Barnum’s American Museum

Discussion of the play, Ticket-of-Leave man, its cast, and music/entertainment heard between the acts.

 

“Between the acts of the play visitors are treated to a motley variety of entertainment.  Miss Dora Dawron, the utterly unique double-voiced singer, represents with her soprano and tenor voices, aided by deceptive half-costumes an interview between a maiden and a friar. Two very curious giants—one a fine military-looking man, and the other a Baltimore boy, eight feet high, and with legs of the most amazing length—then appear to enlighten the audience as to their age and weight, while two jaunty little pygmies, known as General Grant, Jr., and the ‘Lilliputian King,’ form a striking contrast to their huge friends.   

 

            Musical people will be especially pleased with the performances of Herr Zirom on the common mouth-harmonicon. . . These instruments can be bought in any fancy goods store on Broadway and Maiden Lane, but they are usually deemed inharmonious, and as badly adapted for really good music as a Jewsharp. In the skillful hands of Herr Zirom they suddenly develop unexpected resources. How he does it is difficult to explain, but the fact is certain that from these insignificant instruments—he uses three of them, changing from one to the other—the performer elicits the most delicious music.  Operatic and ballad airs, with accompaniments of the bass and even full chorus—with variations an cadenzas—are played most sweetly and effectively, the music somewhat resembling that of a far distant band.  If every one could play this instrument like Herr Zirom, every mouth-harmonicon in the world would actually be a portable orchestra.”