''1492 Up to Date or Very Near It'' (sometimes titled ''1492'') is a burlesque extravaganza created in 1892 in observance of the

quadricentennial An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints. ...

of Columbus's expedition to the New World. The libretto is by R. A. Barnet. with music by Carl Pflueger. 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."Notes of the Stage"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

,'' May 14, 1893, p. 13. Program for the Tremont Theatre in Boston indicates the show opened on February 8, 1892. The show has been described as "a musical, historical, mellow drama that threw together bits of

opera comique The Opera Comique was a 19th-century theatre constructed in Westminster, London, between Wych Street, Holywell Street and the 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, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

, stereopticon projections,

extravaganza An extravaganza is a literary or musical work (often musical theatre) usually containing elements of burlesque, pantomime, music hall and parody in a spectacular production and characterized by freedom of style and structure. It sometimes also ha ...

, farce-comedy,

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

, local comedy, burlesque, and even

minstrel A minstrel was an entertainer, initially in medieval Europe. It originally described any type of entertainer such as a musician, juggler, acrobat, singer or fool; later, from the sixteenth century, it came to mean a specialist entertainer who ...

sy."

Productions

It was originally written for and presented by the Boston Independent Corps of Cadets in February 1892. The show opened in New York City on May 15, 1893, at

Palmer's Theatre Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater, as the successive homes of the stock company managed by actors James W. Wallack and his son, Lester Wallack. During its 35-yea ...

, 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. 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 Marie Dressler (born Leila Marie Koerber, November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934) was a Canadian stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent film and Depression-era film star. In 1914, she was in the first full-length film comedy. She ...

.Kennedy, Matthew. ''Marie Dressler'' Jefferson, N.C: McFarland, , 2006, p. 28.

Plot

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 The Fifth Avenue Hotel was a luxury hotel located at 200 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York City from 1859 to 1908. It had an entire block of frontage between 23rd Street and 24th Street, at the southwest corner of Madison Square. S ...

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

* 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 Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni (Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, '' El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...

, 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 Isabella I ( es, Isabel I; 22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504), also called Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: ''la Católica''), was Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504, as well as Queen consort of Aragon from 1479 until 1504 by ...

– 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

;Act 1 *Chorus – "Give us cash, give us cash" *Treasurer and chorus – (arranged from Genée) "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 2 *Columbus 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 3 *Barcarolle (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 & Company) – "Now the prize is mine"

Archival materials

Many of the original performance materials are housed in the library of the

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...

References

Other sources *

External links

{{Commons category

1892 musicals Broadway musicals