Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

“Kelly & Leon’s.—An entirely new bill of attractions was given at this cosey place of entertainment last evening. The principal new attraction was Leon, who made his rentrée in his usual rôle of a prima donna for the first time for several months past. He was quite warmly received by the audience, which was a very large one, and, it is almost needless to add, enacted his part with his wonted zest and spirit. The take off on the Grande Duchess entitled ‘The Grand Dutch S,’ in which Leon took the part of the fascinating Duchess, was a complete success. Unlike most parody plays the version of the ‘Grand Dutch S’ retains no small portion of the choicest parts of the original, bona fide play, at least as far as the musical parts are concerned, and it is but proper to say that full justice was done the sprightly notes of Offenbach by the sable Duchess and her gaily dressed followers. All who have and who have not seen Tostée in the French play should go and see ‘The Grand Dutch S’ at Leon’s.”  

“Leon made his re-entrée at Kelly and Leon’s Minstrel Hall on the 3d inst., after a retirement of several weeks. His reception was one of the most enthusiastic that has been accorded any public performer in this city for many years. He appeared first in a song and dance called ‘Salamagundi Johnson’ to the tune of ‘Nicodemus Johnson,’ which he executed in a characteristic and happy manner. He was enthusiastically encored when he gave a stump speech introducing many local hits upon the times, which took very well. He was again called out when he played upon a penny trumpet. Leon’s burlesque of ‘The Grand Dutch S’ was produced for the first time on the 3d, with Leon as the Grand Dutch S, W. H. Brockway as Fritz, Nelse Seymour as Prince Paul, Griffin as Boum, and Purdy as Baron Puck. As a burlesque it is one of Leon’s best and was capitally placed upon the stage with new costumes for every performer, the original music from the opera and an efficient chorus. Leon’s make-up was capital, as was Seymour’s Griffin’s and Brockway’s and they enacted their several roles very well indeed. Leon had three changes of dress, each one of which was very handsome indeed. The dresses worn by Seymour were also very fine. Sam Price looked gushing as the fair Wanda, and acted his or her part well. The singing was good, particularly the ‘Cheese Knife of my Pa’ and the exit song of the conspirators. The Can-Can was illustrated by Leon and Seymour amid great applause. The burlesque ended with a collision and explication of two steamboats, which did not work very well until after the first night. Taken as a whole, the burlesque is a capital one and will no doubt have a run, as it has been well written, carefully placed upon the stage and nicely rendered. In the first part George Guy sang a new ballad called ‘Good-Bye Old Home,’ composed by W. H. Brockway. It is a very pretty ballad, with original words, and set to good music.” 

General review of the troupe.

“This company is giving a first class entertainment.  It is very singular, however, that so little of the new funny business, as well as the songs, composed of late for this branch of the profession, should be so poor. Cannot authors possessing some wit write new negro acts, and does it not pay musical composers to give us some ballads as good as those we have been in the habit of hearing in former years? The San Francisco Minstrels comprise some of the best artists known in the business; the talent is there, and what is most needed, is that which will give them an opportunity of developing it.”