1873 Buffalo Bill Combination News

THE RAY

BOSTON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1873

BOSTON THEATRE.

J. B. BOOTH ............ Lessee and Manager.

The Scouts of the Prairie! ENGAGEMENT LIMITED TO SIX NIGHTS AND TWO MATINEES! THIS AFTERNOON, The Entertainment will commence with a Beautiful Terpsichorean Comedietta, written by Colonel Judson, to introduce the Graceful MORLACCHI in Four Exquisite Dances, entitled

LOVE'S BATTLE!

Or, Fairy Transformations ! NINETTE, with Entrance Sortita, Spanish Bolera, Caprice Schottice and Pollah Mazurka…….. M’LLE MORLACCHI CAPT. EURORE……...HARRY WENTWORTH FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT………. GEO. C. DAVENPORT MADAME DUBOIS……….. . ELLA BEACH

To conclude with Ned Buntline sensational Dramas of

SCOUTS OF THE PRAIRIE

BUFFALO HILL (by the original hero)...............HON. W. F. CODY TEXAS JACK (by the original hero)................J. B. OMOHUNDRO CAL DURG……………………………………...NED BUNTLINE MORMON BEN………………………………....HARRY WENTWORTH , PHELIM O’LAUGHERTY……………………....GEO. C. DAVENPORT CARL, PRETZEL………………………………..WALTER FLETCHER . HAZEL EYE……………………………………...SENORITA BLOE CARFANO

INDIANS. WOLF SLAYER (specially engaged for this part)... W. J. FLEMING BIG EAGLE……………………………………………….JOS, J. WINTER LITTLE BEAR……………………. ……………………..GEO. B. BEACH AR-FI-A-KA (Pawnee Indian Chiefs).………………….GRASSY CHIEF AS-GE-TES (Pawnee Indian Chiefs.).......................... PRAIRIE DOG AS-SIN-AN-WA (Pawnee Indian Chiefs.)....................... WATER CHIEF TE-CO-TIU-POWN (Pawnee Indian Chiefs.)................... BIG ELK KIT-KOT-TONS (Pawnee Indian Chiefs.)………………...GREAT RIVER CHUCK-KAK (Pawnee Indian Chiefs.)............................... SEVEN STARS DOVE EYE……………………………………………...M’LLE MORLACCHI NATOLAH………………………………………………. Mrs. BEACH For Synopsis of Scenery and Incidents, see the third page.

MATINEE ON SATURDAY AT 2 O’CLOCK!

Friday, Benefit of BUFFALO BILL and TAXES JACK. Saturday Night, Farewell and Benefit of NED BUNTLINE.

We have revealed in gore during the week just closed. This sanguinary treat was afforded us through the kindness of Messrs. Buffalo William, Texas John, and their wild and untutored sons of the forest. Those who cry for vengeance on the illicit killers in the Tombs, and pant for the blood of manslayers, should visit Niblo's Garden, and witness the soul stirring scenes of carnage presented by Mr. Edward Buntline's society drama of "The Scouts of the Prairie." We don't know when we have been so delighted. The stage is filled with the deservedly dead and dying from the rising of the curtain until the going down of the same. Swift retribution overtakes the brutal red devils in every act, and the scalping knife of the palefaces causes decline in the store price of black hair. There is something so refreshing, so inspiring in scenes like those presented in "The Scouts" that we long to see other writers follow in the path so boldly laid out by Mr. Buntline. and give us more of such domestic dramas of real life. In the midst of fire, and smoke, and death, and desolation, Mr. Buntline encompasses the attention of a son of the green isle of Erin, and into his unwilling ears he pours a real lecture on temperance, which puts brother Gough's nose out of joint. But we have no more space to devote to this Indian story. Go to Niblo's, while it is yet time. Go early. Take some other hard-drinker with you. "O-oo!" We have said...

