Faust and Marguerite

”The Worrell sisters have revived the interest in their burlesque performances by bringing out a clever and laughable take-off on ‘Faust,’ which was last night very successfully performed.” 

No mention of music.

“The course of burlesque is nearly run. . . . The latest specimen of these frivolous yet amusing pieces, has been produced at the New-York Theatre, and is called “Faust; or, the Demon, the Doctor and the Devil’s Draught.”  The title is not vague, but the plot is, and that shares with the unknown the privilege of profundity.  Gounod’s opera is named as the foundation of the perpetration; but after the leading incident of the gray-beard doctor and his rejuvenation the familiar story is lost to sight.  Faust blooms into a man about town, brilliant with turf-talk and street slang, and has a fancy for Marguerite, who is a member of the “Black Crook” ballet.

     It would be absurd to consider such a composition seriously.  Possibly a trifle only has been intended; if that was the object, it has certainly been achieved.  The affair is produced with a few local scenes of an excessively advertising character, and the ordinary measure of rhymes and jokes of less than common respectability, but so personal and adulatory as to suggest a business transaction prior to the composition of every second or third couplet.  In the course of the entertainment a number of young ladies and older men execute the requisite number of breakdowns, and sing the usual allowance of popular songs with choruses.” [rest of review does not mention music] 

“The songs—of which there are many—have been set to the popular airs of the day. . . . The song and dance of ‘The Nerves’ and ‘Nicodemus Johnson’ are capitally taken off by the three sisters and company.  Jennie attempted to play an accompaniment upon the banjo, but she should never make another attempt in public before she understands the instrument better than she does now. . . . James Dunn was successful as the sailor boy.  His singing was highly applauded in the burlesque, and his singing was encored.  He possesses a good tenor voice.”