Conversation so far:
When were Henry Irving's peak years?
With Terry as Ophelia and Portia, he revived Hamlet and produced The Merchant of Venice (1879).
Was Henry Irving's revival of Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice successful?
His Shylock was as much discussed as his Hamlet had been, the dignity with which he invested the vengeful Jewish merchant marking a departure from the traditional interpretation of the role.
Did Henry Irving do anything else than revive Hamlet?
There began a period at the Lyceum which had a potent effect on the English stage.

Question: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
Self-contained rewrite: Are there any other interesting aspects about Lyceum besides the revival of Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice?