On the night of April 30, 1867, the Teatro Cairasco, the first theater in the Canary Islands, was adorned for the traditional San Pedro Mártir festivities ball. The elite of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria were enjoying the evening when, unexpectedly, a young woman fell from the heights of the stage, abruptly interrupting the celebration.
The impact of the fall silenced the music and conversations, plunging those present into stunned silence. Amidst the confusion, a man pushed his way through the crowd, recognizing the young woman as his sister. Despite efforts to help her, the girl died within minutes, ending the party and leaving a deep shock in the local society.
The music did not play again that night. The party ended immediately. The ambigú – that untouched buffet in a corner – was sent the next day to the sick at San Martín Hospital. What was prepared for the delight of the rich ended up feeding the poor.
The young woman, who was in mourning for a relative, had secretly attended the theater with some friends. They positioned themselves in a high gallery of the stage to observe the dance unseen. From there, the young woman saw her fiancé dancing with another woman, which, according to chronicles, caused her such a shock that she lost her balance and fell.
The press of the time, to avoid scandal and protect the reputation of the families involved, offered an alternative version of events, attributing the fall to an accidental misstep through an open trapdoor. This more manageable explanation for society allowed the incident to fade into oblivion over time.
The Teatro Cairasco was later demolished to make way for the Gabinete Literario, taking with it the last vestiges of that tragic night. Today, the story of the young woman and her forgotten fall contrasts with the public recognition of other figures related to the event.
