The Wicklow Postman is a musical play with a book by Mark Price and music and lyrics mostly by Eugene O'Rourke and B.H. Janssen, that was popular in the 1890s. Set in Wicklow, Ireland, the work was a starring vehicle for the Irish comedian Eugene O'Rourke (1863–1912) who played the title role.[1]

The Wicklow Postman
Sheet music cover with photograph of Eugene O'Rourke in costume
MusicEugene O'Rourke
B.H. Janssen
LyricsEugene O'Rourke
B.H. Janssen
Albert Hall
BookMark Price
Productions1893 New York

Productions

edit

A production opened in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1892.[2] The New York production, produced by Lee Harrison,[3] was playing (at least) in the week of April 30, 1893, at H. R. Jacobs' Third Avenue Theatre.[4]

The show opened in Chicago on August 19, 1895, with O'Rourke and Bettina Girard in the female supporting role.[5] In December 1895 the champion boxers John L. Sullivan and Paddy Ryan joined the touring company and presented boxing exhibitions in conjunction with performances of the musical under a single ticket.[1] In 1896, O'Rourke was still touring in the show, appearing in London, Ontario, Canada.[6]

Songs

edit

Based on published sheet music, the songs included were:

  • "At the Setting of the Sun"
  • "Don't Forget to Send More Me"
  • "It All Comes In the Post" (music and lyrics by B. H. Janssen)
  • "I Wish They'd Do It Now" (music and lyrics by B. H. Janssen)
  • "Just the Girl for Me"
  • "Norah" (music by Eugene O'Rourke, lyrics by Albert Hall)
  • "The Eyes That I Love Best" (music and lyrics by B. H. Janssen)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Christopher Klein (2013). Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan, America's First Sports Hero. Lyons Press. p. 236. ISBN 9781493001989.
  2. ^ "Boston Theatres," The New York Times, September 3, 1893, p. 16
  3. ^ Grau, Robert. Forty Years Observation of Music and the Drama (New York: Broadway publishing company, 1909), pp. 196–97
  4. ^ Brown, Thomas Allston. A History of the New York Stage (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1903), vol. 3, p. 231
  5. ^ "Notes of the Stage," New York Times, August 4, 1895, p. 11
  6. ^ A copy of the program is in the D. B. Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, OCLC accession number 243518900