1492 Up to Date or Very Near It (sometimes titled 1492[1]) is a burlesque extravaganza created in 1892 in observance of the quadricentennial of Columbus's expedition to the New World. The libretto is by R. A. Barnet.[2] with music by Carl Pflueger.[3] Its Broadway production was presented by Edward E. Rice's "Surprise Party" in 1893. The plot centers on Columbus, but in burlesque style, it has little to do with his historical story.[4]
It was originally written for and presented by the Boston Independent Corps of Cadets in February 1892.[4] The show opened in New York City on May 15, 1893, at Palmer's Theatre, to a sold-out and overflowing audience, produced by Rice's Surprise Party. The New York Times called the show "wild nonsense" that provoked "wholesome laughter" with "manifest intelligence and abundant humor" and noted that, by the end, the audience was calling for half a dozen encores of each song.[6] It ran over two seasons, and in two different houses, for 452 performances. After this, it was performed in revival and toured for several years, with alterations and additional characters. During an 1895 revival, Queen Isabella was portrayed by Marie Dressler.[7]
Plotedit
King Ferdinand's treasurer complains that the kingdom is short of funds. The king has been out having too much fun all night. Queen Isabella and Columbus arrive, and both go mad. Soon Columbus is in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York amidst a crowd of colorful New York types, such as newsboys, chorus girls, vagabonds and vendors. Columbus and his entourage of Old World Spaniards are amazed at the behavior of the New Yorkers. When Columbus returns to Spain, the royal family is living in poverty, doing their own washing. The royal family is amazed and amused by the explorers' stories of the New World. All ends happily.
^ ab"Notes of the Stage", The New York Times, May 14, 1893, p. 13. Program for the Tremont Theatre in Boston indicates the show opened on February 8, 1892.
^Smith, Cecil Michener and Litton, Glenn. Musical Comedy in America (1981), Routledge, ISBN0-87830-564-5, p. 26
^"1492 Is Funny", The New York Times, May 16, 1893
^Kennedy, Matthew. Marie Dressler Jefferson, N.C: McFarland, ISBN0-7864-2844-9, 2006, p. 28.
Other sources
Brown, Thomas Allston (1903). A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901. Dodd, Mead and company. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
Further readingedit
Carl Pflueger, Robert Ayres Barnet. 1492: operatic extravaganza. Boston: White-Smith Music Pub. Co., 1892
Anne Alison Barnet. Extravaganza king: Robert Barnet and Boston musical theatre. Northeastern University Press, 2004
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1492 (musical).
Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
December 18, 2023
1492, date, very, near, sometimes, titled, 1492, burlesque, extravaganza, created, 1892, observance, quadricentennial, columbus, expedition, world, libretto, barnet, with, music, carl, pflueger, broadway, production, presented, edward, rice, surprise, party, 1. 1492 Up to Date or Very Near It sometimes titled 1492 1 is a burlesque extravaganza created in 1892 in observance of the quadricentennial of Columbus s expedition to the New World The libretto is by R A Barnet 2 with music by Carl Pflueger 3 Its Broadway production was presented by Edward E Rice s Surprise Party in 1893 The plot centers on Columbus but in burlesque style it has little to do with his historical story 4 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 minstrelsy 5 Contents 1 Productions 2 Plot 3 Characters and original cast 4 Songs 5 Archival materials 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksProductions editIt was originally written for and presented by the Boston Independent Corps of Cadets in February 1892 4 The show opened in New York City on May 15 1893 at Palmer s Theatre to a sold out and overflowing audience produced by Rice s Surprise Party The New York Times called the show wild nonsense that provoked wholesome laughter with manifest intelligence and abundant humor and noted that by the end the audience was calling for half a dozen encores of each song 6 It ran over two seasons and in two different houses for 452 performances After this it was performed in revival and toured for several years with alterations and additional characters During an 1895 revival Queen Isabella was portrayed by Marie Dressler 7 Plot editKing Ferdinand s treasurer complains that the kingdom is short of funds The king has been out having too much fun all night Queen Isabella and Columbus arrive and both go mad Soon Columbus is in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York amidst a crowd of colorful New York types such as newsboys chorus girls vagabonds and vendors Columbus and his entourage of Old World Spaniards are amazed at the behavior of the New Yorkers When Columbus returns to Spain the royal family is living in poverty doing their own washing The royal family is amazed and amused by the explorers stories of the New World All ends happily Characters and original cast editFerdinand of Aragon 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 Juan 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 VIII 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 Fraulein 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 SmithSongs editAct 1Chorus Give us cash give us cash Treasurer and chorus arranged from Genee What provokes a gladsome smile Joanna and Columbus I ve dared to whisper that I love thee King and chorus You all think dignity does pervade royalty Grand Processional and Ballet Ferdinand of Aragon Queen and chorus Isabella is a sov reign of notoriety Spanish Dance by Aberano Colon Finale Act I Chorus and Queen Adios bella Hispania Act 2Columbus and chorus Toss d and shaken by the billows of the deep Chorus of Newsboys Herald Tribune and Times Conspirators Music Casino Girls Chorus We are careless chorus maidens Finale Act II Our national song what is it Act 3Barcarolle arr from a Spanish air Ye mariners of Spain bring back my love again Vocal March Return of Columbus Onward onward with great pomp and show Amazon March Spanish Ballet Music and Solo Finale Columbus Joanne amp Company Now the prize is mine Archival materials editMany of the original performance materials are housed in the library of the University of Wisconsin Madison References edit Much of the sheet music for the show published by T B Harms indicates the name of the show as 1492 WorldCat Barnet R A Robert Ayres 1850 1933 WorldCat Pflueger Carl 1850 1901 a b Notes of the Stage The New York Times May 14 1893 p 13 Program for the Tremont Theatre in Boston indicates the show opened on February 8 1892 Smith Cecil Michener and Litton Glenn Musical Comedy in America 1981 Routledge ISBN 0 87830 564 5 p 26 1492 Is Funny The New York Times May 16 1893 Kennedy Matthew Marie Dressler Jefferson N C McFarland ISBN 0 7864 2844 9 2006 p 28 Other sources Brown Thomas Allston 1903 A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 Dodd Mead and company Retrieved 2019 11 30 Further reading editCarl Pflueger Robert Ayres Barnet 1492 operatic extravaganza Boston White Smith Music Pub Co 1892 Anne Alison Barnet Extravaganza king Robert Barnet and Boston musical theatre Northeastern University Press 2004External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1492 musical Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1492 Up to Date amp oldid 1153020235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
