Trilby written by the Franco-British novelist George du Maurier and produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London, with British actors Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Svengali and Dorothea Baird, in October, 1895

   A scene from Trilby (a stage play based on the 1895 novel, 1895) written by the Franco-British novelist George du Maurier (1834 - 1896) and produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London, with British actors Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) as Svengali and Dorothea Baird (1875–1933) in the title role, in October, 1895.

   The London premiere on 30 October 1895 was the company's first presentation at the Haymarket since returning from their American tour. 

Dorothea Baird sings "Oh, don't you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt; Sweet Alice, with her hair so brown?" to Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a scene from the play

Miss Dorothea Baird in Trilby (1895) 

Dorothea Baird

Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Svengali in the London production (1895)

Some scenes from The Importance of Being Earnest (comedy, 1894) written by Oscar Wilde and produced by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre, New York City, in 1895

Some scenes from The Importance of Being Earnest (comedy, 1894) written by the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) and produced by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre, New York City, having run for 40 performances from April 22, 1895.

The Importance of Being Earnest

A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

THE PERSONS IN THE PLAY

John Worthing, J.P.

Algernon Moncrieff

Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.

Merriman, Butler

Lane, Manservant

Lady Bracknell

Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax

Cecily Cardew

Miss Prism, Governess

THE SCENES OF THE PLAY

ACT I. Algernon Moncrieff’s Flat in Half-Moon Street, W.

ACT II. The Garden at the Manor House, Woolton.

ACT III. Drawing-Room at the Manor House, Woolton.

TIME: The Present.

See the Full Cast.

For the Term of His Natural Life written by Marcus Clarke and produced at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1895, starring Alfred Dampier as Reverend North

A scene from For the Term of His Natural Life (published as a novel in 1874) written by Marcus Clarke and produced at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1895, starring Alfred Dampier as Reverend North.

Some scenes from The Prude’s Progress (A Comedy in Three Acts) written by Jerome K. Jerome (1859 – 1927) and Eden Phillpotts (1862 – 1960) and produced at the Comedy Theatre, in 1895.

Some scenes from The Prude’s Progress (A Comedy in Three Acts) written by the English playwright Jerome K. Jerome (1859 – 1927) and Eden Phillpotts (1862 – 1960) and published by Chatto & Windus, London, 1895, and produced at the Comedy Theatre, in 1895.

The Weavers (Die Weber) written by Gerhart Hauptmann and produced at the Theatre Libre, with the stage setting and scenery by Boeve, Ervina, around 1890, starring French actor Andre Antoine

A scene from The Weavers (Die Weber, De Waber, 5-act-naturalistic-drama, 1891) written by the German playwright Gerhart Hauptmann (1862 - 1946) and produced at the Théâtre Libre (Free Theatre), Paris, with the stage setting and scenery by Ervina Boeve, around 1895, starring French actor Andre Antoine.

The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown, written by Robert Williams Buchanan (1841-1901) and Harriett Jay (1857-1932), and performed at the Vaudeville, London, in 1895.

Scenes from The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown, written by Robert Williams Buchanan  (1841-1901) and  Harriett Jay  (1857-1932), and performed at the Vaudeville, London, in 1895.

London: Vaudeville Theatre. 26 June to 5 October, 1895.
London: Terry’s Theatre. 7 October, 1895 to 8 February, 1896.
New York: Standard Theatre. 2 December, 1895 to 8 February, 1896.

The Sketch, July 17th, 1895, "The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown," at the Vaudeville.

   a- Miss Brown (Mr. Fred Kerr).      b- Major O'Gallagher (Mr. J. Beauchamp), and Private Docherty (Mr. Power).

   c- Miss Brown and the Major.      d- Miss Brown and Angela (Miss May Palfrey).

   e- Miss Brown, Sergeant Tanner (Mr. Lionel Brough), and Angela.

   f- Von Moser (Mr. Robb Harwood), and Angela.

   g- The Major and Mrs. O'Gallagher (Miss Gladys Homfrey).

   h- Sergeant Tanner, Miss Brown, and Miss Schwartz (Miss Esme Beringer).

   i- Major and Mrs. O'Gallagher, Captain Courtenay, and Angela.

   j- Mrs. O'Gallagher, Mr. Hibbertson (Mr Gilbert Farquhar), and Miss Homfrey (Miss M. A. Victor).

   k- Miss Romney and Her Pupils watching Miss Brown and Angela.

