Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

“The ONLY LEON, a la Bonfanti, Richings, Lucchi, Kellogg.”

[Leon probably impersonated these prima donnas in his Cinder-leon piece.]

“If any person is afflicted with the blues we could not recommend a better specific than a visit to Kelly & Leon’s while the Madagascar ballet troupe are there. Kellifanti pirouetting on the bottom of a waterpail, and posing himself à la premiere danseuse; Seymourgalli stretching forth a leg and foot of intold [sic] dimensions while forming a part of some fairy tableau; Leon executing a solo on his toes, and the dusky coryphées, the fish and demon dances, red fire, grotto of Stalacta, and others too numerous to mention, as they say in the bill, nightly attract crowded houses. The spectacular burlesque of Cinder-Leon is one of the best things of the kind we have seen in any minstrel hall.”

“The burlesque of ‘Cinder-Leon,’ produced by the Kelly and Leon Minstrels, is certainly the best thing of the kind offered by any minstrel band in this city for a long time. From the moment the scene opens on the affair until the curtain falls, the acts are so ridiculously funny that the audiences are convulsed with laughter. The sketch opens with a ballet of six dancers, and their movements are very laughable. Then we have the dance of the ‘Amazons’ by Seymour, Allen, Brockway and one other, who soon after change to the four demons, a la ‘Black Crook.’ The make-up and general appearance of this party, as well as their terpsichorean movements, set the audience almost wild with enthusiasm. The apotheosis follows, and it is the most laughable burlesque we have ever seen a minstrel party produce. Nelse Seymour, as one of the demons, with his long legs and his huge waterfall, presents a ludicrous appearance. Mr. Kelly appears as one of the ballet, and is as ridiculous in his dancing as any one could wish to see in a burlesque. The finishing of the dance, by standing upon water-buckets, is very funny. The whole affair has been placed upon the stage in good style, and should enjoy a long run. As a burlesque, it savors more of the ‘Black Crook’ than of ‘Cendrillon.’ Previous to the burlesque, the company appeared in a number of songs, dances and sketches. Leon appeared as a prima donna, burlesquing Louisa Kellogg, Parepa, Zucchi, Brignoli and others in good style. Nelse Seymour and Sam Price appeared in ‘Odds and Ends,’ and judging from the manner in which they were received by the audience, we should say they were great favorites, as they were called out six times.”