In 1910, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We did an elaborate set for Mme. Butterfly for the Aborn Opera Company at McVicker’s.” The “Gibson City Courier” noted the production’s “special scenery of unusually beautiful design” (6 May 1910, page 6).
On May 6, 1910, “The Daily Herald” reported, “ ‘Madame Butterfly,’ the most popular of the modern reperatory of operas, will be used by the Aborn Grand Opera Company to inaugurate their season of grand opera in English at McVicker’s Theatre, Chicago, Sunday night, May 8” (Arlington Heights, Illinois, page 9). Other shows that season included “Il Trovatore,” May 15; “Faust,” May 22, and “Aida,” May 29.
The “Daily Herald” also noted, “ Edward Temple, stage manager at the wonderful New York Hippodrome for three years, and for many seasons stage director at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, has been engaged to stage the grand operas in English, which will be heard at McVicker’s Theatre, beginning Sunday, May 8, with a production of Puccini’s ‘Madame Butterfly” (15 April, 1910, page 5).
The cast included Dora De Fillippe in the title role, with Joseph Sheehan playing the role of Pinkerton. Other performers in the cast included Ethel Dufre Houston, Ottley Cranston and Chevalier N. B. Emanuel.
The “Daily Herald” reported, “There has never been an attraction in Chicago which has received such an enthusiastic praise as has the Aborn Grand Opera Company in its performances of grand opera in English at McVicker’s Theater, Chicago…The critics of Chicago, without exception, have talked of the wonderful orchestra, the complete mise-en-scene, the splendid principals, the adequate scenic production and the excellence of the big chorus employed by the Aborn company.”
Prices for the production in Chicago were the standard 25 cents, 50 cents, and 75 cents with $1 options.
The Aborn Opera Company was active from 1895 until 1922. Founded by Milton and Sargent Aborn in New York City, the company toured extensively across the country. The two brothers began as theater managers in 1885.
To be continued…
