The Washington times., 1902-06-01
Famous PaulineS and Melnottes.

The History of the Lady of Lyons
contains much of interest to patrons OF
the drama.
The piece was first produced in Lon
don at Coyent Garden, Hayrnarket, in
1888. Lord Bulwer-Lytton wrote ii with
a twofold object. In the first place
he sympathized deeply with the enter
prise Of Mr.. Mccready, the actor-man-
ager of Covent Garden. and believing
that many of the higher interests of
the drama were involved in the success
OF failure of an enterprise. equally
hazardous and disinterestcd, Bulwer felt
something OF the brotherhood OF art,
and it was only for McCready TO think
it possible that he might serve him in
order to induce him to make the at
tempt.
In the second place. in that attempt,
Bulwer was mainly anxious to sec
whether after the comparative failure
on the stage OF another play of his,
The Duchess de la Valliere." certain
critics were right in declaring that IT
was not in his power TO attain the art
OF dramatic construction and theatrical
effect.
The authorship of the play was nelth-
er avowed nor suspected until long after
1t had established itself in public IA
vor.
THE Lady Of Lyons" has had many
revivals OF interest since its first pro-
duction. and although nearly sixty-fve
years have elapsed since then. it still
possesses much OF interest to the thea
tergoer.
In 1858 McCready made succ, ssful
revival of the work. and in 1867 Charles
Fechter who was about to ret -e srcm
the management of the Lyceum rl-..ter /
in London. and wishing to DO so with |
acclaim, produced The Lady of Lyons"
and created so great furore that il |
surprised even the author 1t enjoyed |
the then unprecedented run Of seventy
nights. and closed on November lG |
Fcchter, who was an Alsatian by birth .
and education. was unhampcred 10y local
stage prejudices and completely reyolu-
tionized the character OF Claude Mel
notte and elevated him into a romance.
He also co=Ipletely changed the cos
tunes and stage business. ana made OF
Claude a dandy Of the period. instead
OF the peasant with the noDdoscript uni
torn.
After that period, reyivals were num-
e-ous and usually successful. and nearly
every woman OF prominence on the stage
has .ssaycd the character Of Pauline
Helen Faucet was the original Pauline
at Covcut Garden, and it was pro-
drrcd in Nc~ York a few weeks later
with Mrs. Richardson as the heroine.
Mr.. Forrest as Claude Melnottc. and
Charlotte Cushman in the minor part o;
the widow Mclnotte. Miss Cushman
was arterward one OF the most famous
Of Paulincs
Adelaide Nelson. Mrs. Scott siddons.
Mary Anderson. Fanny Davenport. Rose
Coghlan. Mrs. James Brown Potter.
Julia Marlowe and Ellen Terry are {
among others who achieved success In {
he role
Ellen Tcrrg's performance takes hich ]
rank amcnc Ccn'cinporaneous Efforts {
md In the right Of poetic sensi5ility and {
,irlish grace was charming portrayal.
Nary Andcrson's great beauty. the !
implicitly OF her performance. and her l
xquisitc clocution created a sensation {
Il the time that she flrst appeared in the I
,art {
There have been Claude Melnottes by {
he score since the time OF Fechtcr. and q
probably the best performance Of the {
haractor was that OF Kyrle Bellew, '
Who. when he first appeared in it in I
.ondon. created a furore. Mr. Bellew a
till remains the best OF his time. and {
With his handsome face and romantic