TROUBLE WITH AN OPERA COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 2

TROUBLE WITH AN OPERA COMPANY.

United Press Association —Copyright Received July 8, 1-4 a.m. SYDNEY, July 7. Serious charges have been levelled by Mr. Geo. Musgrove against Idea, the leading member of the Germou Opera Company. The public were disappointed on several occasions by a change of programme even after having taken their seats. Matters reached a climax last night. Hitherto the ostensible reason given for the changes was the illness of this or that principal, but the frequency of such occurrences might lead to a belief that an epidemic was raging in the company. Friday’s matinee had to he abandoned and tho money returned. Last night Valkyrie was staged. One of the leading performers docs not appear until the second act. She did not come at' all. Then the company agreed to sing The Flying Dutchman. The scenery for this was already packed for New Zealand, but was unpacked rapidly, and the performance commenced. Then Mr. Musgrove asserts that the husband of. the singer of this piece would not go on unless certain demands were fulfilled. Her part was eventually taken by a chorus girl, and the opera was carried through. Mr. Musgrove in a bitter interview declares that it is almost impossible to believe that all these incidents have not some: connected base.