Old Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat
Event Information
Venue(s):
Fox's Old Bowery Theatre (until 1/67)
Proprietor / Lessee:
George Washington Lafayette Fox
Manager / Director:
George Washington Lafayette Fox
Ballet Director / Choreographer:
Antonio Grossi
Event Type:
Play With Music
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
19 October 2011
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
13 Feb 1865, Evening14 Feb 1865, Evening
15 Feb 1865, Evening
16 Feb 1865, Evening
17 Feb 1865, Evening
18 Feb 1865, Evening
18 Feb 1865, 2:30 PM
Program Details
Program commences with “a favorite drama.”
Old Dame Trot and her comical cat (comic pantomime) includes grand tableaux at end of pantomime.
Old Dame Trot and her comical cat (comic pantomime) includes grand tableaux at end of pantomime.
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
2)
Participants: Mlle. [dancer] Martinetti (role: Little Bo Peep, afterwards Columbine); Master [actor] Timothy (role: Comical Cat); George Washington Lafayette Fox (role: Sappy Saponaceous, afterwards Clown); Charles Kemble Fox (role: Antiquated Solderwell, afterwards Pantaloon); Mons. [dancer] Baptistia (role: John Stout, afterwards Harlequin); J. J. McCloskey (role: Old Dame Trot)
Citations
1)
“PANTOMIMES have from the earliest ages been popular among all classes of people. . . . The ancients, however, never witnessed such a gay, rollicking pantomime as that which Manager Fox has produced at the Old Bowery. We have been there, and however much others may say to the contrary, we affirm that it is—to use the words of President Lincoln—‘a big thing.’ ‘Old Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat’ is decidedly the curiousest thing we have beheld since the days of the famous Ravel Family. The scenery is new, the tricks and magic changes are novel and striking, the costumes are superb, the music is excellent and the whole affair has been gotten up at a great outlay of circulating medium in the shape of Uncle Sam’s greenbacks. It is just the piece for an ill-natured man to see, for it will quiet his ruffled brow. It is just the piece for lovers, for it does away with the necessity of building fairy castles of their own. It is just the piece for the children—bless their dear little hearts—and fathers and mothers should not hesitate to take them. Mr. Fox is the embodiment of humor, and never fails to create a hearty laugh. Go, ye weary and downcast, and smile at the irresistible drolleries of Sappy Saponaceous. M’dlle. Martinetti, once a member of the Ravel troupe, is an accomplished and inspired danseuse. Go, ye lovers of the beautiful, and gaze upon the bewitching form of the pretty Columbine. Words would fail to describe the delight which we experienced on the occasion of out last visit to the Old Bowery. The magnificence of many of the scenes took us completely by surprise and, with the music of the orchestra soulnding in our ears, we began to think that some kind of geni [sic] had borne us to the happy abode of Oberon and Titania. The last scene of all is a amasterpiece of skill, and for beauty of design can scarcely be excelled.”