Winter Garden

 “The management has sincere pleasure in announcing an engagement with those charming and popular artists, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Florence, so universally recognized through Europe and America as The Irish Boy, and Yankee Girl.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Florence began their first winter season last evening. The house was quite crowded, and both of the Florences were in excellent spirits. There were three pieces performed – ‘Handy Andy,’ ‘Mischievous Annie’ and ‘The Returned Volunteer.’ They are all old and good, but no better for age. Several new plays are promised in a week or two, including Tom Taylor’s splendid drama, ‘The Ticket of Leave Man,’ which is the success of the year in London. Until these are ready we must, perforce, put up with the usual bill of fare.”

“The Florences have had very crowded houses every night thus far, and last night the audience was larger than ever. This is a decided mark of the cordial appreciation which these very clever actors receive from the public. They intend to carry on their first winter campaign in New York in admirable style, and upon the principle of the good old adage that novelty and variety are the pepper and salt of life. Next week they will produce the spectacular drama called ‘Kathleen Mavourneen.’ The week after they will bring out Tom Taylor’s famous play, ‘The Ticket of Leave Man.’ Then, after an interval, they will keep up the fire with H.J. Byron’s burlesque, ‘The Ill Treated Trovatore.’ Besides this, Mr. Frank Wood is writing them a new travestie upon the broken English tragedians of the present day. We are promised that all these capital pieces shall be put upon the stage handsomely and showily. Mr. J.R. Smith is now painting the scenery. Manager Jackson has opened his ample purse wide, and intends to expend any necessary amount of money upon the costumes and decorations. This shows enterprise and energy and will make his theatre bloom all winter through like a real Winter Garden.”

“[F]ollowed by Mr. Florence’s protean comedietta of Mischievous Annie, in which Mrs. W.J. Florence will sustain six different characters, with song and dance.”