Black Crook

“Although Mr. Wheatley has grown tired of ‘The Black Crook’ before the public have, and announces its ‘last nights’ – he does not think to allow the old play to totter off its stage from weakness or impotency.”

“Last evening Mr. Dickens visited Niblo’s theatre and the Black Crook, thus adding one more to the eight or nine hundred million persons who are advertised as having viewed that astonishing spectacle – which in its wonderful run outstrips all other possible pieces. He kept himself in the shady background of a proscenium box, and although it was very generally known that he was present, he was seen by very few, and there was of course no demonstration. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Fields, of Boston, and Mr. Dolby were of the party. Mr. Dickens made an unwise choice in the theatre if he wished to see a New York audience; and perhaps received no more notable impression from his visit than a little wonder that even an assemblage of New Jersey oystermen could take delight in such a round of incomprehensible puerilities as this piece presents aside from the dancing.”

“[Perzitti] attracts a fair share of the applause which is still bestowed upon this portion of the entertainment.  The new-comer is not less graceful than any of the nimble-tood sisterhood at Niblo’s Garden, and the divertissement ‘Tartuffo,’ which introduces her, permits the exhibition of much vivacious coquetry, in which her lively features and pliant form are extremely expressive.”

“Mlle. Persitti, the new dancer in the ‘Black Crook’ ballet, is winning much admiration by her graceful dancing and attractive features.  There have been no recent changes of importance in the scenes of this now venerable performance.”