Article on Tayleure’s recent secret operatic activities

“Manager Tayleure has returned from his rambles abroad, whither he was recently despatched [sic] in hot haste to hunt up and engage musical and dramatic talent of various kinds and genders for the Grand Opera House of Fisk, Jr. He actually did succeed in capturing with his golden bait several choice morsels (?) [sic], stamped as ‘genuine talent;’ but who they are or of what calibre [sic] these said ‘choice morsels’ may be, Mr. Tayleure will not at present divulge, for fear that rival managers might take the wind out of his sails by getting the start of him, inasmuch as his foreign consignments will not reach our friendly and hospitable shores until toward the latter part of next fall.

Yet this much, however, we have been able to learn relating to the foreign mission of this well known metropolitan amusement caterer. He has engaged a full Italian opera company, from the prima donna—probably Christina Nilsson—down to ‘the chap with the big fiddle,’ and an entire dramatic company, principally from the London theatres, who, it is whispered in the greenroom, are to give us comedy—high and low—as we never yet have had it in this country. We shall see, for many years we have been favored with comedy at Wallack’s theatre [sic] in a style which has never been surpassed or scarcely equaled, both in point of actual talent employed and the manner of placing the pieces upon the stage; nor is Selwyn’s comedy in Boston one whit behind the comedy theatre of this city in its personnel or scenic abilities. Independent of these theatres, we have a score or more of other establishments, where comedies are brought out in a very creditable manner. We have very many excellent actors and actresses in this country, whom it would be hard to match in their particular lines anywhere in the world, and the best of it is, all of them are natives and to the manner born, or else are adopted and loyal citizens of this proud and puissant republic. The advent of these stranger comedians will therefore be looked forward to with much interest by our amusement loving citizens. If they possess merit, they will be well received; but if not—why, then, not quite so well.

The new Italian opera season will be inaugurated at the Grand Opera House about the middle of October. The costumes for the opening opera are even now being made in Paris, and every attention will be given to the general mounting and scenic effects of the piece. What the name of the opera is rumor sayeth not, neither does Tayleure, neither does Fisk, Jr.

The opera bouffers of the Theatre Francais are off on their rural rambles, delighting our country cousins with unadulterated French opera bouffe. [Lists towns the troupe is visiting.] [La Vie Parisienne] “is now in active preparation at the Theatre Francais, and will be produced under Mr. Grau’s management in a superior style on Easter Monday.”