The Sketch, July 17th, 1895, "The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown," at the Vaudeville.

   a- Miss Brown (Mr. Fred Kerr).      b- Major O'Gallagher (Mr. J. Beauchamp), and Private Docherty (Mr. Power).

   c- Miss Brown and the Major.     d- Miss Brown and Angela (Miss May Palfrey).

   e- Miss Brown, Sergeant Tanner (Mr. Lionel Brough), and Angela.

   f- Von Moser (Mr. Robb Harwood), and Angela.

   g- The Major and Mrs. O'Gallagher (Miss Gladys Homfrey).

   h- Sergeant Tanner, Miss Brown, and Miss Schwartz (Miss Esme Beringer).

   i- Major and Mrs. O'Gallagher, Captain Courtenay, and Angela.

   j- Mrs. O'Gallagher, Mr. Hibbertson (Mr Gilbert Farquhar), and Miss Homfrey (Miss M. A. Victor).

   k- Miss Romney and Her Pupils watching Miss Brown and Angela.

Tour poster advertising The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown, 1895.

Further information about Miss Brown

The Ladies Idol, performed at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, in May 1895.

 Scenes from The Ladies Idol, performed at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, in May 1895.

The Sketch, May 29th, 1895, "The Ladies' Idol," at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Baron Golosh, first performed at the Trafalgar Theatre in London, from 25 April to 8 June 1895 , running for only 43 performances.

   Some scenes from Baron Golosh, first performed at the Trafalgar Theatre in London, from 25 April to 8 June 1895 , running for 43 performances. 

   Baron Golosh is an operetta adapted from the 1891 French opérette L'oncle Célestin by Edmond Audran with some of the original music replaced with songs composed by Meyer Lutz and Leslie Stuart. The original cast starred comedian E. J. Lonnen in the title role. It also featured Scott Russell, Florence Perry and Frank Wyatt, who were all best known for their work with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. 

Miss Maud Maude in "Baron Golosh," at the Trafalgar Theatre, 1895

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, May 4th, 1895, "Baron Golosh" at the Trafalgar Theatre."

1- Marreau - Mr. Harry Paulton.　2- Clementine - Miss Florence Perry.

3- Baron Golosh - Mr. E.J. Lonnen.　4- Madelon - Miss Lethbridge.

5- Count Acacia - Mr. Frank Wyatt  &  Mdme. De Bellefontaine - Miss Melnotte.

6- Countess Acacia - Miss Sylvia Grey.   7- Viscount Acacia - George Hunphrey.

8- Therese - Miss Delia Carlyle  &  Narcisse - Mr. Ernest Down.

9- Gustave - Mr. Scott Russell.

The Sketch, May 22nd, 1895, "Baron Golosh," at the Trafalgar Theatre.

   a- Clementine (Miss Florence Perry.  "How I Loved My Dear Old Sam !"

   b- Marreau  ( Mr. harry Paulton).  " I am Glad i Came."

   c- Madame De Bellefontaine  (Miss Melnotte)  amd Viscount Acacia (Mr. Humphrey).  "Don't tell me ; I know you are proud of your legs !"

   d- Madelon (Miss Alice Lethbridge) and Baron Golosh (Mr. E.J. Lonnen).  "There are two sides to everything."

The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde and premiered at St. James's Theatre, London, on February 14, 1895

   A scene from The Importance of Being Earnest written by the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) and produced, under the direction of  George Alexander with designs by H. P. Hall and Walter Hann, at St. James's Theatre, London, having run shorter than expected, due to Oscar Wilde's increasing public notoriety, from February 14 to  May 8, 1895.

   The original cast featured George Alexander as 'John Worthing', Allan Aynesworth as 'Algernon Moncrieff', Rose Leclercq as 'Lady Bracknell', Irene Vanbrugh as 'Gwendolen Fairfax', Evelyn Millard as 'Cecily Cardew', Mrs. George Canninge as 'Miss Prism', H. H. Vincent as 'Rev. Canon Chasuble', F. Kinsey Peile as 'Lane' and Frank Dyall as 'Merriman'. 

Allan Aynesworth as Algernon (left) and George Alexander as John (right)

Irene Vanbrugh as Gwendolen Fairfax and George Alexander as Jack Worthing in the 1895 production

Allan Aynesworth, Evelyn Millard, Irene Vanbrugh and George Alexander in the 1895 premiere

Mrs George Canninge as Miss Prism and Evelyn Millard as Cecily Cardew

"The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, March 23rd, 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest at the St. James's Theatre."

1- Cicely- "The next day i bought the little ring in your name."

2- Mrs. Prism.- "Poor Earnest!  it's a sad blow."

3- John Worthing- "I suppose a man may eat his own muffins in his own garden."

4- Gwendolen- "My first impressions of people are never wrong."

OSCAR WILDE'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. A Reconstructive Critical Edition of the Text of the First Production, St James's Theatre, 1895.

Gwendolen (Irene Vanbrugh), Merriman (Frank Dyall) and Cecily (Evelyn Millard), in the original production, Act II

Known as Wilde's most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest premiered at St. James's Theatre in London on 14 February 1895. Wilde began meticulously outlining and drafting the comedy in July 1894. He continued revising the play over the course of six months.

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