The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
BY J. CLARENCE HYDE.

NhT average tneatregOer is quite
familiar with the lines Of the old
song which run:
How happy could I be with either.
Were toth"r dear charmer away!
But while YOU thus tease me together.
To neither a word will I say
this song was from John Gays THE
Beggars Opera" the first musical play
presented upon the stage in America?
There Is wide span between the mid
die Of the eighteenth century in Colonial
New York when the statue Of King
George was the most conspicuous object
In Bowling Green. and to-day, when a
few blocks from that spot rises q COM
mercial building of fifty seven stories
There is a marked difference too in the
taste Of the public Of that period and
the public Of to-day. THE Beggar's
Opera" was produced at the Nassau
Street Theatre in New York on January
II, 1851. two and half years before the
coming of the Hallam Players, to whom
the credit Is usually given for the intro
duction Of the drama in the Colonies. J
was played by the MurraXand Kean COM
pany. The early history of the stage
In America " rather vague concerning
these pioneer actors. 1t is known, how.
ever. that the company included Murray
and his partner, Thomas Kean; Messrs.
Tremaine. Woodhanl. Jago Scott, Leigh
Smith. Moore. Marks. Master Murray.
Miss Nancy George. Miss Osborn. Mrs.
Taylor. Mrs. Osborne, Mrs. Leigh and
Mrs. Davis At that time the population
Of New York was about 10000 and the
city, which was a mile in length. con-
tanned perhaps $500 houses. many Of
brick. The streets We're irregular. but
being paved with round pebbles We're
clean and lined with green shade trees.
The houses. covered with tile roofs, were
two or three stories in height. At the
southwest point Of the city stood the
fort and within the walls was the house
where dwelt the Colonial Governor. OPP
posite the fort were the brick barracks.
The inhabitants OF New York were a
mixed people, many descended from the
original Dutch planters. A writer IA
miliar with the city declared "the Broad
way is the pleasantest street of any in
the whole town."
The Murray and Kean players came
from Philadelphia. Their arrival was
noted in the New York Gazette of Feb
ruary 26, 1850, in this way
Last week arrived here a company
Of comedians from Philadelphia. who,
We hear have taken a convenient room
for their purpose in one Of the buildings
lately belonging to the Honorable Rip
Van Dam, ESqr.. deceased. in Nassau
Street, where they intend to perform as
long as the season lasts. provided they |
meet with suitable encouragement
This building. according to Ireands
"Records Of the New York Stage" was
situated on the east side of Nassau |
street between John street and Maiden |
lane. 1t was converted into a church |
In 1853 by congregation OF German |
Calvinists. George ii. was the sover-
eign Of Great Britain, Admiral George |
Clinton was the Governor Of the prov |
ince Of New York and Edward Hol- |
land was the Mayor Of the city. George |
Washington was Is years of age, fol- |
lowing his profession as surveyor.
The Murray and Kean players gave the |
first play in New York, Shakespeare's |
tragedy OF Richard ILL.," on March s, |
1850. Thomas Kean was the first
Richard III. on the American stage
and he was the original Capt. Mac
heath In The Beggar's Opera" That
|
and displayed great versatility is con-
coded by stage historians. The Murray
and Kean company played in New
York from March s, 1850. to July 8,
1851. History is not clear as to their
arrival in this hemisphere, but it is
likely that they first landed In the
West Indies and next appeared in Phila-
delphia, where they presented Cato"
1ah |
very warm welcome on that occasion,
for Recorder William Allen reported
their performances to the Common
Council with the comment that certain
persons have lately taken it upon them
selves to act plays, and he expressed
the fear that their performances would
be attended by mischievous effects.
Among these evils he named the en-
Of ideness and the posi-
bility Of the performers drawing great
sums Of money from weak and incon-
Biderate persons who are apt to be
fond Of such entertainment though the
performers be ever 50 mean and con-
"The Beggar's Opera" on its first
presentation, January IA, 1851, was
given for the benefit of Thomas Kean,
and II Is likely that for some time pre-
vIous Mr.. kean had been calling upon
the principal inhabitants OF the city
and personally soliciting them to buy
tickets, for such was the custom OF
The period. 1t Is probable that the
music was supplied by a German flute,
} harpsichord, horn and drums. The ,
performance began at 6 o'clock in the
evening and lasted two hours and forty
Two minutes. They kept good hours In [