A PARLOR MATCH

   Charles H. Hoyt's three-act farce, which opened on 22 September 1884 for 16 performances at Tony Pastor's Theatre, was little more than an excuse for interpolated songs and dances within the lighthearted plot of two small-time hustlers who convince Captain William Kidd that he is a medium. Working with Kidd's daughter, ironically named Innocent, they hold séances while searching Kidd's house for items to steal. In the play's most memorable scene, one of the thieves is forced to hide in a drawer. The play became a popular touring attraction and actor William F. Hoey interpolated the music hall song "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo." A Parlor Match was revived in 1896 as a vehicle for Anna Held's American stage debut.