Wallack’s Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
Wallack's Theatre

Proprietor / Lessee:
Lester Wallack

Conductor(s):
Thomas Baker

Price: $.75; reserved seats in dress circle, $1; orchestra chairs, $1.50; family circle, $.30; private boxes seating seven, $10

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
11 October 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

30 Sep 1867, 8:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Meg's diversion
Text Author: Craven
Participants:  Charles [actor] Fisher;  Louise Carman;  George [comedian] Holland;  Alfred W. Young;  Jane Marchant [actress] Vernon;  Mrs. John Sefton;  B. T. Ringgold;  George F. [actor] Browne;  Clara Jennings;  T. J. [actor] Ward;  Mrs. William Winter;  James William, Jr. Wallack;  Lester Wallack;  John Gilbert [actor];  James Henry Stoddart;  J. C. [actor] Williamson;  Mark Smith;  Fanny [actress] Morant;  Mary Gannon;  Mary [actor] Barrett
2)
Black-eyed Susan; or, The little bill that was taken up
Text Author: Burnand
Participants:  Kate Ranoe (role: Bill);  Mark Smith (role: Captain Crosstree);  T. J. [actor] Ward (role: Admiral of the Blue);  Mary Gannon (role: Black-Eyed Susan);  B. [actor] Durand (role: Admiral of the White);  J. C. Curran (role: Admiral of the Yellow);  C. [actor] Sherman (role: Admiral of the Black);  George [comedian] Holland (role: Doggrass);  Fanny [actress] Green (role: Dolly Mayflower);  J. C. [actor] Williamson (role: Shaun O'Ploughshare);  Mary [actor] Barrett (role: Raker);  W. J. [actor] Leonard (role: Lord High Admiral);  Alfred W. Young (role: Dame Hatly);  George F. [actor] Browne (role: Hatchett);  Mary [actress] Scott (role: Gnatbrain)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 September 1867.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 30 September 1867.
3)
Review: New-York Times, 30 September 1867, 5.

“But the piece [Black-Eyed Susan] is only half a burlesque.  It is true that people in it dress in an extravagant fashion, and utter extravagant language, and try to do extravagant things; but the scenery is not a burlesque on the original, (as it should be,) and the actors and actresses, with one or two exceptions, are not burlesque actors at all.  They evidently have no idea of the character of the play they are presenting, and act as though they were in doubt as to whether it is a high tragedy, genteel comedy or broad farce.”

4)
Review: New York Herald, 01 October 1867, 3.
“The place of the legitimate drama at this house is filled just now by a light mixture of performance in the line of comic drama and broad burlesque. Meg’s Diversion, a trifling two act piece with very little story about it and few touches of nature to redeem it from the sin of stupidity, is very well got up by the company, Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Jennings and Mr. Young doing full justice to the parts which make very small demand upon their talent. The burlesque of Black Eyed Susan, which made up the bill last night, is an intensely ludicrous affair, in which sailors clad in satin form the principal groupings. Mark Smith has a moderately good character to sustain Captain Crosstree, and that is the only character in the play. The scenery is about the best part of the piece, the deck of a ship, in the last scene, being a very admirable representation. The burlesque is long drawn out, and so tedious that many of the audience left before the conclusion.  It is but just to say that it is put on the stage in very excellent style, and that the music is admirable.”