Trilbyana: The Rise and Progress of a Popular Novel — John Shaqi
Trilbyana: The Rise and Progress of a Popular NovelGilder, Joseph Benson
History
Trilbyana: The Rise and Progress of a Popular Novel
Gilder, Joseph Benson
Du Maurier, George, 1834-1896. Trilby
The audience was a large one, which was excellent for the little ones
who were to be benefited; and it was enthusiastic, which was only a just
and fit tribute to managers, performers and singers. Every detail of the
tableaux had been thought out with infinite care, and posing, grouping
and make-up were as near perfection as du Maurier himself could have
wished. The program included the singing of "Ben Bolt," "Bonjour,
Suzon," "Au Clair de la Lune" and several other songs, and the following
tableaux:--"The Three Musketeers of the Brush"; "Wistful and Sweet";
"Svengali"; "I will Not!"; "All As it Used to Be"; "Answer Me, Trilby!";
"The Soft Eyes"; "The Sweet Melodic Phrase"; "Dors, Ma Mignonne"; "The
Nightingale's First Song"; "Malbrouck" and "It was Trilby." The
entertainment opened most effectively with a quartet by Messrs. Devoll,
Moore, Bracewell and Devoll. The first tableau, "Three Musketeers of the
Brush," received the admiration it deserved, as did, also, the singing
of Miss Akers and Mr. Mackenzie Gordon interspersed with the different
tableaux. The first appearance of Trilby was awaited with impatient
expectancy, and when she came, she proved to be "wistful and sweet,"
indeed, in the person of Mrs. Eric Pape, the wife of the well-known
young artist. The last tableau of the second part, "It was Trilby," was
most effectively arranged by Mr. Pape. The full cast of characters was
as follows:--Trilby, Mrs. Eric Pape; Taffy, W. Harris Roome; The Laird,
Evert Jansen Wendell; Little Billee, J. Gerald Benkard; Svengali, Robert
Reid; Gecko, Eric Pape; Dodor, William Abbott; Zouzou, Franklin C.
Butler; Mrs. Bagot, Mrs. J. Wells Champney; Miss Bagot, Miss Lilian
Wing; Mme. Malbrouck, Mme. Bettini; Durien, Leslie G. Cauldwell;
Blanchisseuse, Miss Lou-lou Noel; Fencer, Lieut. Gianni Bettini.
During the intermission between the first and second parts of the
program, Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin sold a copy of "Trilby" presented by
the Messrs. Harper. To this Mr. du Maurier and Mr. Henry James (who
persuaded the author to write the book) had contributed their
autographs, and Dr. English a manuscript copy of his song "Ben Bolt."
The volume fetched $100, making the net addition to the Kindergarten
Association's treasury about $2500.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account