Black Crook

Event Information

Venue(s):
Niblo's Garden

Proprietor / Lessee:
William Wheatley

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
6 April 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

30 Sep 1867, Evening
01 Oct 1867, Evening
02 Oct 1867, Evening
03 Oct 1867, Evening
04 Oct 1867, Evening
05 Oct 1867, Evening
05 Oct 1867, 1:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 September 1867.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 30 September 1867, 7.
3)
Review: New York Herald, 01 October 1867, 3.

“In early history we read that the daughters of men were so beautiful that they attracted the attention and won the affections of the sons of God. Whether Juno, who is reported to have been the wife of Jupiter, or Minerva, who is said to have sprung from his brain, or Venus, who rose in majestic loveliness from the waters, belonged to this fair sisterhood, we cannot tell. What we do know is that the gods were not blind in those days, and that strange things were donein their name. This, too, we will venture to say—that if in the days when the gods were famous, the daughters of men were able to present themselves in such attractive forms as they have been doing at Wheatley’s for the last three hundred and eighty-five nights, we do not much wonder at the attention and affections of the gods. We cannot deny—no one can deny—that there is throughout the piece which has had so successful a run a very large amount of deviltry; but it is such Faust-like deviltry, such pretty deviltry, such beautiful, attractive, luscious, insinuating deviltry that if we did not on principle go against all deviltry, whatever the form it may assume, we should almost feel disposed to go in for the Black Crook.  We have too high a regard for the moral and religious welfare of our community to praise such a performance; but as certain foolish persons persist in going to look at and applaud this deviltry, we have only to say it is well it has not assumed a more offensive form.  To all those who adore female loveliness, if not artless yet almost unadorned, and who take pleasure in a spectacular show, the Black Crook presents unparalleled attractions. What would not Praxiteles or Apollo have given for such a scene? It is not too say, mischievous as the whole performance is, that more gorgeous Tableaux vivants were never presented on the stage.”

4)
Review: New York Herald, 05 October 1867, 5.

“ . . . Last night hundreds of anatomy admirers and hundreds with leveled lorgnettes filled every seat.  Morton was hurt, as usual, and vented his ire on the unfortunate lovers; Bonfanti, Sartori, Mazzari, Zuardi, et id omne genus, pirouetted in their abbreviated costumes and illustrated the beauty of the human form divine. When the Black Crook descends for the last time to the sulphurous regions he will find a Biche au Bois of superior attractions to fill his place.”