Panjandrum (musical)

Panjandrum is a musical with music by Woolson Morse, words by J. Cheever Goodwin, written for and produced by the DeWolf Hopper Opera Company. It opened on May 1, 1893, at the Broadway Theatre (on 41st Street, now demolished) in New York and closed at the end of September 1893.

Described as an "olla podrida" in two acts, Panjandrum is set in the Philippines. It starred Hopper as Pedro and Della Fox as Paquita; Fox was replaced by Hopper's new wife, Edna Wallace, but Fox eventually rejoined the cast. The plot centers around a toreador trying to regain his sweetheart. The two of them and her friend are all captured by a savage tribe, and Pedro is disguised as the king of the tribe.

The production and audience received a special benefit at the performance of May 30, 1893, when Infanta Eulalia of Spain attended a performance accompanied by Spanish dignitaries, Thomas Francis Gilroy (then Mayor of New York) and others. The Infanta arrived late - the performance began at 9 pm and did not conclude until after 11 pm. DeWolf Hopper and the cast had prepared special lines for the closing song and substituted them:

In late June 1893, the Broadway Theatre underwent renovation of its air-cooling apparatus. Apparently this caused a slight cessation of performances, enabling the creators to introduce a "second edition" of Panjandrum on June 28, 1893. In the new version, "the libretto has been almost entirely rewritten by its author, Mr. Goodwin, and several new musical numbers have been prepared by Mr. Morse, the composer." Among the changes were Hopper in "several new rollicking songs. The role of Rotomango, played by Samuel Reed, has been revised, and instead of a fierce Bornese he will be seen as a humble New-Englander, who by a peculiar chain of circumstances, has been made the Grand Vizier of the Kingdom. In addition to the many changes made in the characters there will be several new musical numbers written in the composer's best vein, and also many humorous lines and funny situations, which have been contributed by the author."

Also on June 28, 1893, DeWolf Hopper was married to his third wife, Edna Wallace Hopper, a young actress. The romance had been kept secret from Hopper's company, who had thought that he was to marry his co-star, Della Fox. Edna Wallace Hopper replaced Fox for performances beginning on July 17. Apparently, the new Mrs. Hopper was replaced by Grace Golden by August 20, who was replaced by the original Paquita, Della Fox on September 4. Of note, the dancer Loie Fuller appeared in the show for three weeks in September.

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