Bryants' Minstrels

“At Bryant’s, one may pass half an hour pleasantly. The house is so cheerful and bright, and the Jimphysques Brigands is really more amusing than the original itself. But there is a simpleton look about the audiences, who laugh at the clumsiest tricks of the performers, which after a little tires, and which really justifies the performers in limiting their efforts to the very coarsest exhibitions of negro minstrel frolicksomeness. Negro life is full of humorous and pathetic incidents, which would seem to give full scope to dramatic delineation. But the minstrels are simply made vulgar clowns of the most stupid kind, painted black, and personify neither the drollery of white nor black, but treating the audience evening after evening to the same stale songs, and the same senseless tricks, without the slightest pretension to artistic excellence, without picturesqueness of appearance, grace of movement or witty dialogue. The lowest ribaldry of frolicksome street boys is transferred to the stage—that is all. The handsome appearance of the house stands in grotesque contrast to the low character of the performance, and every fall of the curtain is always a pleasant pause of relief. Yet the popularity which has always clustered round all minstrels, and especially the Bryant’s, seem to hedge them round with a strong battalion of habitués, determined to laugh and be merry, play what they will. Still it cannot be expected that the public taste, however undiscriminating, will not gradually exact a higher order of minstrel performances. At present they do not rise above the most rowdy order of shoo-flyism. Shoo-fly would not lose its spell, or the can-can, danced by competent negroes, be less attractive if brought forward with a certain degree of artistic elegance. Let them emulate the talent of old Christy. Still the Bryants’ are the best of their day, and we have no desire to bring Dan to judgment.”