Saratoga

Saratoga ; or, Pistols for Seven (1870), a comedy by Bronson Howard. [ Fifth Avenue Theatre, 101 perf.] Bob Sackett (James Lewis) is engaged to the lovely belle Effie Remington (Fanny Davenport), but he has also, in one manner or another, promised himself to the widow Olivia Alston (Fanny Morant), the newly wed Lucy Carter (Clara Morris), and the popular little flirt Virginia Vanderpool (Linda Dietz). Attempting to escape from the mess he has gotten himself into, Bob takes off for Saratoga, where, to his horror, he is confronted by the four women as well as by Lucy's wildly jealous husband, Frederick (J. Burnett), and the elder Vanderpools (William Davidge and Mrs. Gilbert). One of the finest of American 19th‐century comedies, this broadly farcical piece produced by Augustin Daly was also one of the first American works to achieve widespread international popularity. It was done in England as Brighton and in Germany as Seine erste und einzige Liebe.