Wood’s Minstrels

     “In preparation, and will shortly be produced, a Grand Fairy Burlesque, Written by Charles Gaylor, Esq., expressly for Wood’s Minstrels.”

     Includes full cast list.

     “The new fairy burlesque, Greenbakina, is drawing largely.  It is cleverly put together, being arranged so as to bring into broad relief the talent of all the different members of the company.  The wit is, of course, broad, and the satire at times trenchant, but they are all the more effective.  If to provoke a hearty laugh and send people away content be the aim and end of such pieces, then it can be said to fulfill its objects.  There are few things in the shape of an extravaganza, in fact, that enjoys a more legitimate success.  Of the manner of its presentation we cannot speak in terms of too high commendation.  The scenery is everything that taste and a profuse expenditure could produce, and the last tableau is quite a triumph of artistic skill.  Petroliamania, attractive as it was, is thrown into the shade by this fresh effort of the management.”

     “Wood’s Minstrels are to give us an entirely new burlesque this evening, called ‘Greenbakina, or the Fairy Palace of Soap,’ written expressly for the company by Chas. Gaylor.  The scenery and scenic effects are of a costly character, embracing some of the most beautiful stage pictures ever presented to public view.  Of one thing we are sure, that Manager Wood is the most liberal minstrel manager in the way of mounting his pieces that we have ever had among us; he has inaugurated a new era in minstrelsy, and although many of the gems of the old style of Ethiopian entertainments are retained by him, yet he has branched off into other channels, giving us the bright and beautiful as well as the dark side of burlesque.  Frank Brower, Cool White, Purdy, Glenn, Henry, Converse, Mudge, Lockwood, etc., are in the cast of the new piece.” 

     “Mr. Henry Wood, manager of Wood’s Minstrels, has at last hit the right nail on the head in the production of Gayler’s [sic] fairy burletta of ‘Greenbakina,’ which was brought out for the first time on the 22d of May, and played during the week to excellent houses.  The sketch is very cleverly written, and is in every respect superior to ‘Petroliamania.’  Every member of the company is in the piece; the scenery is all new, and superior to anything ever before done at a minstrel hall.  It occupies only twenty minutes in playing, which makes it very attractive.  It is played quickly and everything moves like clock-work.  Frank Brower, who has decidedly the best part in the sketch, appears to better advantage than we have ever before seen Uncle Frank.  He personates the Fairy, Greenbakina, and his make up is capital.  Dressed in flesh-colored shirt and tights, with a gossamer skirt just reaching to his knees, a wreath upon his brow, and all the necessary fixings to make up a stage fairy, Frank looks and acts the Fairy to the life.  With his wand he skips about with as much grace and activity as one-half the ballet girls in a grand ballet, and he actually walks on his toes across the stage, and goes through all kinds of cadwalader movements, cutting pirouettes and flutagilders to the astonishment of all.  By his excellent acting of the part, Frank makes it the feature of the piece.  Cool White plays John Smith, a dead broke nig, who is suddenly made rich by the good fairy.  Mr. White plays his part well, as he does everything he attempts.  In fact, every one strives to make the piece take with the audience, and they succeed.  The scenery reflects great credit upon the artist, Mr. Gaspard Maeder.  The two last scenes are really beautiful, and the last scene of all is equal in richness, splendor, and dazzling brightness to anything witnessed on the New York stage for a long time.  The piece was a great success, and will probably enjoy a long run.  The first part of the entertainment was also very attractive.  Mr. W. D. Corrister, a new addition to the company, is a clever ballad singer, but if he would open his mouth a little more and not sing so much through his teeth (which sounds like playing on a comb with paper on it), he would be very acceptable.  Mr. Henry sang Kathleen Mavourneen in beautiful style, and was loudly applauded.  We think this is decidedly Mr. Henry’s best song, for he sings it with so much pathos as to enchain every one present.  Frank Converse gave a song on the times on the banjo, and Trinity Chimes, which were much liked by the audience.”