New-York Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
New-York Theatre (1866-69)

Manager / Director:
Mark Smith
Lewis Baker [mgr-actor]

Price: $.75

Event Type:
Play With Music, Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
13 June 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

22 Oct 1866, Evening
23 Oct 1866, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
aka Child of the regiment; Fortune of war
Text Author: Buckstone
Participants:  Marie Wilkins (role: Marchioness);  McKee Rankin;  Mrs. Humphrey Bland (role: Duchess);  Henry Percy (role: Duke de Grandtete);  Mark Smith (role: Sergeant);  William Gomersal (role: Old Seward);  Mrs. William Gomersal (role: Josephine)
3)
aka Loves of Lord Lovel and Nancy Bell; Rumtifoozle; or, The lives of Lady Nancy Bell and ye Lord Lovell
Participants:  Lewis Baker [mgr-actor]

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 22 October 1866, 4.

“Miss Fanny Young makes a reappearance at the New York theatre, Broadway, near Eighth street, this evening. Operatic drama and extravaganza, the production of which have so pleased and amused the audiences of the establishment, will be given. There is a complete change of programme. The two act drama, The Child of the Regiment, will be placed on the boards this evening, Mrs. W. Gomersal personating Josephine. The performances will conclude with the laughable extravaganza Rum-ti-foo-zle; or the Lovers of Lord Lovell and Nancy Bell, with Lady Bell by Miss Fanny Young.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 22 October 1866, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 22 October 1866, 7.
4)
Review: New York Herald, 23 October 1866, 7.

“The state of the weather perhaps lessened the attendance at the New York theatre last evening to a very low number. Buckstone’s operatic drama of the Child of the Regiment and the extravaganza of Rum-ti-foo-zle were played. The operatic drama was the merest skeleton of La Figlia del Regimento, containing only five of the airs of the opera, all sung by Mrs. Gomersal. She acted the part well, even excellently, but neither her voice nor her style of singing is above mediocrity in the merest air of Child of the Regiment. She wisely omitted the Rataplan in which we fear she would have failed worse than even in ‘Salut á la France’ or ‘Ask Me Not Why.’ Mr. Mark Smith made a very good Sergeant, although he does not come up to the standard we have been accustomed to in this rôle. Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Bland as the Marchioness and Duchess, and Mr. Percy as the Duke de Grandtête, were very good. Mr. Rankin burlesqued the character of Josephine’s lover, and made it a novelty if not an absurdity. Mr. Gomersal was acceptable as the old steward. The entire piece was, however, heavy and tiresome, the sentimentality stereotyped, and the main features of the original plot marred. The extravaganza is a laughable trifle, in which a pale, dyspeptic looking brigand, with the traditional elfin locks and general savage appearance, made his entrée, accompanied by two decidedly consumptive gentlemen of the road. Lady Nancy Bell, in a gothic style of dress and alarming breadth of voice, made a remarkable lady of high rank. She was not exactly the style of person that a young scion of nobility could take a fancy to, but still she managed ‘to catch a beau,’ and the loves of Lord Lovell and Lady Nancy Bell have been immortalized in verse. Mr. Lewis Baker was deserving of praise for his impersonation of the brigand with the unpronounceable name. His imitations of well known tragedians and operatic singers kept the audience in a roar of laughter. Miss Young was also very good. The music [sic] in the extravaganza may probably please some.”

5)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 27 October 1866, 232.