Wallack’s Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
Wallack's Theatre

Proprietor / Lessee:
Lester Wallack

Manager / Director:
Lester Wallack
John Gilbert [actor]

Conductor(s):
Thomas Baker

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
12 May 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

23 Sep 1868, 8:00 PM
24 Sep 1868, 8:00 PM
25 Sep 1868, 8:00 PM
26 Sep 1868, 8:00 PM

Program Details

John Gilbert, acting manager.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Charles [actor] Fisher;  James William, Jr. Wallack;  Lester Wallack;  James Henry Stoddart
2)
Dearer than life
Text Author: Byron
3)
Simon Bernard
Text Author: Wallack
4)
"Marseillaise, La"
aka Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin; Marseillais' Hymn
Composer(s): Rouget de Lisle
Text Author: Rouget de Lisle

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 12 September 1868, 182.

“The regular season at Wallack’s commences on the 14th inst.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 15 September 1868.
3)
Article: New York Post, 15 September 1868, 2.

Full cast/company list.

4)
Announcement: New-York Times, 15 September 1868, 4.

Theater closed the week of Sept. 14.

5)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 15 September 1868, 7.
6)
Announcement: New York Sun, 18 September 1868, 1.
7)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 18 September 1868, 2.

Includes list of company members.

8)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 20 September 1868, 4.
9)
Announcement: New York Herald, 21 September 1868, 4.

“Wallack’s opens for the season on Wednesday evening next with two new plays, named respectively ‘Dearer than Life’ and ‘Simon Bernard.’ The former is an English play and is from the pen of Mr. H. J. Byron and the latter is said to be the work of Mr. J. Lester Wallack. The company is strong and includes all the old favorites, with the exception of Mr. Williamson and Miss Fanny Morant, whose place will be filled by Miss Emily Mestayer. Mrs. Sedley Brown, a charming soubrette actress, has been added to the company. Mr. Lester Wallack will not appear until later in the season." 

10)
Announcement: New York Post, 21 September 1868, 2.

See separate entry: Article on the upcoming opening of Wallack’s Theatre.

11)
Announcement: New-York Times, 21 September 1868, 4.
12)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 21 September 1868, 5.
13)
Announcement: New York Post, 22 September 1868, 2.
14)
Announcement: New York Post, 23 September 1868, 4.
15)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 23 September 1868.
16)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 23 September 1868, 8.
17)
Review: New York Post, 24 September 1868, 2.

Lengthy review; little about music. “The musical performances under the direction of Mr. Baker deserved especial commendation.”

18)
Review: New York Sun, 24 September 1868.

No mention of music.

19)
Review: New-York Times, 24 September 1868, 4.

No mention of music.

20)
Review: New-York Times, 25 September 1868, 4.

Detailed plot summary of Simon Bernard.

“We may add, as an interesting fact, that the ‘Marseillaise’ is played during the performance of the piece—thereby imparting to it much local coloring.” Comments on the actors and briefer discussion of Dearer than Life.

21)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 26 September 1868, 198.
22)
Advertisement: New York Sun, 26 September 1868.

“Both pieces produced with entirely new music.”

23)
Announcement: New-York Times, 27 September 1868, 5.
24)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 27 September 1868, 4.
25)
Review: New York Clipper, 03 October 1868, 206.

“There was a large attendance and the various members of the company received a cordial welcome. Two new plays were presented, ‘Simon Bernard’ and ‘Dearer than Life,’ and though well acted and carefully placed on the stage, they failed to awaken that enthusiasm which gives promise of an extended run. Mr. Wallack is unfortunate in the selection of pieces for his opening. Last year the pieces produced on the occasion of the commencement of his season signally failed to please, and had to be withdrawn at an early day.”