the mas ter musician, impersonating the great masters: the Pianopbiends, in singing ant dancing; Wyon and Lewis, comedians; the Four Fords, one of the greatest dancing teams; Abdel Kader and his Three Moroccan Wives, in a novel picture paint ing act; the Longacre Quartet, Herr ©..sis and his Trained Baboons, and The Night ai the Circus, a great tumbling act with much foolishness. Keith’s Prospect. Travelogue tinue to interest large crowds. Empire. Sam Seribner’s Big Show Is here with the usnal big feature headliners of burlesqne and vaudeville entertainers. Star. Here were the Brigadiers, with Sheppard Camp, one of the fattest comedians in the business. Giand. Vandeville continues to interest large crowds. Manacer Michel had a big headliner in the premiere production of For He's a Jolly, Good Fellow, presented by Fairchild and Whiteil. Majestic. The change from vaudeville to pic tures and songs at this honse has met with public approval, and this policy will be continued for several weeks. The Cleveland Operatic Club engaged Adolph Liesegang, the well-known musical di rector, who has directed grand opera in Europe and America for the past forty years, and who was associated with the Hippodrome during its opera season, to take charge of its musical rehearsals of The Chimes of Normandy, which will be presented at the Colonial, week of Jan. 18. Mr. Liesegang is delighted with the material he has in hand. and predicts an artistic perform ance. Few opera companies can boast of a chor us containing such voices as are furnished by the members of the Cleveland Operatie Club, all of whom are prominent in choir and concert work, Associated with Herr Liesegang, as mnusical director, are David Yost and Francis J. Sadler, as stage directors. wm. pictures con has BEACH. Frank Binney, of Binney and Chapman, assumed the management of the New Gem Theatre, Tampa, Fla., December 28, and will peso a line of musical comedies and buresques. ~ Berlin Split Between the Buehnen-Verein and Buehnen-genossensch aft — Music Notes. T seems that the heretofore existing union between the Buebnen-Verein and Buehnen-ge bosseuschaft, which held their convention re cently at Berlin, has gone to pieces. The former society notified its members in a circular letter that its vice-president, Intendant Claar, of the Frankfurt Schauspielhaus, has dissolved all connection with the Buehnen-genossenschaft. It also announces that the professional organ of the verein, The German Stage, will be issued twice « month. The Imperial Opera, cla, has made of St. engagements Petersburg, Rus for twenty per formances at the Chatelet Theatre, at Paris, France. The well-known singer, Schaljapine, and the Imperial Orchestra will take part. A number of ballet performances will be given, for which forty dancers from St. Petersburg and Moscow are engaged, but only two of the most prominent members of the Imperial Ballet, from the Marien Theatre, at St. Petersburg, and the prima ballerina, Anna Pawlowa, and the first danseuse, Mlle. legorowa, etc., will take part in the performances at the New Royal Opera House in Berlin during May. Felix Wein gartner has engaged the ballet for several formances at the Hofoper. The Royal Opera House at Dresden is found to be in such bad condition that a general re modeling has been decided upon. All wooden parts in the buiiding will be eliminated, and will be replaced by iron. Everything will be done to make the building as safe as possible. It is estimated that the cost of remodeling. will amount to about $500,000, At the Resibenz Theatre in Munich, Paul Lio dau’s new four-act play So ich Dir, did not arouse any great enthusiasm during the per formance. At the beginning of the show the audience seemed to be very much interested in the play, but towards the end the opinion of the public was divided. Lina Lossen as Clara Bremer, and Steinrueck as Captain of Industry Fredericks, were splendid. The engagement of Steinrueck is to be considered a great gain for the Residenz stage, but how to fill the great gaps of which the theatre is @iffering can not be seen. and remains an open question. Hebbel’s drama, Gyges and His Ring, at the Schauspielhaus in Cologne, revised by Martersteig, made quite an impression. The per formance was splendid in every detail. Das Heirathsbad, an operetta of three acts. by Martin Knopf, text by Max Nowak, was very well received by the public at its premiere performance at the Residenz Theatre in Dres den. The play was arranged and conducted very ably by Rudolph Dellinger. The music is part ly along the lines of a comic opera, but is quite different from those one hears so often in the valse operettas. The libretto bas a number of very interesting and catching parts, but as a whole the skilled make-up is missing. Victor Hollaender’s new operetta, The Jockey Club, text by Robert Misch, was given the in itial performance at the Neuen Operetten The atre at Mannheim. In spite of the imperfect performance of Sundermann's Fritzchen, at the Theatre Rejane, in Paris, the play was well applauded. The revue, Donnerwetter-tadellos, was given its one hundredth performance at the Metropol Theatre at Berlin. As usual Gianpietro. Thiel scher and Bender and Misses Massary and Perry stood in the center of applause. pet A new cantata, Ruth, by George Schumann, director of the Berlin Singing Academy, war rendered for the first time at the Singing Academy at Glogau, under the leadership of Dr. Carl Mennicke, and with the assistance of Misses Emilie Buff-Hediager, Terese Funck. Messrs. Arthur van Eveyk and Alfred Bauer. The composition was received with much enthuslasm by the audience. The music committee of the North-American Singing Alliance has secured the composition, Warnung vor dem Rhein, of the royal music director, Mathieu Neumann, of Dusseldorf, as prize song in competition for the prize dedicated by the German Emperor at the great German National Saengerfest, which will take place ip New York from June 19 to 24, 1909. Foreign musicians seem to dominate in music circles of the capital lately, and according to all appearances, there is a strong Inclination to overdo things in this respect, as nothing is more tiresome than music along the same lines. One of the prominent musicians of Russia Sergei, Tanelew, gave one of the most Interesting concerts of the season. He began with the rendition of a trio In D, which did not fail to create a deep impression upon the audience; the string quartet In B and the plano quartet, op. 22, were equally splendid and proved the versa tility of the artist. The Moscow String Quartet, of the Imperial Music Society of Russia, gave, at its concert. nearly all Russian compositions. A third concert was given by the Russian (r chestra at the Sing Academy, with M. Tesbu low as leader. The Philharmonic concert brought quite »# change into the music program. After the Eg munt Overture, a composition of Heinrich Noren entitled Kaleidoscop, was rendered with great skill, under the leadership of Arthur Nikisch Arthur Schnabel played Brahms’ with great feeling, and how sing in this concert. There singer does not fail to attract the audience whenever she appears before the footlights. No one can equal her in the Interpretations of Haendel and songs of Robert Franz. D flat concert did LAli Lehmanp is no doubt this Six hundred children gathered at the Bijou Theatre, Racine, Wis., Christmas morn Ing, as the guests of Manager Stafford and the local lodge of Elks. A special performance was given, the artists donating their service gratis. After the show presents were distrib uted among the children. 02 yeaa