The Play ~ a perennial favourite of Victorian theatre

The Venue ~ the beautiful Jacobean Banqueting Hall at Knebworth House

The Cast of an 1880 production of
"The Lady of Lyons" at New Sadler's Wells

Lily Langtry as Pauline in
"The Lady of Lyons"

"A play of charm and delight that aspires to bring 'wealth to the mind - wealth to the heart - high thoughts - bright dreams - the hope of fame...' You have left the beaten road of old romance, so worn by modern dramatists, and idealised the present."

"The Lady of Lyons" was a perennial favourite in Victorian theatres, prized by all the great actresses of the age - Laura Keene, Ellen Terry, Mary Anderson, Lily Langtry - for its title role. A romantic comedy about the vanities and pretentions of class, set in the upsidedown world of post-Revolution France, the play tells the story of beautiful socialite Pauline Deschapelles, who is duped into marrying a self-educated gardner's son, Claude Melnotte, by a revengeful suitor, the former marquis, Beauseant. The play was first produced in 1838.

This production of "The Lady of Lyons" was presented in Edward Bulwer Lytton's very own Jacobean Banqueting Hall at Knebworth House, in which he hosted plays performed by his friend - and fellow founder of the Guild of Literature and Art - Charles Dickens.

This production was the work of the Drama Department of the University of Calgary, under the direction of Professor Barry Yzereef. Professor Yzereef and his students were last in England to perform the triumphant premiere of Edward Bulwer Lytton's lost play "The Captives" as part of the University of London's Bulwer Lytton 2000 Conference.

Bulwer's Bicentennial Birthday Celebration was a non-profit event made possible by your participation and the support of the
Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust

| BULWER'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION | INTRODUCTION | | MAIN PROGRAMME | "THE LADY OF LYONS"

| PHOTOS - PERFORMERS | | BACK TO KNEBWORTH HOUSE |