Enoch Arden
Event Information
Venue(s):
Booth's Theatre
Event Type:
Play With Music
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
7 December 2019
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
21 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM22 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM
23 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM
24 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM
25 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM
26 Jun 1869, Matinee
26 Jun 1869, 8:00 PM
Program Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
“From a theatrical stand-point the week that has just terminated has been one of remarkable dullness. No new pieces have been enacted, no new players have appeared, no change of performance of any moment has been made. The season when men’s amusement, like their bread, is earned by the sweat of their brow, is evidently commenced. As the mercury rises, the receipts of play-houses fall…It will hardly be lessened this week, spite of the freshness of a few announcements now at hand. For at some of the City theatres an effort is to be made—and in this weather an effort is certainly deserving of praise, for its own sake at least—to secure attention. At Booth’s, we learn that ‘Enoch Arden’ will be produced to-morrow, with Mr. Adams as Enoch and Miss De Bar as Annie; new scenery and costumes, all of the most superb and appropriate kind will be exhibited on that occasion.”
Long review; detailed plot summary. Little mention of music: “At the opening of the third act…we have some pretty rustic groups and merry music…
“The playwright has somewhat, of course, enlarged upon the poem in his scenes, characters and conversations, but adheres religiously to his text, so that the play is but the reproduction of the poem in dramatic form. The lively choruses and dances introduced add much to the sparkling brilliancy of the piece.”
Extremely long and favorable review; no mention of music.
Long review; positive, except for the discussion of the music: “…In one important particular, however, the unity of the effect is not sustained. Much of the incidental music is of a kind better adapted to modern romantic drama than to an old-time domestic story. Characteristic English melodies of the period in which Enoch Arden is supposed ot have lived as so abundant, and are so thoroughly expressive of the simple and natural feeling of many scenes which the author of the play has introduced, that we can imagine no reason for employing any others—especially such as involve obvious anachronisms.”