Tony Pastor’s Opera House

“Tony Pastor announces a Christmas trick pantomime, ‘Hickety Pickety, My Black Hen.’”

“’Hickety Pickety’ is decidedly not a masterpiece of composition in point of diction, but it had nevertheless, the desired effect of a good-humored broadsider on the tickles of the many anxious spectators last evening who sandwiched themselves in the Bowery Opera House.  ‘Hickety Pickety’ will be handed peacefully down the tide of ages.”

“Whatever may be said of Tony Pastor by his enemies, no one can deny that variety is his motive.  The gentlemen of the Bowery paid him a Christmas visit last night in large force.”

“With undiminished ardor a select audience assembled at this festive temple to behold with feelings of emotion and otherwise the classical production entitled ‘Hickety Pickety,’ with comic tricks, transformations and fairy changes. That its interpretation afforded delight to the numerous visitors at both day and evening performances was evidenced by the decidedly significant applause which it received.”

“Tony Pastor afforded his patrons considerable amusement the past week at his Opera House in the Bowery, the vehicle through which much of it was given being the comic pantomime of ‘Hickety Pickety, My Black Hen.’  In the introduction, J. W. Collier, G. Warren, Frank Kerns, Helene Smith and Addie Le Brun served to fill up the time previous to the harlequinade very acceptably, after which J. W. Collier as Clown, Kerns as Pantaloon, Conners as Harlequin, and Helene Smith as Columbine, monopolized the fans to themselves, although the entire company appeared in many ludicrous [?], and helped to amuse crowded audiences every evening, for the Opera House was crowded every night the past week.  Previous to the pantomime Amy Brent appeared in [serio?] comic songs, and was well received.  Frank DeJon, a late arrival from England, appeared in comic sketches and songs and made his changes very quickly.  He is a good [serio?] comic singer, but in localizing his songs and speaking of Broadway he should quit mentioning pounds instead of dollars.  Johnny Thompson and George Warren appeared in various Ethiopian acts, each one of which was heartily encored.  Miss Alice Somers is making rapid progress in the profession, and is one of the favorites of this establishment.  She is now up in clog and jig dancing, goes in the ballet and farces for small parts, and executes an Irish tilt in a pleasing manner, being encored nearly every evening and sometimes a double encore.”