On December 22, 1900, a Boston newspaper previewed an upcoming holiday show called Uncle Eph's Christmas, which was a collaboration between lyricist Paul Laurence Dunbar and composer Will Marion Cook.
On Christmas Eve, Boston Music Hall will be reopened. The program for the week of December 24 will be notable for the presentation for the first time of an original musical in one act, entitled Uncle Eph's Christmas. The music has been composed by Will Marion Cook; Paul Laurence Dunbar has written the book and the lyrics. The leading comedian is Ernest Hogan, a colored player and song writer of note, and he will be assisted by twenty-six specially selected comedians, singers and dancers. Rehearsals have been in progress in New York for several weeks, and a smooth and pleasing performance is assured.
"Boston Music Hall Vaudeville." Boston Beacon (Boston, Massachusetts). December 22, 1900.
Uncle Eph's Christmas premiered on December 24, 1900, and was highly praised by newspaper critics.
The scene is laid in a Southern plantation home, and the action opens gaily with preparations for the annual Christmas dinner. It is evident that a big party is pending, and sure enough in a few moments the arrivals begin. When the room is filled the fun opens, and there follow such a liberal show of dancing, singing and genuine comedy that the spectators are moved to hilarity. The idea certainly is novel in vaudeville, and its production on a lavish scale indicates the faith which is entertained in its success.
"Boston Music Hall Vaudeville." The Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts). December 20, 1900.
"Uncle Eph's Christmas," book and lyrics by Dunbar, the talented colored author, seems again to be the hit of an excellent bill of entertainment. The music of its comedy is as clear as a bell, and the dancing is very spirited. Ernest Hogan has done splendidly by the incidental songs, and shows his versatility by depicting two separate characterizations, while Abbie Mitchell, "just from Vassar," has the most charming airs and graces in the world. In all there are 30 colored men and women in the little play, beside the pickaninnies, and their natural adaptability and evident desire to please make Mr. Dunbar's production a decided success.
"Boston Music Hall." Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts). January 1, 1900.
One song that was especially popular in Uncle Eph's Christmas was "Down de Lover's Lane." The lyrics were similar to Paul's poem "Lover's Lane," which had been published several months earlier in his book Lyrics of the Hearthside.
Summer night an' sighin' breeze,
'Long de Lover's Lane,
Friendly, shadder-makin' trees,
'Long de Lover's Lane.
White fo'ks wuk all done up gran',
Me an' Mandy han' in han',
Struttin' lak we owned de lan',
'Long de Lover's Lane.
Coon a-settin' side de road,
'Long de Lover's Lane,
Lookin' at us lak he knowed
Dis uz Lover's Lane.
Min' yo biz'ness, Mister Coon,
You ain't nevah loved in June,
An' come hidin' f'um de moon,
Down in Lover's Lane.Excerpt from "Down de Lover's Lane," by Paul Laurence Dunbar. From Clorindy, or the Origin of the Cakewalk (1898) and Uncle Eph's Christmas (1900).
It was a gala night at Boston Music Hall last evening. The performance this week is noteworthy for the first presentation on any stage of "Uncle Eph's Christmas," an original musical and characteristic comedy by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Will Marion Cook. In it appear 30 colored men and women, all lusty singers and enduring dancers. Earnest Hogan, he of the far-reaching voice, capacious smile and distinct enunciation, heads the company, and was warmly applauded for his good work. His song, "Possum Am de Best Meat After All," made an instant hit, and was demanded again and again. "Lovers' Lane," the solo sung by Miss Abbie Mitchell, is another pretty number.
"Boston Music Hall: Vaudeville." The Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts). December 25, 1900.
Of the performance, only superlatives can be used. "Uncle Eph's Christmas" is all that has been promised, and proves to be one of the most delightful and novel things ever conceived. It is a comedy in which colored folk figure exclusively. Ernest Hogan heads the company and as a comedian he is splendid. His song, "Possum Am de Best Meat After All," is bound to be sung all over the city in a week, for the words are bright and the refrain is very catchy. Abbie Mitchell also is good in the song with chorus, "Lover's Lane," and, in fact, the entire entertainment is wholesome and amusing.
"Boston Music Hall: Vaudeville." The Boston Gazette (Boston, Massachusetts). December 29, 1900.
During the second week of production, new songs were added to the show, and audiences continued to flock to Uncle Eph's Christmas.
The program at Boston Music Hall this week must be one which meets with popular approval, for the two audiences of yesterday taxed the capacity of the auditorium. Certainly there is much to please and much to commend. "Uncle Eph's Christmas," which enters auspiciously on its second week, was good at the start, but now it is better, for the dialogue has been pruned, and one or two new musical numbers have been interpolated. One of these, "Ma Little Jungle Queen," is sung by Mr. Levers and the chorus, and is bound to be a hit.
"Boston Music Hall: Vaudeville." Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts). January 1900.
Judging by the attitude of the audience at Boston Music Hall last evening, "Uncle Eph's Christmas" continues to be the favorite feature of the program. Several new numbers have been introduced. Ernest Hogan again brought down the house with his topical song, and later with his 'possum song, while as usual the choruses and the dances went with great snap and effect.
"Boston Music Hall." The Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts). January 1, 1901.
Composers such as Walter Damrosch and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor had turned Paul's verses into art songs, but his collaborations with Will Marion Cook were of the vaudeville or minstrel show variety. Some reviews of Uncle Eph's Christmas described the music as "coon songs," a term that is considered offensive today.
It is in connection with "coon" songs that Mr. Dunbar is best known. Probably there is no more popular writer of these delightful dialect songs than he. Certainly, his lyrics have been accorded an unwonted popularity and great sales. "Uncle Eph's Christmas," which is to be presented at Boston Music Hall this week, contains some of his most tuneful "coon" songs.
"'Coon' Songs as Lyrics." The Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts). December 23, 1900.
"Uncle Eph's Christmas," the libretto of which was written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, will be the strong feature of this week's bill at Boston Music Hall. "Uncle Eph's Christmas" is filled to overflowing with those bright, fascinating "coon" songs, written by the prince of "coon" song writers, Mr. Dunbar. Will Marion Cook is responsible for the music in "Uncle Eph's Christmas." Mr. Dunbar is the most popular "coon" song writer now putting his wares before the public. Being born of the race about which he sings his songs, he naturally puts into them more real Negro life than any songster of the white race could.
"Paul Laurence Dunbar." The Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts). December 30, 1900.
If Paul Laurence Dunbar had been in the audience at Music Hall last night while "Uncle Eph's Christmas" was being played he would have hugged himself with joy. There was one constant stream of laughter and applause over this most interesting feature of the entertainment. All last week Mr. Dunbar's production made a tremendous hit, and last night it appeared to be more popular than ever. Young and old alike laughed and laughed at the fun-making piece, and the catchy coon songs made everybody feel as if he would just like to run upon the stage and join in the chorus.
"Music Hall." The Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts). January 1, 1901.