TROUBLES OF A THEATRICAL MANAGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2141, 25 July 1907, Page 4

TROUBLES OF A THEATRICAL MANAGER.

THE AIUSGROYE OPERA COAL ANY IN SYDNEY. -

Tho proceeding at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, on Satunuly week, are described' l>y tho Sydney Daily Telegraph as “decidedly novel, totally unexpected, and bordering on tlio sensational.” The opera announced was “The Valkyrie,” and the theatre, was crowded. The first act went well, but when the curtain fell Mr. came forward and said that owing to the absence ol l<rauloiu lioin/iO, who was to have the part of Rmnnhilde, the opera could not bo completed. He suggested that a fresh .start should I■} made with “Tlio Flying Dutchman, and the majority of tho luulmue agreed. But a new surprise jais in store. When Sonta cam© on in tiie second net it was lioticod at once that she was an unknown young lady, and that she was singing from a score. She sang vory ttoll, and when the audience applauded they were quick to observe that tho chorus also showed their appreciation, the young lady on her exit, receiving a pat on tlio back which materially hastened her departure. At the end of the opera, when Mr. Alusgrove appeared to make an explanation, the secret canto put: “This little lailv,” he said, this little la civ, who is only ft chorus girl’’*——— Ho was interrupted by the wild cheering of the audience, .alio showed clearly that they appreciated the now Sonta’s pluck. ‘You have hoard her voice,” lie said when the cheering subsided, “and I think 1 am right in saying that she has this evening begun her career. It seems that the singer cast for Senta had already sung in the act of The \ alkyrio,” and refused to sing in another opera, unless she was paid an extra fee, on the ground that she would run the risk of injuring her voice, which hail not long before been affected by illness'. Air. Alusgrove refused to agree to this, and the lady left the theatre. No understudy was available, so Air Alusgrove asked Aliss Lillian Ormond, one ol the chorus, if she would sing tho part, and she consented. Aliss Ormond, who is a Melbourne girl, hud been to a picnic that afternoon, during which she thinks she sang about thirty songs. She got back to town at nine in tho evening, only to be summoned to - the theatre—there is no chorus in “Tho Valkyrie,” consequently the chorus was counting on a night off—and called upon to play a very difficult role at. a moment’s notice. As a result ol her success she is now studying the part of Grot el., in “Hansel and Grotcl.” Mr. Mu.sgrovo’s catalogue, of troublo with tlio members of his company is long, hut his complaints have not gone unanswered. He estimates that ho lost £SOOO during his Sydney season through alterations in his programme.