Venue(s):
Olympic Theatre
Event Type:
Play With Music
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
11 October 2012
“The Burlesque of ‘Pocahontas’ was retained on the bills of the Olympic last week. On Wednesday evening an apology was made for Miss Eliza Newton, who was so indisposed as to be unable to play her part of Capt. Jno. Smith, and Mr. Jas. Collier, who returned from Europe on the 14th, who substituted by permission of Mr. Wheatley, manager of Niblo’s. Mr. Collier has considerably increased in avoirdupois during his absence, and looks as hearty as a buck. Considering the short notice Mr. C. had to ‘get up’ in the part, he did the burlesque Smith no discredit, although his singing was not equal to that of Parepa.”
“Pious reader, was it ever your privilege to sit beside another greenhorn in a theatre? Recently, we found ourself in such an unenviable position at Mrs. Wood’s Olympic, where a burlesque was the attraction. We enjoy burlesques, because, when properly constructed and administered, they are provocative of laughter. Well, the partner of our seat was an unwilling partner of our joys; he laughed under protest; that is, not understanding much about a theatre, and less about burlesques, he didn’t know what was serious or what wasn’t; when we laughed at Mrs. Wood’s burlesque on an opera singer, he chided us severely; says he, ‘you d—d fool, what are you laughing at? Do you think you can do it any better?’ He actually looked at the piece in a serious light, and remonstrated with those around him for their unbecoming levity and want of manners; his face was like that of a professional undertaker who is enjoying the melancholy pleasure of attending the third funeral in one day; when we had settled down to a hearty laugh over a very pretty duet between Pocahontas and John Smith, our side partner turned a cold and withering look upon us and said, ‘You sir, if you was to carry on like that down our way, you’d been yanked out long ago.’ We couldn’t feel vexed at the verdant gentleman, because he was the source of as much merriment to us and those about him, as the play. The last we saw of him he was talking to a police officer in a very uncomfortable manner.”