Daly's Theatre Program for "Much Ado About Nothing" from January 5, 1897. The 1896-1897 theatre season in New York was an arduous one for all theatres, as there was a business depression underway. Many stand-alone theatres were closing, such as Richard Mansfield's Theatre and Palmer's Theatre. Legitimate drama was not doing well in the economic atmosphere. Daly resorted to old standards and musical comedies for this theatre season, of which "Much Ado About Nothing" was a part. Daly's brother remarks in Daly's biography that the production was very costly (expenses exceeding that of musical comedies), but worth the investment as the production was splendid, receiving warm reviews from the press and playing successfully for the remainder of the season. Ada Rehan played the role of Beatrice, and Charles Richman, Benedick. However, the actor who seemed to garner the most praise was Sidney Herbert in the role of Don John, a finished picture of malignity (Daly 604). Nancy McIntosh played Hero. Daly's sets were based upon models of the Theatre Odeon of Paris. <br> The program, folded in half, is printed on a single sheet of paper 10 x 13. It lists Herbert Gresham as Don Pedro, John Craig as Claudio, and William Griffith as Dogberry. The front cover features a photograph of Miss Rehan and a listing of the performances at Daly's Theatre for the remainder of that week in January. The back cover depicts the Lyceum Theatre in London and Theatre Du Vaudeville in Paris, the Theatres of Mr. Daly's Successes Abroad, along with a photograph of Mr. William Sampson as Wun-Hi in The Geisha, an extremely popular musical comedy offering at Daly's that season. Production(s) represented: William Tell, Davy Jones or Harlequin and Mother Carey's Chickens. Character role(s) represented: Mr. William Charles Macready (William Tell), Mr. H. Wallack (Gesler), Mr. Thompson (Sarnem), Mr. W. Bennett (Struth), Mr. Howard (Rodolph), Mr. Howell (Lutold), Mr. Ross (Braun), Miss Russell (Anneli), Miss Faucit (Agnes), Miss Poole (Tell's Son), Mr. Younge (Melchtal), Mr. Cathie (Erni), Mr. Fenton (Furst), Mr. Cooke (Verner), Mr. Hughes (Waldman), Mr. Cooper (Michael), Mr. J. Vining (Jagheli), Mr. Eaton (Pierre), Mr. Honner (Theodore), Miss Huddart (Emma, Tell's Wife) , Artistic role(s) represented: Mr. William Charles Macready (Actor), Mr. H. Wallack (Actor), Sheridan Knowles (Playwright).