LIVING WHIST — To be Produced at the Hyperion Next Monday and Tuesday by Local Talent — The Production Successful at Philadelphia, Boston, Salem and Portland.
“The production of the game ‘Living Whist,’ which is to be presented at the Hyperion theater on Monday and Tuesday evenings of next week, promises to be an entertainment as unique as it will be beautiful. This kind of entertainment is finding popular favor throughout the country, as much for its freshness to the public and its originality as for the beauty of terpsichorean art and stage costumes which it displays. The scheme originated in England two or three years ago, and last winter it was first produced in this country under the patronage of Mrs. General George B. McClellan at Philadelphia. It has also been produced at Boston and Salem, Mass., and at Portland, Me., at all of which places it met with flattering success, and also received excellent notices from the press of those cities.
A veritable game of whist — truly living whist — is played on the stage. The four players in this city will be Roger Sherman, General Embler, E. C. Bennett and A. D. Osborn. Hearts are trumps and all the various parts of the game, as the deal, the shuffle, etc., will be produced on the stage by men and women in gorgeous costumes.
The players head the procession, which possesses throughout a pretty series of marches and countermarches, the different suits in line led by the ace. Then by some sort of clever arrangement the cards are settled upon the floor and a fascinating chaos of movement and color rules until each card is in place. Then the pack is cut and the deal is passed.
Mme. A. S. Arcan and her husband formerly conducted a school of dancing and deportment in this city and won quite an enviable reputation. From this city she goes to produce the game at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn for the benefit of the Brooklyn nursery and hospital.
Five rehearsals are required for the successful production of the game. Private rehearsals have to be held for many of the more difficult dances.
After the close of the entertainment at the Hyperion Tuesday evening a reception and dance will be given in Warner hall to those who took part in it with their friends. Dancing until 1 a. m. Tickets can be obtained from Mrs. G. M. Allen personally.”
-Excerpt courtesy of Newspapers.com, New Haven Daily Morning Journal and Courier, Thursday, November 24, 1892. (top) “The ‘Living Whist’ game played for the Masonic Bazaar, near Dublin.” Image courtesy of Newspapers.com, The San Francisco Call, Sunday, June 12, 1892
THEY PLAY WHIST — New Haven Society People Indulge in a Quiet Game at the Hyperion — Every Card Alive — Gay Costumes and Bewildering Dances — Some Very Pleasing Features.
“A unique entertainment, ‘Living Whist’ was presented at this theater last evening. It is a spectacular representation of a game of whist. Fifty-two persons, equally divided between pretty girls and handsome gentlemen, made up the cast, under the management of Mme. Arcan of Boston. Miss Cadwell in her whistling solos pleased all, and was repeatedly encored. In the opinion of many she equals the celebrated Mrs. Shaw. The royal cards are represented by persons in costumes of the eighteenth century; the aces were represented by pretty and graceful girls in white, with the spot of the card they represented fasted on their bodices in front. The rest of the young ladies were dressed in vari-colored gowns to suit the cards they represented. As the gaily colored crowd moved across the stage in the maze of the dance, it presented an exceedingly gay and festive appearance. The players were A. D. Osborne, R. M. Sherman, General Embler, and E. C. Bennett. The fifth trick, called the Ruddygore Hornpipe, was the first to attract much applause. This was acted by Miss Hale, W. L. Loomis, Mr. Hull and Miss Frances Ross. The knaves were all good and received much merited applause. The twelfth trick, the Polka Francais, was by far the cutest of all. This was performed by Miss Coombs, Mr. Chauncey Lamb, Miss Dryckneck and Mr. Neare. But the figure that bore off the palm was the final one, participated in by Howard Fish, Mrs. W. L. Loomis, Mr. George Kelly and Miss Esther Embler. Miss Embler, who is a very pretty girl, was conceded to be the most graceful dancer. The costumes were made expressly for ‘Living Whist’ by a Boston costumer. The royal cards then appeared and danced a quadrille. This entertainment will be repeated this evening and no doubt will be largely attended.”
-Excerpt courtesy of Newspapers.com, New Haven Daily Morning Journal and Courier, Thursday, November 24, 1892.
Roger Sherman house 