Which have been published in weekly newspapers having a large circulation, and in order that the readers of these might have an opportunity to see these heroes in person this entertainment has been prepared. Mr. Cody appeared thoroughly at ease and evinced the possession of considerable dramatic ability. Texas Jack spoke his lines understandingly, and gave exhibitions of his skill in throwing the lasso, which elicited much applause. With the exception of George C. Davenport's clever impersonation of Phelim O'Laugherty, there was nothing worthy of comment in the supporting cast. It should be mentioned, however, that Mile. Morlacchi, the talented danseuse, appeared in a speaking part for the first time in this city on the initial performance; but we do not think she has added to her artistic reputation. A farce called The Broken Bank." written by “Ned Buntline” was performed during the early part of the week, but, failing to give satisfaction, it was withdrawn, and “A Kiss in the Dark" was substituted. It was fairly acted by George C. Davenport, Harry Wentworth, Miss Lizzie Safford. Mrs. Beach and Miss Maxwell. An audience which filled every seat, as well as all the standing room from which even a glimpse of the stage could be had, was present at the opening performance. Although the gallery was well filled nightly the attendance in the lower portions of the auditorium fell off in a marked degree, and it was noticeable that very few ladies were present. Mr. Voegtlin had painted entirely new scenery, which deserves praise. A very clever effect was introduced in the last scene. During the last act a large drop which hung at the rear of the stage represented a landscape on the line of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Just before the falling of the curtain, by means of strong lights behind the drop the entire picture changed. Groups of shrubbery were transformed into buffaloes, and an engine and train of cars were seen upon the railroad. The Scouts will appear during the present week.

CITY SUMMARY "THE SCOUTS OF THE PRAIRIE" was produced at Niblo's Garden on Monday evening, March 31, with the following cast: Buffalo Hill (By The Original Hero)...............Hon. W. F. Cody Texas Jack (By The Original Hero)................J. B. Omohundro Cal Durg……………………………………...Ned Buntline Mormon Ben………………………………....Harry Wentworth , Phelim O’laugherty……………………....Geo. C. Davenport Carl, Pretzel………………………………..Walter Fletcher . Hazel Eye……………………………………...Senorita Eloe Carfano INDIANS

“The Scouts of the Prairie" at Niblo’s. The Jong-promised production of The Scouts of the Prairie" at Niblo's was accomplished last night without accident. A densely crowded base greeted the heroes of the drams, and these were also the genuine heroes of many a feat on the Western prairies a piquancy and Interest were given to appearance seldom felt upon the appearance of real actors. The drama, of which we understand Ned Buntline is the author, is about everything in general and nothing in particular. Every act ends with a fight between the scouts and the Indians the Art act being still further embellished by a characteristic war dance. The Indiana, as well as the scouts, are the genuine article. The real hero of the piece is Cale Durg, the part represented by Ned Buntline, the American Balwer. Mr. Judson (otherwine Buntline) represents the part as badly as it is possible for any human being to represent it and the part is as bad as it was possible to make it. TheI Hon. Willian F. Cody, otherwise "Buffalo Bill '' And occasionally called by the refined people of the Eastern cities “Buffalo Bill,” is good looking fellow, tall and straight as an arrow, but ridiculous as an actor. Texas Jack, whose real name, we believe, in Omohundro, is not quite so good looking, not no tall, not so straight and not so ridiculous. Mile. Moriacchi, as Dove Eye, is only an insipid forest maiden, but the worst actor of the let is Senorita Carfana, the representative of Hazel Eye, a young white woman who is very tall, very, straight and very virtuous. She is worse, even, than Ned Buntline, and he is simply maundering imbecility. Her first appearance is ludicrous beyond the power of description, more ludicrous, even, than Ned Buntune's temperance address in the forest. To describe the play and its reception in alike impossible. The applause savored of derision, and the deriston of applause. Everything was so wonderfully bad that it was almost good. The whole performance was so far outside of human experience, so wonderful in its daring feebleness that no ordinary intellect is capable of comprehending it that no ordinary mortal can discuss it at any length with good taste and good t emper. Buffalo Bill was called before the curtain at the end of the first act, when he made a speech that was neat and appropriate, as well as short. The entertainment began with a farce by Ned Buntline, called “The Broken Bank,” probably the worst ever written, and certainly the worst acted atrocity ever seen on any stage.