Aladdin
Event Information
Venue(s):
Olympic Theatre
Proprietor / Lessee:
Mrs. John Wood
Conductor(s):
Thomas Baker
Event Type:
Play With Music
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
2 June 2016
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
06 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM07 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM
08 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM
09 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM
10 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM
11 Jun 1864, 8:00 PM
Program Details
J.H. Selwyn, stage manager. J.E. Hayes, scenery; Charles Long, mechanics; Miss C. Flannery, costumes; William Henry, properties and appointments; Martin O’Brien, gaswork.
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
Participants: Mrs. John Wood (role: Aladdin); Charles T., Jr. Parsloe (role: Kasrac); William (Pleater), Sr. Davidge (role: Abenayer); Mary Sedley [actor-voc.] Brown (role: Zobyad)
Citations
1)
Aladdin “is in rehearsal, and will shortly be produced with all the necessary trimmings.”
6)
“Mrs. John Wood revives the favorite old spectacular piece ‘Aladdin’ to-night at her bright little establishment, having for several weeks devoted herself exclusively to its preparation. The scenery and dresses are entirely new, and we are promised several novel effects in the mechanical working of the stage. All the principal artists of Mrs. Wood’s company, including the lady herself, are in the caste.”
8)
“Mrs. John Wood produces ‘Aladdin’ this evening at the Olympic—not a travesty, be it understood, but the familiar, cherished and respected stage version of the fine old fable. All who desire to shake the burden of years from their hearts and bodies have only to place themselves in front of the Olympic curtain to-night. When Aladdin walks before them, they will be children again. Mrs. Wood promises liberally in respect to scenery, costumes, magical stage effects, and so forth. Abundant time, it is declared, has been given for preparation, and the performance, we are foretold, will be ‘complete and perfect.’ Come, then, let us hope for a good ‘first night.’ Such a thing has not been known in New-York theatre, except Mr. Wallack’s, within our recollection. First representations are usually nothing but last rehearsals. Mrs. Wood, we judge from her advertisement, is inclined to do something better. If she fulfils her inclination, we will give her the heartiest compliment we know how to bestow.”
9)
“[A] crowded house. . . .`
As this is the spectacle of Aladdin, not the burlesque, and there is but small scope for acting in it, we must be pardoned for mentioning the scenery, the new descriptive music, by Thomas Baker, and the splendid costumes.”10)
No mention of music. “The old but still youthful romantic and spectacular drama of ‘Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp,’ was revived here last night; not the burlesque, be it understood, but the genuine Arabian story, with all its bathos and beautiful visions of fairy land as of old.”
11)
“[T]he brilliant spectacle of Aladdin will probably be retained on the stage for a month or two to come. It is so well mounted and played that there can be no reason for a change of programme.”
12)
No mention of music. “The spectacle, altogether is a good one, and will, doubtless, have a good career.”
14)
“After elaborate preparation and careful attention to all details—Musical, Artistical and Spectacular—that can render the representation entirely complete and perfect, the grand, romantic, spectacular, musical, mechanical and pantomimical drama, entitled ALADDIN; Or the WONDERFUL LAMP. . . . THE MUSIC ENTIRELY NEW, Composed and arranged expressly for this piece, By THOS. BAKER.”
15)
“The lady of the Olympic brought out the spectacle in most gorgeous array, for which she has been rewarded by excellent houses and well-merited tokens of approbation.”
16)
“Mrs. John Wood has just hit the public taste in the production of the beautiful fairy spectacle, which was brought out at her theatre on the 6th inst., in a magnificent manner. . . . The scenery, costumes, properties and appointments are all new and of the most gorgeous description. The music, by Thomas Baker, is good, although not entirely new, as we recognized the old music of the pantomime of ‘Kim Ka’ when produced at the Cremorne Gardens, when Mr. Baker was in charge of the musical department there. . . . The choruses, dances, and processions, added to the flight of Aladdin’s palace, were all gotten up with a close eye for effect, displaying the vast resources of the establishment in every department of dramatic art. It required a vast deal of preparation for the production of this piece, and the stage has been considerably cut up, for whole scenes are made to ascend and descend through the stage, which heightens the effect of the piece. . . . The piece should have a good run, being as well adapted for New York midsummer nights as for Arabian Nights entertainments.”