Pippin

Notes Harry Jackson of the Parepa-Rosa Opera Troupe will join the Thompson company.

Brief.

“NEW SCENERY, DRESSES, APPOINTMENTS, MUSIC, &c.”

Extensive cast list with roles.

Brief. “The much-renowned Lydia Thompson Burlesque Troupe are to appear at Niblo’s Garden to-morrow night, the engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams having proved less lucrative than was expected… The ladies of the Lydia Thompson Troupe have been rather more roughly handled by some of the Western Press than occasion seems to have justified, and we hope that their sex, ability and courage will gain for them in their new metropolitan engagement, all the support that they merit. A new burlesque of ‘Pippin’ has been chosen for the reappearance of these ladies, and it will be presented in handsome style, with new scenery and decorations. The music, it is understood, will include the most taking parts of Offenbach’s [i.e., Hervé’s] ‘Le Petit Faust’.”

“The Lydia Thompson burlesque troupe make their bow once more at Niblo’s to-night in a new burlesque called ‘Pippin, or the King of the Gold Mines.’ All the members of the company are cast in this piece, and a valuable addition is made in the engagement of Mr. Harry Jackson, the late stage manager of the Parepa-Rosa troupe, and a graduate in every branch of the profession, and star in theatres in every quarter of the world. Miss Lina [sic] Edwin has also been added to the troupe since their last engagement in this city.”

Brief. “Mention of the appearance of the Lydia Thompson Troupe, at Niblo’s, this evening, is the chief among novel announcements, at the moment.”

Brief.

Brief. “A portion of the music of the piece is from Offenbach’s [i.e., Hervé’s]  ‘Petit Faust.’”

“A very gratifying reception was given to Miss Lydia Thompson and her troupe at this place of amusement last night on her return from her Western campaign. [Provides plot synopsis of burlesque.] …The orchestra—not one of the best—in the first act accompanies a chorus of gnomes in the popular air, ‘Arouse Ye, Then, My Merry, Merry Elves,’ and, on the rising of the curtain, a quaint array of stag-headed elves go through a very grotesque dance. In the second act there is a grand procession of all nations, very absurdly and amusingly gotten up… Miss Weathersby’s voice is very sweet and her acting very piquant. The house was crowded, and the applause throughout was sufficiently genuine to have dispensed with the claque element, which was not absent. There are a few local hits in this play, and a great improvement might be made in the words of the musical rhymes, which had certainly neither wit nor laughable absurdity, but bordered on the idiotically nonsensical. Miss Thompson once referred to her imprisonment in Illinois in a pun, and, very much to the disappointment of an expectant audience, no whips were thrown on the stage. The welcome extended to this troupe must certainly have been very gratifying, and must dissipate from the minds of the most prejudiced all preconceived notions of American animosity to British blondes.”

“…‘Pippin,’ the new extravaganza, has no particular meaning, or perhaps we should say it must be seen many times to be understood, but it runs over with singing, dancing, absurd situations, magic transformations, combats, bad jokes, and other incentives to laughter, and was received by the audience with roars of satisfaction from beginning to end. The author has judiciously concealed his name, by which we mean to convey that the literary merits of ‘Pippin’ are nothing to boast of… Some of the scenes are quite cleverly put together in this respect, and aided by spirited acting, good scenery, and well-arranged music, give room for no flagging of attention, or cessation of applause… Miss Thompson sang, acted and danced with immense verve…” No further mention of music.

Long with little mention of music. “…There are two or three very pretty changes of scenery, an indifferent umbrella dance, a chorus and dance of gnomes by about fifty children, and a medley procession, in which appeared the Emperor Napoleon III., attended by a wounded fowl, and other well-known characters…”

Brief and negative review.

“Signor Operti resumes his place as chef d’orchestre at Niblo’s at the conclusion of the engagement of the blondes.”

Brief.

A very long review. “…‘Pippin,’ in its essence, is like all its predecessors. The same old thread of fairy love runs through it, and sustains the same old adjuncts of littering scenery, handsome dresses, pretty faces, pretty legs, vocal solos and quartettes—serious and comic—grotesque appointments, and low-comedy stagee [sic] business… A quartet song, ‘Hard Dimes [Times?]’—an old thing, but plaintive and pretty—was nicely sung by Miss Thompson, Miss Markham, Mr. Beckett, and Mr. Cahill.”

Long review; little mention of music. “Lydia’s voice is rather weak. Markham sang fairly.”