1492 Up To Date

1492 Up To Date (sometimes titled 1492^[1]) is a burlesque created in observance of the quadricentennial of Columbus's finding the New World. The libretto is by R. A. Barnet,^[2] with music by Carl Pflueger.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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."^[6]

Characters and original cast

• Ferdinand 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
• 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–Madison.

Notes

References

• Brown, Thomas Allston. A History of the New York Stage:From the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 (1903), Dodd, Mead and Company, Digitized Oct 25, 2005.

Further reading

• 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 links

• Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre.com

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