To the Editor of the a "Norri-Cuma Dany News"
JSir—Being a great admirer of the Shanghai Opera, and waiting with "great interest their next production— the "Demon"—I just want to say a thing or two with regard to the opera-going public While the Opera was being produced in the Canidrome—it was strictly forbidden to smoke in the theatre, and while you could absolutely suftocate in the corridors, the air was pure in the theatre itself. Now, in the—Carltn—the administration obviously omitted to impose the same strict regulations, and the result was that the scene was veiled with smoke right after the first intermission, the public started to cough as soon as the curtain was up, and it was both difficult to hear the music and even to see clearly. And what about the poor performers? To sing in such an atmosphere must be very strenuous to the voice.
In most Civilized countries, when the performance starts—in Opera it begins with the overture—the public is supposed to listen and not to make any unnecessary noise. Here—on every occasion that I attended an opera—and I have not missed a single one—the public makes it a custom to come in after the lights go down—talking, banging the seats, and those who are seated already go on talking. Of course, it is not said of all the public, but a large part of it behaves in this way, and spoils the pleasure for the remaining part.
Then there is the habit of applauding during an aci—it should be put on the programmes—not to clap during the performance while music is going on—why not stay for a minute longer after the end of the play, or call the singers two or three times after the act is finished, and show them your appreciation in this way, instead of bursting into applause while music goes on, spoiling the effect, and making it more difficult for the singer to continue? I am sure the singers will appreciate it more, if instead of hurrying off as soon as the curtain is down on the last act, the public would stay for a minute and express their satisfaction with their singing by calling them several times, instead of breaking in during the play.
I do hope that in the Lyceum, the Opera will have even greater success than it had up till now, and which both the singers and the administration deserve so well for creating an opera, and a good one, in such dificult conditions.
Ax Opera FAN
Shanghai, Feb. 7. ip
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.