Little Em’ly

Event Information

Venue(s):
Niblo's Garden

Proprietor / Lessee:
Henry C. Jarrett
Henry Palmer

Manager / Director:
Henry C. Jarrett
Henry Palmer

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
6 June 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

20 Dec 1869, Evening
21 Dec 1869, Evening
22 Dec 1869, Evening
23 Dec 1869, Evening
24 Dec 1869, Evening
25 Dec 1869, Evening
25 Dec 1869, 2:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Little Em'ly
Text Author: Halliday
Participants:  Felix A. Vincent (role: Urlah Heep);  Edith [actress] Challis (role: Agnes Wickfield);  Francis C. [actor] Bangs (role: Ham);  Livingstone Robert Shewell (role: Daniel Peggotty);  George C. Boniface (role: Mr. Micawber);  Ione [vocal/actor] Burke (role: Little Em’ly);  Kate Newton (role: Rosa Dartle)
2)
Little Em'ly, [incidental music]
Composer(s): Operti

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 18 December 1869, 294.

Brief. Little Em’ly “is in four acts. The opening scene is the ‘Ark on the Sands,’ and in the second act is a view of Canterbury Cathedral, which is effectively presented; as a hymn is sung by choristers.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 19 December 1869, 12.

A “new Overture (expressly composed) and incidental music, under the direction of Signor Operti… The organ used in this piece is from the celebrated manufacturers, Messrs. Mason & Hamlin.”

3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 20 December 1869, 6.
4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 20 December 1869, 7.
5)
Announcement: New York Post, 20 December 1869, 4.
6)
Advertisement: New-York Daily Tribune, 20 December 1869, 3.
7)
Announcement: New York Sun, 20 December 1869, 1.

Brief.

8)
Review: New York Herald, 21 December 1869, 7.

“Niblo’s Garden.—It may be said with truth that few productions have on a first representation been attended with more unequivocal success than ‘Little Em’ly.’” Positive review; no mention of music.

9)
Article: New York Post, 21 December 1869, 4.

Long review. In discussion of the scenery, notes that “[t]he most striking view of all was, however, that of Canterbury Cathedral seen in the moonlight of a winter night, with its windows glowing—a bit too vividly perhaps—with interior light, while a band of white-robed choristers added by their music to the impressiveness of the scene.”

10)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 21 December 1869, 4.

A little difficult to read; no mention of music.

11)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 22 December 1869, 12.

Multiple cards on the same page. One notes that “[t]he organ used in this piece is from the celebrated manufacturers, Messrs. Mason & Hamlin;” the other that Jarrett & Palmer have secured the Dickensian actor “Mr. Fetcher” for an engagement in January 1870.

12)
Review: New-York Times, 24 December 1869, 5.

No mention of music.

13)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 25 December 1869, 302.

Long plot description.

14)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 25 December 1869, 303.
15)
Review: New York Clipper, 01 January 1870, 310, col. 4 .

Long review of the play’s adaptation and its performance, little mention of music. “…The scenery, which has been painted expressly for it [the play], is very handsome, particularly the view of Canterbury Cathedral by night. It is a most beautiful and effective scene, as the nuns are seen, robed in white, marching in procession, and within are heard the choristers singing a hymn…”