Articles on management of the Theatre Français

“A meeting of the stock-holders, subscribers and patrons of the French theatre will be held at the theatre on Monday evening next. A statement of the progress of the enterprise will be laid before them and the present condition of affairs fully explained.

The Théâtre Français is now in the sixth year of its existence. Its managers, having succeeded in their attempt to make performances of French dramas and comedies popular with our playgoers, have but recently turned their attention to opera comique. The prospects of the enterprise will be discussed on Monday evening. As to the speedy popularity of the French opera comique there is little doubt. The sparkling melodies of the skilled composers of modern France and the well developed plots and polished dialogue of the plays will soon be appreciated, and ere many weeks shall have elapsed the superior attractiveness of their répertoire over that of the Italian school will be demonstrated. Moreover the thorough knowledge of the French language possessed by many of our citizens enables them to understand the literary value of the productions which are alike enjoyable as pieces and as operas. With such prospects of success the managers of the Théâtre Français have every encouragement to spare no efforts to inspire the community with an easily acquired taste for the writings of Scribe and Dumas, and the compositions of Héroic, Adam, Auber, Thomas and Offenbach. Having inaugurated the season under many disadvantages, however, and having incurred heavy expenses by the engagement of the talented foreign artists and competent musicians, the pecuniary success of their venture though cheering, has not yet answered their warmest expectations; the patronage accorded them has been liberal, but its fruits have scarcely repaid the expenditures. The principal object of the meeting on Monday is to insure the permanency of opéra comique in the metropolis. The critical and appreciative should avail themselves of this opportunity to aid in making French opera performances a regular feature of the theatrical season.”

 Part of review from the previous evening’s performance.

“On Monday night the patrons of the French Theatre held an informal meeting at the theatre for the purpose of devising a plan to raise funds in aid of opéra comique in this city. It appears that a sum of $20,000 is required to keep the theatre going. After some consultation a committee was appointed to raise the required sum by subscription. The committee was composed of the following gentlemen:—[Lists names.] A subscription list was opened, headed by Mr. Belmont and about $2,500 were subscribed at once.”

“The public will be pleased to learn that arrangements are in progress by which the obstacles which have hitherto interfered with the success of French performances in this city will probably be removed, and fresh vitality thus given to the enterprise. Opera comique, until now indigenous to France, will ere long be established on a firm basis in this city.”

The directors of the French Opera, Juignet and Drivet, have left their positions. Members of the society are cooperating, however, in continuing performances by sharing costs.