Winter Garden: W. R. Floyd Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Winter Garden

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
21 October 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

02 Jul 1863, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Cast includes others.

Lover: Handy Andy (Irish drama)
Includes song: “Lanagan’s ball” (Bryant)
[unidentified] Irish jig (Bryant)
The secret wife (farce)
Includes song: “Wedlock is a ticklish thing”


Dan Bryant’s first appearance in white face.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Participants:  Dan Bryant (role: Handy Andy)
3)
aka Lanagan's ball; Lannergan's ball; Lannigan's ball; Lynagan’s Ball
Composer(s): Bryant, Glover
Text Author: Pastor
Participants:  Dan Bryant
4)
aka Wild Irish jig
Participants:  Dan Bryant
5)
Participants:  George [comedian] Holland (role: Thomas);  W. [actor] Reynolds (role: Dupius)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 29 June 1863, 7.
Several ads.  “HANDY ANDY, In which [Dan Bryant] will sing ‘Lanagan’s Ball’ and dance an Irish Jig.”
2)
Announcement: New-York Times, 01 July 1863, 1.
“Dan Bryant, celebrated in negro minstrelsy, will make his ‘first appearance’ with a white face as Handy Andy.
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 July 1863, 9.
Program.
4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 02 July 1863, 7.
Casts.  “First appearance in a white character of Mr. Dan Bryant.”
5)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 02 July 1863, 12.
Time.
6)
Review: New York Herald, 03 July 1863, 8.

“The house was overcrowded.  It is many a long day since we have seen such a large and enthusiastic audience.  The performances began with ‘The Little Treasure’ . . . [which] went off admirably. . . .

‘Handy Andy’ was then played, and here came the event of the evening.  Dan Bryant, with a white face and an Irish dress, stepped out upon the scene and was received with a perfect furore of applause.  It was easy to see that most of the audience had assembled to see and hear this favorite comedian in a new line of business.  Although Dan Bryant is ‘only a negro minstrel,’ he is fairly entitled to be called a comedian, and has worked his way by natural talent, hard study and industry to the front rank of his profession. . . . When he came upon the stage last night to play an Irish character for the first time, his success was already secured, as far as the audience was concerned, and he soon won over the large number of critics and actors present. . . .

. . . Bryant’s rendering of the part [of Handy Andy] was very like [John] Drew’s, and only lacked that mellowness and a finish which time and practice alone can give.  Remembering that this was Mr. Bryant’s debut, and that he had never even seen the piece played before, we must pronounce his performance a marked success. . . . In one of the last scenes he introduced the song of ‘Lanagan’s Ball,’ and danced an Irish jig with such skill, spirit and elan, that the delighted audience thrice recalled him.”

7)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 04 July 1863, 91.
“Here’s a go.  Dan Bryant is on the docket to appear in white, and do the leading character in Lover’s Irish drama of ‘Handy Andy,’ for W.R. Floyd’s benefit, at Winter Garden, on the 2d inst.  Now here is something to talk about—a ‘naygur,’ all the way from the corkonian regions, doing Irish business as a pale face!  We’ll bet he can do it, too; for Dan is lovely on the Irish brogue, and can do the shillelagh trick up to the handle.  This will be the minstrel’s debut in Irish character on the regular stage, and will make a bit of sensation, and Floyd will be the gainer by it.  Wonder why Floyd didn’t have his benefit at Wallack’s, where he belongs?  Wonder why?”
8)
Review: New York Clipper, 11 July 1863, 99.
“The long and much promised debut of Dan Bryant in a white face took place at the Winter Garden on the 2d inst.  This announcement alone was sufficient guarantee that the house would be tested to its utmost capacity.  It is said that over eleven hundred dollars were taken at the box office, consequently, the house must have been rather full.  Dan appeared in the part of Handy Andy, and his rendition of it was equal to any representation that has been witnessed in this city for a long time.  From his first entrance until his final exit, his performance was of that quiet, subdued, and artistic manner, which showed hard study.  It was highly creditable to Dan, and drew down immense applause.  At the conclusion of the piece he danced an Irish jig and gave the song of ‘Lanergan’s Ball’ with much gusto.  Dan Bryant has thus proved himself to be an artist of no common order, and one who, should he deem it necessary at any future period to adopt the dramatic profession, would make his mark.”