Immediately following [Mrs. A. Drake] came that wonderful youth, Joseph Burke. He commenced with the performance of (484) Romeo; Mercutio, N. M. Ludlow; Peter, T. Placide; Juliet, Miss E. Riddle; and he performed in the farce, the same night, Terry O’Rourke, in the “Irish Tutor.” Next night, he appeared in an old man, personating Sir Abel Handy, in the comedy of “Speed the Plough.” Between the play and farce he performed a concerto on the violin, composed by De Beriot, and concluded the night in enacting Terry, in “The Day After the Fair,” in which he represented six different characters. The next night, he performed Dennis Brulgruddrry, in “John Bull;” concluding the evening with the “March of Intellect,” in which he represented six different characters, played an air on the violin, with variations, an danced a sailor’s hornpipe. The next evening he performed Sir Patrick O’Plenipo, in the “Irish Ambassador;” concluding with an interesting drama, written expressly for him, in which he performed five different characters and played upon eight different musical instruments, and finally composed an extempore overture on the stage, instructing the orchestra how to accompany him without hooks. The following night Master Burke played Doctor Lenitive, in the farce of “The Prize, or 2, 5, 3, 8;” after which was performed another farce called “Touch and Take,” and the evening’s entertaining concluded with the eccentric farce of the “Omnibus:” Pat Rooney, Master Burke, in which he sang “Pat was a Darlin’ Boy.” Monday evening, August 28th, was performed Sheridan’s admirable comedy of the “School for Scandal:” Sir Peter Teazle, Master Burke; Charles Surface, X. M. Ludlow; Crabtree, Mr. De Camp; Lady Teazle, Miss E. Riddle. The evening concluded with “Teddy the Tiler:” Teddy Mullowny, Master Burke. Master Burke’s benefit was announced for the Wednesday following. On Tuesday evening, August 29th, Mr. Charles B. Parsons made his first appearance as a “star” before the St. Louis Public, as Damon, in Shiel’s play of “Damon and Pythias,” the Calanthe of the night being Miss E. Riddle after which was performed “Charles the II.” The following night was the benefit and laster appearance of Master Burke, on which occasion he performed Sir Patrick O’Plenipo, in the “Irish Ambassador;” this was followed with a “musical melange,” in which Master Burke performed a concerto on the violin, sang the Irish song of “Rory O’ More,” played a fantasia on the violin on one string, consisting of several Irish and other national airs. He then sang a duet with Miss Petrie, entitled, “When a Little Farm we Keep;” composed an overture on the stage; concluding with an Irish farce, played for the first (485) time in St. Louis, entitled, “More Blunders than One:” Larry Hoolaghan, Master Burke (486).
Dramatic Life as I Found It (N.M. Ludlow — G. I. Jones and Company) 1880: 484-486. Print.
Burke, Dramatic Life as I Found It (N.M Ludlow — G. I. Jones and Company), 1880, 484-485
Burke, Dramatic Life as I Found It (N.M Ludlow — G. I. Jones and Company), 1880, 486