May 5, 1862 Victory Celebration and Influence of Mexican Playwrights in History

On this day, we remember the victory of the Mexican forces over the French army on May 5, 1862.

To celebrate this victory, at that time, a series of concerts were held at the National Theatre, with the purpose of raising money for the people who were wounded in the battle. Among the shows played were Lfreedom from the chain y The domestic tyrantcreation Juan A. Mateos y Vicente Riva Palacioas well as opera The Traviata y Story and model from Manuel Gutierrez. In addition, the victory in Puebla was an inspiration for several theater works, such as May 5, 1862 or national military victory from Jose A. Cabrera and Rodriguez, Delirios de Saligny or el cerro de Guadalupelikewise with Cabrera, and To war, Mexicans!whose author remains unknown.

Mexican playwrights in the second half of the 19th century influenced the audiences of that time and were part of the process of creating a national consciousness. “Liberal playwrights contributed to building, in the general imagination, the idea of ​​identity, mexiconess, nation and its heroes, such as Ignacio Zaragoza,” said Guillermina Fuentes Ibarra in her review of the book. The Patriots on the Stage (1862-1869)by Miguel Ángel Vásquez Meléndez.

An interesting historical fact shows that in the period between 1840 and 1860, complex and eternal years for our country, new theaters were built in Mexico City as rarely seen.

With urban growth, there was a need for theater and opera venues. In 1841, the New Mexico Theater raised its curtain for the first time on May 30, at what we know today as the corner of Dolores Alley and Article 123. The preliminary work, The competition by Fernando Calderón, marking the beginning of the theater era in that institution. In 1844, the Grand National Theatre It opened its doors, becoming one of the theaters with the largest capacity in Latin America, with 2,248 seats. For his part, the Iturbide Theatre It was built on February 3, 1856, in its current location Mexico City Chamber of Deputies. His first record was with the play And because? from Pantaleon Tovarthe public had 1,899 seats.

During this time, these theaters, together with the Main Theatre, the most important theater centers in the capital, offering theater and opera seasons with foreign artists and Mexican companies. These places were joined by other smaller capacity theaters and places where popular shows were held.

By Oscar Ramírez Maldonado.

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