San Francisco Minstrels

“On Monday evening the San Francisco Minstrels opened the season in their new uptown hall, whilom known as the St. James Theatre. Three of the old quartette, Backus, Wambold and Birch, still remain, and the place of Bernard has been filled by Mr. Joseph Norris, an amusing and fairly talented artist. ‘The Hunkey Doree Band’ is a new song, and, as rendered by Birch, is quite successful, and commands an encore. The other melodies are given with care and effect, and the finale of the first act—an imitation of birds, locusts, frogs and other animals and reptiles—is quite amusing. Mr. Beaumont Reed, an English singer, with a voice of power and sweetness, has been added to the company, and his song, ‘The Cuckoo Notes,’ is decidedly worth hearing. The mélange of comicalities and farce, which forms the second part of this, as of other similar entertainments, contains several novelties. The ‘Sports of Africa,’ a negro burlesque, with a characteristic dance, is rendered by Messrs. Johnson and Powers with much spirit. In the ‘Young Actors’ Messrs. Backus and Birch take the liberty of advertising the Herald Livingstone expedition, and Stanley’s name drew forth a storm of applause. The closing sketch, ‘Vinegar Bitters,’ includes all the stars of the cast, and is filled with all sorts of telling jokes and really funny business. Their removal uptown has only added to the number of the patrons of this favorite troupe. It is already clear that their old reputation remains as potent as ever.”

“The San Francisco Minstrels, or rather three-fourths of the joyous quartet, whose doings have so long amused the public, now occupy the St. James Theatre, a fresh and bright little house at the corner of Twenty-eighth-street and Broadway. We rather miss the unctuous interrogatories of Mr. Bernard, who was formerly in the centre of the battle array disclosed in the rising of the curtain; but the drolleries of Messrs. Birch and Backus, and the sympathetic tones of Mr. Wambold, may be appreciated as heretofore. Of the entertainment offered by these gentlemen, whose efforts are supplemented by those of numerous singers and dancers, we need not say much. The familiar proverb concerning an absolute lack of novelty under the sun might well have been prompted by a long experience of minstrel performances. Happily, the time-honored ballad and comic song, the dislocatory dance, and the decidedly colloquial dialogue of the ‘acts’ does not pall upon an audience assembled with intent to laugh and easily moved to merriment. Among the notable features of the representations now referred to are the pas of Messrs. Johnson and Powers, and the vocal contributions of Mr. Beaumont Read, a young singer from London, whose quality of voice is productive of the same impression wrought by that of the artist of whom it was written, non vir sed Velluti.”

Company members.

“The attendance during the week was good, and we think they have a fair prospect of successfully establishing themselves in their new minstrel home.”