Black Crook

Announces the 200th performance for March 29th.

“[T]he event will be celebrated by the entire ballet appearing in a change of costumes. Several new dances will also be introduced. This piece has realized a fortune for Manager Wheatley, the two speculators in female loveliness, [sic] and Mr. Charles Barras, not to mention the fact of its having saved the drooping fortunes of two other places of amusement that were on their last legs.”

The 200th performance will be on Thursday, March 28. The article includes a poem dedicated to Marie Bonfanti, “who is among the leaders of this luscious troupe at Niblo’s.”

“Manager Wheatley, with his characteristic liberality, has tendered Mr. Wm. Stuart, of the late Winter Garden, a benefit, to take place at Niblo’s Garden on Wednesday afternoon, 27th inst. The ‘Black Crook’ will be performed. All connected with the establishment except the musicians have volunteered. The house ought to be filled from pit to dome.”

"[W]hen the ‘Black Crook’ was first produced here, nearly all the critics who write plays themselves pooh-poohed at Mr. Barras, and vowed he was no author. But the ‘Hypocondriac’ [sic] held his hush and bided his time, well knowing that ‘time works wonders,’ as it has done for him; and while the critics who so brotherly damned him with faint praise or ‘crushed him’ with the weight of their heavy pens, are quietly ‘waiting for something to turn up,’ Barras and his ‘Black Crook’ are everywhere raking down the persimmons.”

“We assisted at the two hundredth performance of the ‘Black Crook’ at Niblo’s on Wednesday evening, March 27th. The house was crowded, every seat being filled, and camp stools around the circle in the parquet. The stairs leading to the dress circle were filled with standees, and quite a number of ladies as well as gentlemen were standing in the rear of the parquet circle. It is really wonderful to see what a hold this piece has on the public. Crowds continue to flock to Niblo’s night after night; and from present appearances it is impossible to say when there will be a let-up. Nine danseuses are now on their way to this country from London, Eng., for this piece, and a grand masquerade scene will shortly take the place of the Amazonian march. In this way the ‘Crook’ can be made constantly attractive for an indefinite period. A number of new dances have been added to the piece of late. Bonfanti and Sig. Costa execute a dance called, ‘The Carnival of Venice.’ It is very prettily arranged, and beautifully danced by Bonfanti, who skips over the stage as light as a feather. San Galli continues to be as great a favorite as any one. She is, indeed, one of the most graceful danseuses that has ever been seen on the American stage. Many of her steps are original and exceedingly difficult, and her two movements equal any of the kind we have ever seen. The ‘Demon Dance’ is a little ahead of time now, as it comes on at twenty minutes past nine, instead of nine thirty. The role of Puffingruntz is now performed by Mr. Holmes, as Mr. J. G. Burnett is sick in bed, and has been for three weeks. He has a complication of diseases, and it is thought that he will never again be able to play. We sincerely trust that this is not so, for he is one of the old school, and, in his line, one of the best on the stage. Mary Miller is playing the role of Curline, formerly played by the late Milly Cavendish, but she does not sing. Mrs. Boniface is doing Rose Morton’s role. This latter lady returned to Europe some time since, very sick, and was not expected to live through the passage, but she landed all safe. Three or four of the danseuses also returned to England some time since. But, in spite of the changes, the ‘Black Crook’ continues to show healthy returns for Manager Wheatley.”