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"theyre always trying to wiggle up to you that fellow in the pit at the Gaiety for Beerbohm Tree in Trilby" (U18.1040)
The play 'Trilby' was one of the greatest theatrical successes of the 19c. It was written by the American Paul Potter, based on a book by Gerald Du Maurier and was first performed in Philadelphia. The English actor and theatre manager Beerbohm Tree was in Philadelphia on a USA tour at the time. Despite his brother telling him that it was 'utter nonsense', he went to attend it. When the curtain fell on the second act, he immediately sought out Potter and secured the British rights.
Trilby opened in England at the Haymarket Theatre on October 30th 1895, and enjoyed a long run, many tours and constant revivals. Beerbohm Tree produced it and played the role of Svengali. It earned him enough money to build Her Majesty's Theatre.
