Forty Thieves

“The music is full of popular melodies and song, and the dances and mise en scène of the forty beautiful thieves, under command of their magnificent leader, was wonderfully effective. . . . As usual with this favorite company, many of the melodies and dances were loudly applauded and encored.”

No mention of music.

”Niblo’s Garden—‘The Forty Thieves.’—‘The Forty Thieves, or Striking Oil in Family Jars,’ is the title of the new burlesque which was thought to be a suitable vehicle for the introduction of the Lydia Thompson troupe.  The play was performed the second time last night at Niblo’s Garden, and after a close inspection and unburdening a load of charity we are forced to announce that the young author’s sense of humor does not come quite up to the standard of New York life. . . .

“The music of the new burlesque is unequalled.  That furnished by Offenbach is excellent.  The serenade from ‘Geneviève de Brabant’ is above reproach, and the ‘Barbe Bleue’ music is happy.  The most of the song selections, however, are exceedingly unfortunate.  After the sparkle and harmony which we had grown accustomed to hear from these beautiful young ladies in ‘Ixion’ it was mournful to sit and wait in dreary expectation for a bright, lively melody which never came. . . .

Miss Thompson is, of course, very pretty, as usual, very graceful, as usual, and dressed in the most exquisite taste.  Her little prolonged shriek when singing anything in which she fancies she can introduce it to advantage is as objectionable as ever.  She utterly lacks, however, that mock seriousness which belongs to burlesque.  Miss Thompson beams with beauty and brightness.  She sparkles and plays about the stage like a ray of summer sunlight, but it is the happy vivacity of a sprightly, agreeable woman.  Her voice, although sweet, was not strong enough to fill the vast space, before which she seemed like a little firefly buzzing about in space.  Miss Weber’s singing in the duet from ‘Geneviève’ with Miss Thompson was rapturously encored.  Miss Weber’s conception of Morgiana was good and well expressed but for a pardonable tendency to overact.  Miss Markham had little to do as leader of the Amazon guard, but did it beautifully.  Her voice also abandoned her in the hour of need, as did Miss Thompson’s but Miss Markham displayed so many bewildering attractions that a deficiency of voice was hardly worth noticing.”

Includes letter from Farnie regarding the authorship.

Alex. Henderson, manager of this troupe, is sued by John A. Mack “for literary services rendered in the burlesques of Ixion and Ernani”

“The acting, the singing and the burlesque dances are all exceedingly tame. Miss Markham found Niblo’s considerably too large a house for her singing, as but little she uttered could be heard, but she looked charmingly as Captain of the Amasons. The music was cleverly arranged, and the scenery very handsome.”

Brief: “Niblo’s Garden was densely crowded on Saturday afternoon and evening, the 6^th inst. With but one exception the matinee was the largest ever seen in that establishment.”