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- Po-ca-hon-tas, or The Gentle Savage (subtitled "An Original Aboriginal Erratic Operatic Semi-civilized and Demi-savage Extravaganza") is a two-act musical burlesque by John Brougham (words) and James Gaspard Maeder (music). It debuted in 1855 and became an instant hit. Po-ca-hon-tas remained a staple of theatre troupes and blackface minstrel companies for the next 30 years, typically as an afterpiece. The piece was reinvented in London at St James's Theatre, where it opened on 27 November 1869 as La Belle Sauvage, with music arranged by W. H. Montgomery. Mrs John Wood played Pocahontas, Lionel Brough was Captain Smith and A.W. Young appeared as Count Rolff (sic). The play parodies the Indian narratives that were popular at the time in the United States, particularly those featuring Indian heroines in the Noble Savage mould. The burlesque is usually credited with bringing the fad for Indian narratives to an end. The plot very loosely follows events in the life of the historical Pocahontas. It begins with the arrival of white men led by John Smith, who says they are there to "ravage the land and steal gold". Smith and company raid the "Tuscarora Finishing School of Emancipated Maidens" and there meet Pocahontas. The remainder of the play revolves around the love triangle formed by Pocahontas, Smith, and John Rolfe, concluding with a card game between Smith and Rolfe for the hand of the Indian princess. However, Brougham's narrative merely adds some action to what is otherwise a collection of gags and puns rapidly delivered in the form of rhymed couplets. For example: Pocahontas rushing in heroineically distressed and dishevelled, followed by sailors. POCAHONTAS Husband! for thee I scream! SMITH Lemon or Vanilla? POCAHONTAS Oh! Fly with me, and quit those vile dominions! SMITH How can I fly, beloved, with these pinions? Many of these jokes hinge upon the play's cavalier approach to historical accuracy. For example, in a scene where Smith attempts to win the affections of the Native American princess, she denies him with an appeal to historian George Bancroft: POCAHONTAS Stop! One doubt within my heart arises!A great historian before us stands,Bancroft himself, you know, forbids the banns! SMITH Bancroft be banished from your memory's shelf, for spite of fact, I'll marry you myself. Even the stage directions are written for farce. Upon one entrance of Pocahontas, "her overburdened soul bursts forth in melody." Other directions parody Italian opera: "GRAND SCENA COMPLICATO, In the Anglo-Italiano Style". Musical numbers to the tunes of popular songs punctuate the jokes. Some of these reiterate the play's theme of the white man despoiling virgin America: Grab awayWhile you mayIn this game, luck is allAnd the prizeTempting liesIn the rich City Hall.Grab awayWhile you may,Every day there's a job.It's a fact,By contractAll intact you may rob. Theatre companies and orchestra leaders took great liberties with the music, often substituting popular songs with little or no connection to the plot. For an 1860 staging in New Orleans, for example, Mrs. John Wood performed "Dixie" for a concluding scene featuring a Zouave march. (en)
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