New Bowery Theatre

     Large ad with rare graphic of Wood and Black Bess.  Includes an extensive “repertoire of Equestrian Dramas.”

     No mention of music.  Wood “opened there on the 26th ult. in ‘Mazeppa,’ and although a little nervous at first in the new line of business she has adopted, after appearing in this character two or three times, this gradually wore off.  We were present to witness Miss Wood’s impersonation of this character, which of late years has taken such a hold on the theatre-going public. . . . The lady is possessed of a fine figure, dresses elegantly, and in the combat scenes showed herself a complete master of the art—the only drawback at present is her voice, which is neither of sufficient compass or voluble enough to be thoroughly heard and understood, but this is a fault easily remedied, and as Miss Wood is an ambitious, well-educated, rising young artiste, a little tuition from a good elocutionist will soon efface all traces of the only drawback at present in her way.  When it comes to the riding part, Miss Wood shows nerve and courage of the highest order, as in this particular instance, the Wild Horse of Tertary, by Mr. H. B. Gates’ highly trained and spirited mare, Black Bess, is as near the realization of the ‘fiery, untamed steed,’ as any we ever saw, and in going up and down the runs, instead of a sort of dog trot, as most of the other Mazeppa steeds have, Black Bess with the lady secured to her back, rears, snorts, paws the air, dashes off at full speed, and does some exciting leaps which no other horse ever attempted in this city.  So well does this faithful animal play the part, that the horse as well as its rider invariably comes in for a share of the applause.”