The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15
GRAND DUKES. OPERA HOUSE.

A. MATINEE PERFORMANCE WHICH WAS REM
DEnED MEMORABLE BY THE PRESENCE OF
SEVERAL THEATRICAL LIGHTS.
The announcement that the company who are
playing in the .sGrand Dukes Opera House." Baxter
street, would give IA matinee performance in the
afternoon for the entertainment OF professional
actors" filled yesterday that gem of theatre with an
audience among whom were many distinguished
artists whose business 1t .hod the mirror up 70
nature" As Its locality Indicates, the Grand
Duke is a downtown opera house. 1t Is centrally,
though not ostentaously, located the populous
district OF Five Points. A friendly "cop' went q few
yards of his beat to show the way 10 tho s'dive."
This was from the street down several djonted stone
steps into diminutive areaway whose dilapidated
pavement matched the steps. wooden pump stood
the further end oil the area and fresh covering Of
sawdust that indicated the way down few more
steps the semi-subterranean body OF the theatre
showed what pains Mr. Peter Connors, the proprietor
and manager had taken Tor the comiort his profess
visitors The body OF the theatre. the
ager says. capable OF holding audience Of least
one hundred patrons when thrown together like
..horrngs in q crecI." Although the architectural
plan OF the establishment does not admit OF boxes
dress circle galleries, yet tho seats in tho audi
forum command three different prices. Seats on the
front rows, Tho three Kerosene lamps that
for ootlghts are fifteen cents cach on the seats be-
last OF unique benches and the door, five cents.
The anager that the tme OF the Brooklyn
ciaent, and Is ablo 10 empty the house within tho
regulation time Of three minutes Gas Deing costly
explosive which enters largely into the business OF the
stage, the company havo long coased to 1t az
Illuminating agent, preierrng TO have 1t do its
part Us a s.laughingh medium. Tho rules OF the
house preventing visitors from using the ''frag
weed every awaited himself OF THIS privilege
the fullest extent 1t was, therefore, with diff
Guilty that, through clouds Of smoke thick enough
cut into blocks, the demon like figures no occu-
pied the stage Ia their own peculiar could be dis
cerned. The audience was undoubtedly the most
critical one for It's size, that has assembled
this city; and IL the opinion Of Mr. Tony Pastor,
who gave tho entertainment to "the boys,n be worth
anything, the performances was good and showed
capital acting Besdes Mr.. Pastor there pres
eni among Others the following actors:-Messrs.
O'Ncill, Sol Smith Russell, Rice, Polk, Billy Birch,
Walsh Edwards Henry and John Kernel, Scanlan,
Cron,n Gus Williams, Billy Gray, WATSON Ellis.
Smith and Waldroo, Cannon Kennedy, Haven, s. Il.
Morris and j. Allen. These professionals seemed to
enjoy amazingly the graphic style OF acting displayed
by the unabashed local stars who, upon this important
OCCASION did their best TO please The principal
were Messrs. Hawthorne. Burke, Miles, Doyle and
Sullivan. The programme contained many choice
nor sells, such as 'srho Wrong Man." "The Toasted
Turk" ''Sundny Night When the paror's Full, !" "rho
Old Toll House Robbery and others OF similar
quality. There was some rafting clog and jig dancing
comic singing and 'contortoning" by OF tho
pany. No "iadies" were present.