Colleen Bawn

Event Information

Venue(s):
Wallack's Theatre

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
12 January 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

31 Jul 1865, Evening
01 Aug 1865, Evening
02 Aug 1865, Evening
03 Aug 1865, Evening
04 Aug 1865, Evening
05 Aug 1865, Evening

Program Details

Benefit for Dan Bryant on Friday, August 4, 1865.

Colleen Bawn includes the songs “The Cruiskeen lawn,” “The Pretty girl milking her cow,”and “Limerick is beautiful."

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
aka Cruskeen lawn; Darby Maguire
Composer(s): Benedict
Participants:  Ione [vocal/actor] Burke
3)
aka Valley lay smiling before me, The; Pretty girl milking her cow, A
Composer(s): Benedict
Participants:  Ione [vocal/actor] Burke
4)
Composer(s): Benedict
Participants:  Dan Bryant

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 29 July 1865, 7.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 31 July 1865, 7.
3)
Announcement: New-York Times, 31 July 1865, 5.
4)
Review: New-York Times, 01 August 1865, 4.

     “It was a happy moment for Manager Moss when he conceived the idea of producing ‘The Colleen Bawn,’ with Dan Bryant as the exceedingly Milesian Myles.  The announcement caused a rush to the box-office; the production necessitated a grand success.  Of course the house was full; it would be so if Dan Bryant were advertised in ‘Hamlet,’ or a solusjigadoon.  The boys slot their cues and long nines, the ladies dropped the latest novel, and together thronged, not alone the Wallack-Mossinian gateway, but likewise the entire house, from lowest chair to loftiest perch.  Criticism of Dan Bryant’s performance would be an infliction upon the people; the weather is fearfully warm, and the city needs no excitement.  We may be pardoned, therefore, if we simply record the fact that from the moment when the eccentric Na-Coppaleen makes his appearance, through the sundry scenes where whisky-jugs, short pipes and long songs have their appropriate place, to the final ‘hurroo’ of triumph, the friends of the star of the occasion insured themselves most liberal baths of perspiratory sequence to their vociferous and clappiferous applause.  Miss Ione Burke made a tender, loving Eily O’Connor, and shared the honors of the night with Mr. Bryant.

     The bill will be continued through the week, and the house will be crowded continually.  The production was an entire success, artistically, pecuniarily and audiencially.  The Summer seasons of Manager Moss are becoming features of our stay-at-home clubs’ city life.  Long may they wave.”

5)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 05 August 1865.
6)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 05 August 1865, 134.

     Includes a list of the cast.  “Dan Bryant continues to fill Wallack’s theatre nightly, and he is applauded just as much in the wrong places as in the right, showing the ignorance of his audiences, and the popularity of the ‘young Irish comedian.’  This week a change of programme is announced, Boucicault’s ‘Colleen Bawn’ being the play, with Dan Bryant as Miles…Here, then, we have two of our leading theatres playing Boucicault’s Irish dramas in very lively competition.  Of the two plays we prefer the ‘Collen Bawn’ to ‘Arrah-na Pogue.’ Isn’t it a bit odd that the audiences of our ‘leading theatres’ should so favour the Irish drama as they are now doing? A genteel, legitimate comedy, well cast, and well played, would not attract half an audience now at either Niblo’s or Wallack’s; yet night after night, and week after week, the sensational and Irish drama continues to crowd both places. Have the Fenians or the ‘Wearing of the Green’ anything to do with this state of affairs? Who knows?”

7)
Announcement: New-York Times, 05 August 1865, 4.

     “Dan Bryant continues his triumphant career, appearing to-night, for the last time, in ‘The Colleen Bawn.’”

8)
Review: New York Clipper, 12 August 1865, 142.

     “The play was well put on the stage, and pretty well performed.  Dan’s Myles was clever, and Floyd’s Danny Man very good; Ione Burke’s Colleen Bawn was tolerable.  The entire performance gave satisfaction, warranting the managers in repeating the bill this week.”