New-Yorker Stadt-Theater: Laura Haffner Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
New-Yorker Stadt-Theater [45-47 Bowery- post-Sept 1864]

Proprietor / Lessee:
Eduard Hamann [prop.-dir.]
Hermann Rosenberg

Conductor(s):
Adolph Neuendorff

Price: $1.50; $1; $.50; $.30; $.15

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
15 August 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

08 Jan 1868, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Benefit of Laura Haffner, although it is unclear if she performed or not.

The parody of Faust with music and singing consisted of three acts and five scenes.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Laura [soprano] Haffner;  Georg [actor] Stemmler;  Auguste [actress and singer] Höff
2)
Faust, [burlesque (Unknown)]
Text Author: Unknown playwright
Participants:  Auguste [actress and singer] Höff
3)
Feuer in der Mädchenschule
Text Author: Förster
Participants:  Georg [actor] Stemmler;  Auguste [actress and singer] Höff
4)
Feuer in der Mädchenschule, [incidental music]
Composer(s): Neuendorff

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 08 January 1868, 6.
2)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 08 January 1868, 8.
3)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 09 January 1868, 8.

Haffner’s choice of pieces for the benefit was in poor taste. Faust turned out to be a “sad product” that does not deserve any more words. The creator of that opera-parody did well in not revealing his name. The following comedy could hardly be called comedy, because it was not very funny, but rather flat. The excellent performance of Miss Höff “was the only oasis in the sea of…flatness and silliness." The event attracted a large audience, however.

4)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 12 January 1868, 4.

This work was originally only meant to be performed in a private performance for friends of the author. It was so well received that the Stadttheater put it on stage for all to enjoy. And enjoying it, the audience did. Mrs. Höff excelled in the comedy “Feuer in der Mädchenschule," and she was well-supported by Mr. Stemmler.