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"Barney the Baron" and Irish Theatre in Civil War Gotham.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:125.00 USD Estimated At:250.00 - 325.00 USD
 Barney the Baron  and Irish Theatre in Civil War Gotham.
Civil War-date theatrical broadside, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apr. 8-9, (18)63, for a program of Irish drama, "fairy spectacle," and "roaring farce." 7 3/4 x 22. Local imprint of "Brooklyn City News Print, 368 Fulton St." The evening began with "Fairy Circle, Or, Con O'Carolan's Dream - It is the common superstition among the Irish Peasants, that the person who has sufficient courage to sleep within the charmed precincts of a 'Fairy Circle,' will dream of the whereabouts of some rich and deeply buried treasure...These 'Fairy Circles' are strange freaks of nature...." Starring internationally-famous stars of the stage Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams, the latter as "the good woman that owns Con O'Carolan." In the following spectacle, Mrs. Williams plays five different roles, male and female, including "Gertrude, an Orange Girl, with Song." "To conclude with the Roaring Farce of Barney the Baron." Lower half of broadside offers, "...positively last night but one...the interesting Irish Drama...'Ireland As It Was,'" the Williamses portraying Ragged Pat and Judy O'Trot, plus "Customs of the Country" and "Irish Tutor." Now the height of trendiness (and expensiveness), waterfront Brooklyn then had large populations of Irish, most having immigrated during the Potato Famine. Still running strong today, the Academy of Music offered them splendorous surroundings for as little as 25C/. Light waterstains, tear at upper left corner, tears and tattering of blank edges, usual fine wrinkles, but good, and delightful for display. Civil War date theatrical broadsides, especially with exclusively-ethnic programs, are desirable. Lacking in Brooklyn Historical Society collections. WorldCat locates no examples. Perhaps a unique survivor.