Theatre Comique
Event Information
Venue(s):
Theatre Comique [1867- : 514 Broadway]
Proprietor / Lessee:
Josh Hart [actor, minstrel]
Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
11 March 2025
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
06 Oct 1873, Evening07 Oct 1873, Evening
08 Oct 1873, Matinee
08 Oct 1873, Evening
09 Oct 1873, Evening
10 Oct 1873, Evening
11 Oct 1873, Matinee
11 Oct 1873, Evening
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
2)
Participants: Clara [singer] Butler (role: Fanny Shivers); I. Frank Frayne (role: Joe Shakes)
Citations
1)
Two card on this page. Full cast with roles. “LADIES PREFER GOING TO THE THEATRE COMIQUE THAN TO ANY OTHER THEATRE IN THE CITY…[Quoting The Sunday Star: ‘]The popularity of ‘variety entertainment’ is rapidly increasing in this city. The idea was no doubt generated in the concert saloons, but of late years has been made a study by various theatrical managers, who have introduced to us the best artists in every line of art and made ‘variety’ truly the spice of musical and theatrical life. It took years, however, and the right man, to make variety entertainment popular with the masses. It had long been considered an entertainment only fit for men—in fact, indecent and low. Mr. Josh Hart was the first man to come to the front and struggle against this sentiment…
The performance has many things to recommend it. First, it is varied in character, second, there are no ‘waits,’ and the curtain, once up, does not fall until the close of the performance. Owing to this, the whiskey brigade does not hold forth at this establishment…The company at this theatre is first class, embracing the best comedians in this country, and ballet singers, dancers and gymnasts that are unequalled.[’]”
2)
Provides many details about the program. “…Mrs. Wild [Ada Wray], who sang a number of serio-comic songs, was welcomed with liberal applause upon her reappearance…Miss Flora MacDonald continued her Scotch songs, Miss Kitty O’Neil gave her excellent character dances to freshly arranged music…James Bradley appeared in a song-and-dance…The patrons of the Comique are not apparently affected by the late financial earthquake, as the auditorium was entirely filled every night soon after eight o’clock.”