Venue(s):
Theatre Comique [1867- : 514 Broadway]
Manager / Director:
Robert W. [manager] Butler
Price: $.50
Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
20 November 2020
“If ‘variety be the spice of life,’ as Mr. Hughey Dougherty, the ‘silver-tongued orator’ remarked at this theatre last night, then Messrs. Butler and Spencer have succeeded in manipulating a very ‘spicy’ performance. There was gathered together on the boards a fulfillment of what the play bills promised, ‘a congress of genius and talent.’ America, Ireland, Scotland, England and Germany were each represented, and if we say no nationality was caricatured, but each was faithfully portrayed, we should only be paring that homage to truth which truth deserves. The brilliant ballet divertissement, arranged especially for this popular and unrivalled corps by M. Grossi, included Mlles. Venturoll and Augusta, was all that could be desired either by the eye or ear. There was the poetry of motion in all its blissfulness, and to those who are charmed by the female figure in a flimsy attire, and very little of it, cannot do better than spend an evening at this theatre. Without being invidious, Mr. James Taylor must be said to be the pole star in this galaxy of brilliant talent. His impersonations are natural personations and his talent as a singer of comic songs has seldom been surpassed. Sheridan and Mack in the ‘Upper and Lower Ten Thousand’ drew tears and smiles from the audience and displayed a good moral. ‘Miss Hindle’ and ‘Happy Uncle John’ were make-ups, and the ‘Dutchman’s Ghost’ which concluded the programme, was laughable and ‘all recht.’”