1492 Up To Date
Encyclopedia
1492 Up To Date is a burlesque, created in observance of the quadricentennial of Columbus's
finding the New World. The libretto is by R. A. Barnet, with music by Carl Pflueger. It was presented by Edward E. Rice
's "Surprise Party."
It was originally written for and presented by the Boston
Independent Corps of Cadets in 1892. The show opened in New York City on May 15, 1893 at Palmer's Theatre, and was performed in revival for several years, with alterations and additional characters. During an 1895 revival, Queen Isabella was portrayed by Marie Dressler
.
The show has been described as "a musical, historical, mellow drama
(sic) that threw together bits of opera comique
, comic opera
, stereopticon projections
, extravaganza
, farce-comedy, vaudeville
, local comedy, burlesque, and even minstrel
sy."
.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
finding the New World. The libretto is by R. A. Barnet, with music by Carl Pflueger. It was presented by Edward E. Rice
Edward E. Rice
Edward Everett Rice was an American musical composer and theater producer active during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, known primarily for being a pioneer of American musical theater and introducing to Broadway a musical by African-American writers and performers.-Biography:Edward Everett...
's "Surprise Party."
It was originally written for and presented by the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Independent Corps of Cadets in 1892. The show opened in New York City on May 15, 1893 at Palmer's Theatre, and was performed in revival for several years, with alterations and additional characters. During an 1895 revival, Queen Isabella was portrayed by Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American actress and Depression-era film star. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1930-31 in Min and Bill.-Early life and stage career:...
.
The show has been described as "a musical, historical, mellow drama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
(sic) that threw together bits of opera comique
Opera Comique
The Opera Comique was a 19th-century theatre constructed in Westminster, London, between Wych Street and Holywell Street with entrances on the East Strand. It opened in 1870 and was demolished in 1902, to make way for the construction of the Aldwych and Kingsway...
, comic opera
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
, stereopticon projections
Stereopticon
A stereopticon is a slide projector or "magic lantern", which has two lenses, usually one above the other.These devices date back to the mid 19th century, and were a popular form of entertainment and education before the advent of moving pictures...
, extravaganza
Extravaganza
An extravaganza is a literary or musical work characterized by freedom of style and structure and usually containing elements of burlesque, pantomime, music hall and parody. It sometimes also has elements of cabaret, circus, revue, variety, vaudeville and mime...
, farce-comedy, vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, local comedy, burlesque, and even minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
sy."
Characters and original cast
- Ferdinand of AragonFerdinand II of AragonFerdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
, King of Spain – Walter Jones - Charley Tatters, a fringe on the edge of the crust of society – Walter Jones
- Alonzo de Quintanilla, royal treasurer – Edward M. Favor
- Don JuanDon JuanDon Juan is a legendary, fictional libertine whose story has been told many times by many authors. El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra by Tirso de Molina is a play set in the fourteenth century that was published in Spain around 1630...
, the King's son, aged four – Will H. Sloan - Felix, of the tribe of coppers – Will H. Sloan
- Martin Pinzon, conspirator of the old-fashioned type – Charles F. Walton
- Don Pedro Magarritte, conspirator of the old-fashioned type – John C. Slavin
- Charles VIIICharles VIII of FranceCharles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
, King of France – Louise de Smith - Don Ferdinand Allegro, a regular "chappie" up to date – Yolande Wallace
- Adolphus Fitzfoozle, a regular "chappie" up to date – Yolande Wallace
- Maid Marian, a sailor lassie – Yolande Wallace
- Maid Mabel, a sailor lassie – Eileen Karl
- Jim Confidence, of the tribe of buncoes – C. J. Alden
- Erasmus, a vendor of maize – Gilbert Gregory
- Isabella of Castille – Richard Harlow
- Fräulein, a German waif – Theresa Vaughn
- Infanta Joanna, in love with Columbus – Theresa Vaughn
- Infanta Catalina, her sister – Hattie Williams
- Bridga de Murphy, of the royal household of the new world – Edith Sinclair
- Mary Ann Kehoe, of the royal household of the new world – Edith Sinclair
- Christopher Columbus – Mark Smith
Songs
- Opening Chorus
- The Treasurer's Song
- The King's Song
- Grand Processional and Ballet/Queen's Song
- Spanish Dance
- Finale Act I
- Columbus' Vision
- Chorus of Newsboys
- Conspirators' Music
- Casino Girls' Chorus
- Finale Act II
- Barcarolle (arr. from a Spanish air)
- Vocal March-Return of Columbus
- Amazon March (Spanish)
- Ballet Music/Solo/Finale
- Finale
Archival materials
Many of the original performance materials are housed in the library of the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.