''Arizona'' is a dramatic play written in 1899 by

Augustus Thomas Augustus Thomas (January 8, 1857 – August 12, 1934) was an American playwright. Biography Born in St. Louis, Missouri and son of a doctor, Thomas worked a number of jobs including as a United States House of Representatives Page, page in the 4 ...

, considered one of his best. The play takes place in the

Arizona Territory The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...

before the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

of 1898. The Territory became the U.S.

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

in 1912.

Plot

''Arizona'' tells the story of the affection between a young cavalryman and a rancher's daughter. The cavalryman is accused of stealing books from the library that contained a hidden key to the chancellor's office. Sub-plots include indiscretions of the young wife of an older cavalry officer, a cavalry officer who will not support his illegitimate child, and the love between a vaquero and the daughter of a German cavalry sergeant. Thomas based his play on his visits to

Henry Hooker Henry Clay Hooker (January 10, 1828 – December 5, 1907) was a prominent and wealthy rancher during the American Old West who formed the first and what became the largest American ranch in Arizona Territory. After growing up on the east coast, ...

Sierra Bonita Ranch The Sierra Bonita Ranch, founded in 1872 by Henry C. Hooker, is one of the oldest cattle ranches in the United States and the ranch buildings have been designated a National Historic Landmark. It was the first permanent American cattle ranch in ...

and the two primary characters Canby and Bonita on Hooker's family.

Setting

The play is set just before the

and at Aravaipa Ranch, in the Aravaipa Valley near

Fort Grant, Arizona Fort Grant is a state prison and a former United States Army fortification in the U.S. state of Arizona. Fort Grant is located on the southwestern slope of Mount Graham in what is now Graham County. The post is named for Ulysses S. Grant, the 1 ...

. ;Act I Evening, the interior of the adobe courtyard of Canby's ranch house. ;Act II Midnight, drawing-room of Colonel Bonham's quarters at Fort Grant. ;Act III Two months later, dining room at Aravaipa Ranch. ;Act IV Twenty minutes later, the interior of the adobe courtyard of Canby's ranch house.

Characters

Stage actress Grace Elliston (SAYRE 23990)

''in parenthesis, cast of the Broadway premiere of the play Sept. 10, 1900, Herald Square Theater''(11 September 1900)
"Arizona" by Augustus Thomas Acted Here at Last
''

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 ...

'' (Broadway opening night review) * Henry Canby, owner of Aravaipa ranch. (

Theodore Roberts Theodore Roberts (October 8, 1861 – December 14, 1928) was an American film and stage actor. Early life Roberts was born in San Francisco, California. He was a cousin of the stage actress Florence Roberts. His choice of a career disapp ...

) * Colonel Frank Bonham, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (Edwin Holt) * Sam Wong, cook. (Stephen B. French) * Mrs. Canby, wife of rancher. (Mattie Earle) * Estrella Bonham, wife of the Colonel. (Jane Kennark) * Lena Kellar, a waitress. (Adora Andrews) * Lieutenant Harry Denton, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (

Vincent Serrano Vincent Serrano (February 17, 1866 – January 11, 1935) was an American actor in plays and silent films. Biography Serrano's best-known role was as Lieutenant Denton in the Augustus Thomas play ''Arizona'', which had its New York opening in Se ...

) * Bonita Canby, Estrella's sister. (

Eleanor Robson Belmont Eleanor Elise Robson Belmont (13 December 1879 – 24 October 1979) was an English actress and prominent public figure in the United States. George Bernard Shaw wrote ''Major Barbara'' for her, but contractual problems prevented her from playin ...

; as Eleanor Robson) * Miss MacCullagh, a school teacher. (

Louise Closser Hale Louise Closser Hale (October 13, 1872 – July 26, 1933) was an American actress, playwright, and novelist. Early life Louise Closser was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 13, 1872. Her father was Joseph Closser, a grain dealer, and her ...

; as Louise Closser) * Dr. Fenlon, surgeon, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (George O'Donnell) * Captain Leonard Hodgman, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (Walter Hale, later husband of Louise Closser) * Tony Mostano, a vaquero. (

Edgar Selwyn Edgar Selwyn (October 20, 1875 – February 13, 1944) was a prominent figure in American theatre and film in the first half of the 20th century. An actor, playwright, theatre director, director and theatrical producer, producer on Broadway ( ...

) * Lieutenant Hallock, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (Malcolm Gunn) * Sergeant Kellar, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (

Thomas Oberle Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

) * Lieutenant Young, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (

Sidney Ainsworth Sidney Ainsworth (born Charles Sydney Ainsworth, often credited as Sydney Ainsworth; December 21, 1872 – May 21, 1922), was a screen and stage actor who appeared in his first movie in 1909. He was born in Manchester, England and died in Madison, ...

) * Major Cochran, Eleventh United States Cavalry. (George Morehead)

Production and reception

The play was produced by

Kirke La Shelle Kirke La Shelle (September 23, 1862 – May 16, 1905) was an American journalist, playwright and theatrical producer. He was known for his association with such successful productions as ''The Wizard of the Nile'', ''The Princess Chic'', ''Besid ...

and opened in Chicago at Hamlin's Grand Opera House on June 12, 1899. With a cast led by

,Thomas, ''Arizona'', "The Original Cast". sets and costumes designed by

Frederic Remington Frederic Sackrider Remington (October 4, 1861 – December 26, 1909) was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art. His works are known for depicting the Western United State ...

, and authentic characterization of the soldiers and citizens of Arizona Territory, it was received enthusiastically by the audience.''New York Times'', "New Theatrical Bills": "The first act received two curtain calls, the second three, the third five." The Chicago opening also featured a young

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

in a minor role as Lieutenant Young of the Eleventh Cavalry.

Sigmund Romberg Sigmund Romberg (July 29, 1887 – November 9, 1951) was a Hungarian-born American composer. He is best known for his musicals and operettas, particularly ''The Student Prince'' (1924), ''The Desert Song'' (1926) and ''The New Moon'' (1928). Earl ...

later adapted the play as an operetta, ''

The Love Call ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1927)..

References

{{reflist

Bibliography

* ''New York Times''. "New Theatrical Bills", Wednesday, June 13, 1899, p. 7. * Thomas, Augustus. ''Arizona: A Drama in Four Acts''. New York: R.H. Russell (1899). 1899 plays American plays Western (genre) plays Plays set in Arizona