Tony Pastor’s Opera House

“Tony Pastor has transplanted the fashionable and much admired ‘Grecian Bend’ to his popular temple, where he brings out this evening a new musical burlesque entitled, ‘Wide Awake, or a New York Boy in China.’ The piece abounds in songs, jokes, and hits of the times, and will undoubtedly prove successful.”

“Billy Sheppard, having recovered sufficiently from his late sickness to enable him to strut the boards once more, reappears at Tony Pastor’s Opera House this evening.”

“‘Wide Awake’ is the title of a musical burlesque produced at Tony Pastor’s Opera House during the past week. Tony Pastor played Wide Awake, a Bowery boy, who having made a balloon ascension, lands in China and somewhat surprises the inhabitants thereof. The action of the piece turns upon the hearty welcome accorded the American, and the acceptance of his hand by the Emperor’s daughter. It was an amusing sketch and afforded Tony Pastor and Jennie Engel an opportunity to indulge in considerable singing. In the olio business Johnny Thompson, Billy Emmett, Frank Kerns, and Connors appeared in a negro sketch called ‘Punchenello,’ they were called out five times.  The attendance has been quite large, the house being crowded on Thursday evening during the heavy rain.”