MR MUSCROVE'S TROUBLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13481, 22 July 1907, Page 2

MR MUSCROVE'S TROUBLES.

A NOVEL PERFORMANCE.

CHORUS GIRL'S SUCCESS.

The proceedings at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, on Saturday week, are described by the Sydney Daily Telegraph as "decidedly novel,, totally un.expepjed, .^.^r^e^n^piijiha se^nsa-. -tionai;" - The • opera announced was "The Valkyrie," and the theatre was crowded. The first act went well, but when the -cur-tain" Self- Ki<-Itfusgreve came forward and said that owing to the absence. of -Sraulein Heinze, who was to have sung the part of Brunnhilde, the opera could not be completed. He suggested that a fresh stare should be made with "The Flying and the majority ofn^he "audience agreed. But a ;new . surprise, was . in store. When Sehta came on in the second act it was noticed at once that she was an unknown f young lady, and that she was singing from a score. She sang very well, and when the audience Japplauded they were -quick to observe 'that the chorus also showed their appreciation, the young lady, on her exit, ■ .receiving a pat on tfie~b"ack which ma-j iterially hastened. her departure. ..At jthe" end of the ©pera*, Jwheri" Mr, Jtfu'sjgrove appeared, to make « an explana. - 1 ition, the secret came out: "This little I lady,'^he-said, "this little lady, who is only a chorawgitl-^^-.^ He was interrupted by wild cheering from the audience, who showed clearly how much 'they appreciated the new Senta's fpludk: ''You navfcf hfefcrd; her voiceV he said, when' <tite cheering- subsided, '"and I think I 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 Valkyrie," and refused to sing in another opera, unless she was paid an extra fee, on the gretmfl that she would run the r|sk of injuring her. voice, ■which hadftnot long |efore beien. affeotjed by iUhe'ss. tet /Mtragrove' refused +o fagree > tb l 'this/**nid : ''fcne 'lady -left 1 the [theatre. No understudy was available, so Mr. Musgrovo a^oed'MisS Lilian Or'mond, one; of ;f- she would sing the ; partj* and^ she^pns^ntea. . Miss Ormond;' who is ajHeTCour'ne girl, had been to a picnic that afternoon, during which She thin^ ; s6e"'sa ? nig about "thirty songs. She g6t bterdc'to toWtt at nine in the evening,. only t&&d summoned to th i theatre — there is—no- -chorus in " Tho Valkyrie, '* *conseqiHeritly4he-choiru& was counting on a night called upon to' play. &v.ersr difficult role at amoment's notice. As a result of her success she is now- studying the part of Gretel, in "Hansel and Gretel." Mr Musgrove's catalogue of trouble with the members of his company is long, but his complaints have, not gone unanswered. He estimates that he lost £5000 during his Sydney season through alterations in his programme./