Fortune!
Event Information
Venue(s):
New Fifth Avenue Theatre (1873-1939)
Proprietor / Lessee:
Augustin Daly
Manager / Director:
Augustin Daly
Conductor(s):
Harvey Bradley Dodworth
Event Type:
Play With Music
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
2 April 2025
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
03 Dec 1873, 7:45 PM04 Dec 1873, 7:45 PM
05 Dec 1873, 7:45 PM
06 Dec 1873, 1:30 PM
06 Dec 1873, 7:45 PM
Program Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
“The ladies and gentlemen engaged for the fall and winter season of the Fifth Avenue Theatre will please assemble in the green room of the new theatre (entrance on Twenty-ninth street) Wednesday, November 19, at noon, preparatory to rehearsal. JOHN MOORE, Prompter.”
“This afternoon’s ‘GRAPHIC’ (price five cents)” contains capital views (interior and exterior) of the NEW ‘PARLOR HOME OF COMEDY.’”
Long announcement about the opening of the theater.
Lists names of the “regular company” in full along with administration, prompters, scenery artists, etc. “Mr. Harvey Dodworth will conduct the orchestra.”
A paragraph about the play and its composition.
“An original poetic opening address, written expressly for this occasion by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, will be delivered [after the overture] by Miss Fanny Morant and Mr. W. Davidge.” New scenery by Mr. James, Meyric Roberts, and Louis Duflocq. “Carriages may be ordered for 11 o’clock.”
“…Mr. Harvey B. Dodworth will be musical director at the new theatre, Mr. Bernard Mollenhauer, son of the leader of Booth’s orchestra, taking Mr. Dodworth’s place at the Broadway Theatre.”
Long review. Description of theater. “…Excellent music, by Mr. Dodworth’s band, was the prelude.” No further mention of music.
Description of theater. Negative review of play. No mention of music.
“…The house was the subject of a thousand comments, universal admiration of its beauty in every detail finding fit expression. The auditorium is, indeed, a gem. [Continues about the appearance of the theater. Provides text of opening address, written by Oliver Wendell Holmes and delivered by Fanny Morant and Frank Hardenburgh.] “Mr. Alberry’s play of ‘Fortune’ is a decided failure….it is dull, dreary and nonsensical, and Mr. Alberry is to be congratulated upon writing one of the worst plays ever produced on the American stage…” No mention of music.
Long. Description of theater. “At a little after 8 o’clock the overture was played by Mr. Dodworth’s orchestra…” No further mention of music.
“The reason of the falling of the curtain at the Fifth Avenue on the opening night before the close of the second act is very amusing. Lady Keating touched her ‘gong,’ and mistaking it for his bell, the man at the ropes let the curtain drop. The paly was then begun over again with the same result.”
“The sickness of Mr. James Lewis, of the Fifth Avenue Theatre, is very severe, his ailment being rheumatism of the heart.”
“Fearing lest our condemnation of Mr. Alberry’s play of ‘Fortune’ at the Fifth Avenue theatre might have been too severe, owing to the necessary shortcomings of a first night in a new house, we took occasion to see the piece after all the actors had become easy in their parts, but find that we have no occasion to reverse our judgment…A weak play, but dotted over with sparkling repartee, produced by a strong dramatic company, acted on a stage where the scenery, furniture and all the surroundings were magnificent and in a theatre that is simply exquisite, failed to please because it was weak. It is impossible to test the qualities of a play except by producing it…” No mention of music.
“Daly’s new theatre was opened according to announcement; but, as we feared, the new play has proved to be a miss ‘Fortune,’ and the best suggestion we have to make is that Daly and all bury Alberry and his new play in one grave together.”
In a different column on the same page: “…Notwithstanding that the temperature was unusually high for the season of the year, and the atmosphere damp and murky, every seat and all the available standing-room in the auditorium were fully occupied, while many persons accepted seats upon camp-stools placed in the centre [sic] aisle. Hundreds were turned from the doors for lack of accommodation… [the theater] may be pronounced the handsomest theatre in America… A little after eight o’clock, Harvey Dodworth and the members of the band took their places, and, after the performance of an overture and some one or two other selections of music, the red-satin curtain was parted in the centre [sic], to permit Miss Fanny Morant to advance to the footlights…” Quotes the poem she recited in full, and reviews the rest of the pre-performance presentation, which included remarks from Augustin Daly. Review of play follows; no further mention of music.