Debuting in 1855, John Brougham's two-act musical burlesque "Po-ca-hon-tas" became an instant success and ran for eight months, an impressive run for the New York stage at the time. For the next 30 years it remained a staple of theatre companies and even had a successful London engagement. Written in rhymed couples, it is loosely based on the life of Pocahontas. Filled with topical gags and puns, satirical references, melodramatic episodes, and popular...