Devil’s Auction

Event Information

Venue(s):
Banvard's Opera House [JUNE 1867-]

Manager / Director:
John de [manager] Pol

Conductor(s):
Auguste Predigam

Price: Orchestra chairs, $1.50; Parquet Circle, $1; Balcony chairs, $1.50; Balcony circle, $1; Dress circle chairs, $1; General admission and dress circles, $.75; Family circle, $.50; Proscenium boxes, $8 and $10

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
8 February 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

14 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM
15 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM
16 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM
17 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM
18 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM
19 Oct 1867, 7:30 PM

Program Details

Full company also includes Robert McWade, H. B. Philips, M. C. Daly, E. Mortimer, D. W. Miller, J. H. Philips, J. Thompson, S. B. Duffield, Fanny Stocqueler, Fanny Reeves, Emma Somers, Ada Meyers.

All actors are American debuts.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Devil’s auction; or, The golden branch, [melodrama]
Text Author: Cuyás
Participants:  Augusta [dancer] Sohlke;  Ermesilda [actor] Diani;  Eugenie [actor] Lupo;  Aurelia [actor] Ricci;  Catrina [actor] Corradine;  Giovanni [actor] Lupo;  Domenico [actor] Ronzani;  Giuseppina Morlachi;  Elisa [actor] Blasina
2)
Devil's auction, [incidental music]
Composer(s): Predigam

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 14 October 1867.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 14 October 1867, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 14 October 1867, 6.
4)
Article: New York Herald, 17 October 1867, 6.

Names Black Crook and Devil’s Auction among “undressed ballet” and praises the influx of moralizing dramas like Marie Antoinette and the dramas performed by Fanny Janauschek.

5)
Review: New-York Times, 17 October 1867, 4.

Compares Devil’s Auction and its objectional content to The Black Crook’s content for ladies.

6)
Review: New York Clipper, 19 October 1867, 222.

“The Devil’s Auction’ continues to be the great attraction at Banvard’s Museum, and judging by the large audiences that were present during the past week the piece will no doubt enjoy a run. Having got over the troubles and vexations of a first performance, the stage carpenters work with great precision now, and everything goes off as regular and smooth as clock work.  The ballet as well as the company have become acquainted with the house, and enter fully into the spirit of the scene. The dialogue has been condensed so that now it plays very well. Of the premier danseuses Mlles. Blasini and Sohlke are the great favorites, and are nightly the recipients of huge bouquets as well as great applause. Sohlke’s Hungarian dance takes immensely with the audience, and is called out three to four times each evening.”