Griffin and Christy’s Minstrels

“The general performance of Griffin and Christy’s Minstrels has been so often praised in these columns that it is a difficult matter to select any special parts of the present entertainment for eulogy.  Last evening, however, the voices of the company created harmony itself in the concerted music, among which the chorus of ‘Lurline’ and the refrain of ‘Annie Lisle’ were particularly well rendered.  Mr. George Leslie’s tenor gave marked sweetness to the charming old song, ‘Her Sweet Face at the Window,’ and the arpeggio accompaniment of the two violins and bass viol was everything that could be desired.  The usual conversation between ‘Mr. Johnson’ and his subordinates elicited several telling hits on the subjects and follies of the day; and Superintendent Kennedy and Mr. Beecher’s novel were not forgotten in the repartees of the minstrels, who brought up everything of note in their entertaining dialogue.  The Bogus Japanese Troupe elicited shouts of laughter from the fashionable and numerous audience that filled the house, after which Otto Burbank’s stop jig gained him an encore and honor of the same nature was paid to Mr. Boyce’s comic song.  For the general effectiveness of the company these minstrels certainly have no superiors.”

Grand testimonial to G. Christy, Wed. p.m., May 21.

“Griffin & Christy’s Minstrels, way up among the bon tons of Fifth avenue and thereaway, make quite a feature of their Japanese burlesque, which is provocative of merciful merriment.  George, and Burbank, and Griffin, and all the happy throng are in a very merry mood these nights, and look and act as though they had drawn $100,000 in some lottery.  Go laugh at ‘em.”