Crimson shield

“Bowery.—The East-siders are soon to have a radical change. A grand spectacular drama in four acts, called the ‘Cruiser’s [sic] Shield; or, The Nymphs of the Rainbow,’ will be given one week from to-night. It is probably something like the ‘Black Crook,’ and embraces a full ballet corps, magnificent scenery, startling effects, and all that sort of thing.”

“The ballet and transformation scenes will form the principal attraction.”

“The ‘Black Crook’ having been supplanted on Broadway by the comic opera, falls back upon that old stronghold of the muses, the ‘Bowery.’ Here it reappears, under an alias to be sure, being known as the ‘Crimson Shield’ and illustrating a different plot from the obscure twaddle upon which the dancing in the ‘Black Crook’ bases itself, but with the same, or better, effects—the same steel-clad Amazons, the same corps de ballet and coryphées and similar splendid scenery and mountings—doubtless also with similar delighted audiences to behold and applaud.”

Discusses dancing and similarity to the “Black Crook,” but no mention of music.

“We have referred to the Rainbow Queen. She sings a song in the course of the play. Now, nobody expects much from the singing of Rainbow Queens, in tin-foil dresses, sisshed up to the waist, and twirling wands in their hands; we formed no exception to the rule: we expected nothing, except perhaps to be bored with a frivolous tune attempted to be sung by some one who had no more idea of singing than a monkey has of a quick [redown?]. Our pleasure was, therefore, quite equal to our surprise at hearing a very pretty and meritorious song—in nice voice and manner, naturally and without affectation. We might easily add a word or two in compliment of this same Queen’s most graceful and shapely figure. But prudence, not truth, restrains our pen.”

“‘The Crimson Shield,’ with its attendant ‘nymphs of the rainbow,’ as brought out at the Bowery, has completely revolutionized the east side of town, and even ‘boot blacks may now be seen trying to pirouette upon the tops of their little boxes. The ballet and transformation scenes have launched the stauch Old Bowery upon a sea of success, and not undeservedly.”

“Christine Zavistowski and her daughters Alice and Emeline, have been favorably received the past week at the Bowery Theatre in the spectacle of ‘The Crimson Shield,’ produced under the direction of John E. McDonough.”