Article on the future of the Théâtre Français

Event Information

Venue(s):
French Theatre

Manager / Director:
Jacob Grau

Event Type:
Opera

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
18 July 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

05 Sep 1869

Citations

1)
Article: New York Herald, 05 September 1869, 3.

“The Théâtre Français, the doors of which have been barred against the unappreciative public ever since the sudden demise of the effervescent opera bouffe, is about awakening to a new, and it is to be hoped, for the sake of the enterprising management, a more prosperous life. During the summer the theatre has undergone a thorough renovation, and has in various ways been altered and improved. Manager Grau, who has in contemplation a sensation which is expected to eclipse even the Ristori furor, goes to Europe early in October for the purpose of seeing and hearing for himself certain artists with whom he is even now in negotiation. There is certainly needed at this particular time some such splurge as the one hinted at for the Théâtre Français, to reinvigorate theatrical affairs in this vicinity and to give them a new impetus, and Mr. Grau is just the man for the occasion. Mr. Grau, instead of entrusting his business to an agent, will himself judge of the merits of such people as he proposes to bring to this country from Europe, and when he returns it will be, we are assured, with such novelties and sensations as cannot possibly fail to prove attractive to the public and remunerative to the management. In the meanwhile the theatre opens on the 11th inst. for a season of three weeks of grand English opera, which is to be followed by four weeks of legitimate drama, after which we are to have one month of grand classical German opera, which in turn will be followed by a short season of French comedy and opera. These entertainments will tend in a measure, to prevent the patrons of this fashionable establishment from rusting until Mr. Grau’s return.”