Griffin and Christy’s Minstrels

“The great trio of Ethiopian satellites—Christy, Benedict and Burbank—who are performing nightly at the Fifth Avenue Opera House, attract the up-town playgoers in goodly numbers to their comfortable hall, with almost as unerring a certainty as the moon draws the waves of the sea.  And this human tide occurs regularly every evening, not only filling the house with smiling faces, but the treasury with ‘greenbacks.’  The delineations of negro character are of the first order, and the eccentric and mirth provoking interludes abound in funny sayings and ludicrous situations.  We have but one fault to find with this company, and that is the lack of changing their musical olio before it becomes too hackneyed and stale.  A little more attention to this portion of the programme, and at least one or two banjo solos and accompanying songs during the evening and they will be one of the best minstrel troupes in the city.” 

“Griffin & Christy’s Minstrels, at the Fifth Avenue Opera House, are doing nicely with their newly organized forces, among whom are Burbank (who is said to be a very clever comedian, C. Benedict, etc. The genial Griffin makes as good a [?] as performer, and that is saying a great deal.”