62
 

A  HISTORY   OF  THE   NEW  YORK  STAGE
 

C1869
 

Bonfanti led the ballet. Maretzek and Torriani were the con¬
ductors. The season closed May 26. A company of French
artists, with Mile. Moreau, acted Sardou's "Seraphine," May 25.
Tostee bid one farewell to the United States May 29, but made
another at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, May 31. The Cuban patri¬
ots had a benefit July 20. The entertainment consisted of or¬
chestral performances directed by Carl Anschutz; ballets led by
the Miles. Diana, Baretta, Lucille, Therese, and Mathilde; piano¬
forte solos by Harry Sanderson; singing by Arthur Mathison, and
French vaudeville by Francis, Benedick, Cellini, and Aberle. At
the close of the performance the Marseillaise was sung by the com¬
pany and twenty Cuban soldiers in uniform. The affair was under
the management of Starr Morrissey, Sam Genese, and Edmund
Gerson.

Sept. 10, a benefit was tendered by Edwin Booth to the family of
J. G. Hanley, formerly stage manager of the Winter Garden and
Wallack's Theatre. The play was "Othello," John McCullough,
the Moor; Edwin Booth, lago; W. E. Sheridan, Cassio; Mrs.
Emma Waller, Emilia; and Blanche de Bar, Desdemona; the
other characters were sustained by Edward Lamb, W. R. Floyd,
A. W. Fenno, and John L. Matthews. Prof. Herrmann, magician,
appeared Sept. 15 (his first appearance in five years), the proceeds
being for the benefit of the Avondale sufferers. Herrmann contin¬
ued for two evenings each week until Oct. 18. Dryane and company
commenced a season of French opera Sept. 22, with "La Juive,"
cast as follows:
 

Eleazar......M. Tabardi

Cardinal Brogni      .    .    .     M. Tasson

Leopold.....M. Girrebeuck

Albert.......M. Mestre
 

Ruggiero......M. Haesler

Officer.......M. Bles

Rachel .    .    .     Mme. Faye-Fanschetti
Princesse Edoscie     Mme. G. Devillers
 

The ballets were led by Miles. Wesmael, Billon, and M. Van
Hamme, and M. Van Ghele was the musical director. " Les Mous-
quetaires de la Reine" was given Sept. 24, when Euphemie Bleau,
from the Imperial Opera House, Paris, made her first appearance
as Athenais De Solanges. "La Juive" was repeated on Sept. 29,
and "Les Mousquetaires," Sept. 27. The B. P. O. Elks had their
annual benefit matinee, Sept. 28, when most of the variety theatres
and minstrel establishments in town were represented. " Robert
le Diable" was announced for Oct. i, but the collapse of the
season prevented its performance. It was, however, subsequently
given by the French artists, for their own benefit, Oct. 8, and at
a matinee, Oct. 9, "Lucia di Lammermoor" was sung in French.
Nov. I, a variety entertainment for the benefit of the Ladies' Aid
society and German hospital, among those assisting being Jim
Mace, James Taylor, Tony Pastor, J.  K.  Emmet,   Leopold  and