SCENE IN A CONSTANTINOPLE THEATRE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 276, 18 November 1905, Page 13

SCENE IN A CONSTANTINOPLE THEATRE

Amongst the few theatres who cater for the amusement of the foreign colonies in the Turkish capital is tbe Theatre dcs Petits Champs, where, daring the season, French and Italian companies give operatic performances.

This theatre is under the direct supervision of Redvan Pasha, the prefect of Stamboal, who fell madly in love with the leading lady of a French operatic company. The green-eyed monster or jealousy made him suspect that the fair actress was not indifferent to M. Labany, the handsome first tenor.

Redvan Pasha was not a —■;*- to tolerate a rival, so he ordered M. Labany to be superseded by M. Depere, a singer of fewer physical advantages.

The young members of the French colony had, however, got wind of the affair, and attended in force one evening to show their discontent. Before the curtain rose a noisy contingent started shuffling with their feet, cries of "Do - a with- the manages t_at!" being latermittently heard.

Tbe appearance- of M. Bet-*- »a the stage was the signal for an ear-splitting din. Bat Redvan Pasha was prepared for all eventualities. A number of rough men armed with leather thongs had been judiciously distributed by his orders amongst the audience, and they immediateiy got to work. An inde_cr_able scene followed, the innocent suffering with the guilty. Numerous persona were badly hart by the croel thongs, and several of the young deoton-■U-t.ißTi were, marched off ts prison, auto be jMteMßd the next day hy Ure t-ftar-Uli-11-1 -COM 1~l — IFI o—■_.