''A Parlor Match'' is an American

musical play Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

which debuted in 1884 and was one of the biggest hits of its time. It starred Charles E. Evans and William F. Hoey.Morden, Ethan
''Ziegfeld: The Man Who Invented Show Business''
p. 32 (2008) Charles H. Hoyt authored the play, adapting Evans' and Hoey's vaudeville piece "The Book Agent" (which came from an

afterpiece An afterpiece is a short, usually humorous one-act playlet or musical work following the main attraction, the full-length play, and concluding the theatrical evening.p24 "The Chambers Dictionary"Edinburgh, Chambers, 2003 This short comedy, farce ...

by Frank Dumont) into a full-length play. The scant plot involved two hustlers who convince Captain William Kidd that he is actually a medium, serving as a vehicle for interpolated songs and dances, which would vary over time as the play traveled, and aged.The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater
Retrieved 26 November 2013Cullen, Frank
Vaudeville, Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers ... Vol. I
p. 364-65 (2006)Hischak, Thomas S
Boy Loses Girl: Broadway's Librettists
p. 57 (2002) The play debuted on September 22, 1884, at

Tony Pastor Antonio Pastor (May 28, 1837 – August 26, 1908) was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid-to-late-nineteenth century. He was sometimes refe ...

's Theatre, and the show played far and wide over the following years. In the 1892-93 season of its run, the English

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

song " The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" was added to great success. Ziegfeld's actress

Anna Held Helene Anna Held (19 March 1872 – 12 August 1918) was a Polish-born French stage performer of Jewish origin on Broadway. While appearing in London, she was spotted by impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, who brought her to America as his common-law ...

debuted in an 1896 revival at the

Herald Square Theatre The Herald Square Theatre was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, New York City, built in 1883 and closed in 1914. The site is now a highrise designed by H. Craig Severance. History The Park Theatre opened in 1883 (also known as the New Park Th ...

, which also featured Evans and Hoey returning to their original roles.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Parlor Match, A American plays 1884 plays