Little Christopher Columbus is a burlesque opera in two acts, with music by Ivan Caryll

Ivan Caryll

Félix Marie Henri Tilkin , better known by his pen name Ivan Caryll, was a Belgian composer of operettas and Edwardian musical comedies in the English language...

 and Gustave Kerker

Gustave Kerker

Gustave Adolph Kerker was a German composer and conductor who made a career in London and America. He became a musical director for Broadway theatre productions and wrote the music for a series of musicals.-Life and career:...

 and a libretto by George R. Sims and Cecil Raleigh

Cecil Raleigh

Cecil Raleigh was an English actor and playwright.He was the son of Dr. John Fothergill Rowlands, and took the stage name of Raleigh...

. It opened on 10 October 1893 at the Lyric Theatre

Lyric Theatre (London)

The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.Designed by architect C. J. Phipps, it was built by producer Henry Leslie with profits from the Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson hit, Dorothy, which he transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to open...

 in London and then transferred to Terry's Theatre

Terry's Theatre

Terry's Theatre was a West End theatre on Strand, in the City of Westminster, London. Built in 1887, it became a cinema in 1910 before being demolished in 1923.-History:...

, running for a total of 421 performances, which was a very successful run at the time. May Yohé

May Yohé

Mary Augusta "May" Yohé was an American musical theatre actress. After beginning her career with the McCaull Comic Opera Company in 1886 in New York and Chicago, and after other performing in the United States, she quickly gained success on the London stage beginning in 1893...

 created the title role, and Furneaux Cook

Furneaux Cook

Furneaux Cook , born John Furneaux Cook, was an English opera singer and actor best known for baritone roles in the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and Alfred Cellier on the London stage. Cook appeared on stage for over 30 years in London, the British provinces and America.-Life and...

 and E. J. Lonnen

E. J. Lonnen

E. J. Lonnen was an English actor and comedian known for his performances in musical burlesques and musicals, particularly at the Gaiety Theatre, London at the end of the Victorian era.-Biography:...

 were in the cast. Mabel Love

Mabel Love

Mabel Love , was a British dancer and stage actress. She was considered to be one of the great stage beauties of her age, and her career spanned the late Victorian era and Edwardian period...

, Geraldine Ulmar

Geraldine Ulmar

Geraldine Ulmar was an American singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.-Life and career:...

 and Florence St. John

Florence St. John

Florence St. John , was an English singer and actress of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras famous for her roles in operetta, musical burlesque, music hall, opera and, later, comic plays.-Life and career:...

 joined the cast as replacements.

The piece was produced in 1894 in New York at the Garden Theatre and has enjoyed various tours and revivals over the years.

Roles and original cast

• O'hoolegan (Private Detective to Silas Block) – E. J. Lonnen
  E. J. Lonnen
  E. J. Lonnen was an English actor and comedian known for his performances in musical burlesques and musicals, particularly at the Gaiety Theatre, London at the end of the Victorian era.-Biography:...
  
  
• Capt. Joseph H. Slammer (of the S.S. "Chocktaw") – Harry Parker
• The Mayor of Cadiz – Henry Wright
• Don Juan (of the Spanish Police) – George Tate
• Hotel Proprietor – Roland Carse
• Silas Block (a Millionaire) – Furneaux Cook
  Furneaux Cook
  Furneaux Cook , born John Furneaux Cook, was an English opera singer and actor best known for baritone roles in the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and Alfred Cellier on the London stage. Cook appeared on stage for over 30 years in London, the British provinces and America.-Life and...
  
  
• Pedro, Sebastian, Lopez (Spanish Officers) – Kate Dudley, Vinnie Cassell, Blanche Winter
• Vigilant Cutter (2nd. Officer of the S.S. "Chocktaw") – Maude Vernon
• The Second Mrs. Block – Adelaide Newton
• Hannah (Slammer's Daughter) – Maud Leicester
• Pepita – Eva Moore
  Eva Moore
  Eva Moore was an English actress. Her career on stage and in film spanned six decades, and she was active in the women's suffrage movement.-Early life and career:...
  
  
• Guinevere Block – Maud Holland
• Mercedes – Rose Hamilton
• Lola – Cissie Cranford
• Salambo Smith – Dora Thorne
• Mysotes Calhoun – Millie Marsden
• Little Christopher – May Yohé
  May Yohé
  Mary Augusta "May" Yohé was an American musical theatre actress. After beginning her career with the McCaull Comic Opera Company in 1886 in New York and Chicago, and after other performing in the United States, she quickly gained success on the London stage beginning in 1893...
  
  

Musical numbers

Act I - The Great Square of Cadiz

• No. 1 - Chorus - "Here in Cadiz flags are flying, from each steeple bells are ringing"
• No. 2 - Soloist and Chorus - "Columbus was a famous man who lost himself at sea"
• No. 3 - Christopher - "Oh! sailor King, who won renown unfading till the world shall end"
• No. 3a - Guinevere - "A pussy cat sat by a silver stream - purr! - singing away in a dainty dream - purr!"
• No. 4 - Chorus - "In an unconventional way they attend the fête today"
• No. 5 - Air de Ballet
• No. 6 - Soloist and Male Chorus - "When you're strolling home to bed thro' the long deserted street"
• No. 7 - Christopher and Chorus - "When the flow'rets droop in the noonday sun, and softly the song-birds trill" (also published as "Lazily, Drowsily - siesta song")
• No. 8 - Guinevere and Christopher - "If in your dreams my face you see, dream on, true heart, for I am near"
• No. 9 - Finale Act I - "Oh, yes! oh, yes! Oh, yes! oh, yes! The dancing girls will give a show before they start for Chicago!"

Act II - The Midway Plaisance, Chicago Exhibition

• No. 10 - Chorus of Foreigners - "We are foreigners come from afar, yes, we are"
• No. 11 - O'Hoolegan and Two Flunkies - "I'm a swell, as you see by my manners and air"
• No. 12 - Christopher, Guinevere, and Mr. & Mrs. Block - "If you wish at the moment to shine in Society"
• No. 13 - Christopher and O'Hoolegan - "There's nothing half so sweet in life, they say, as wedded bliss"
• No. 14 - Duet and Dance - "We are the Sisters Giggle, you know us at a glance"
• No. 15 - Chorus of Germans and Turks - "Ve vas Deutsche frauleins, as you all can see"
• No. 16 - Dance
• No. 17 - "Rumpty Tumpty" Song - (possibly sung by Christopher) - "I am a jolly sort of chap, a fav'rite ev'rywhere"
• No. 18 - Plantation Song - "Oh! honey, my honey, 'tis a dark and stilly night, and only the stars can see"
• No. 19 - Dance - Tarantella
• No. 20 - Finale Act II - "All hail! All hail! All hail! Great Christopher Columbus!"

External links

• Song list with links to Midi files and cast list
• List of shows opening in London in 1893
• Photo of Mabel Love in the production
• Photo of Yohe with biographical information
• List of long running shows, giving the total number of performances