''Maud's Peril'' in an 1867 play by

Watts Phillips Watts Phillips (16 November 1825 – 2 December 1874) was an English illustrator, novelist and playwright, known for his play ''The Dead Heart'', which served as a model for Charles Dickens' ''A Tale of Two Cities''. In a memoir, his sister Emm ...

. It debuted in London at the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

on 23 October 1867, and at

Wallack's Theatre Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater as the successive homes of the stock company managed by actors James W. Wallack and his son, Lester Wallack. During its 35-year ...

in New York City on 25 November 1867.(25 November 1867)
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''New York Tribune'' (advertisement for New York debut of play)(23 November 1867)
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The Belle's Stratagem ''The Belle's Stratagem'' is a romantic comedy of manners, the most successful work of its playwright, Hannah Cowley. It received its premiere on 22 February 1780, filling the 2,000-seat Drury Lane theatre.Swale, Jessica. "The Belle of London: H ...

'' would conclude that night and ''Maude's Peril'' would debut on Monday)Maud's Peril: A Drama in Four Acts
(Robert M. De Witt, Publisher)
''Illustrated Sporting and Theatrical News'', Nov. 30, 1867, p. 760 The play is based in part on ''Le Forcat'' by Charles de Bernard.(October 1875)
Old Friends with New Faces
''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''

Reception

The New York papers did not give good reviews of the play, and it only played for a few weeks. The ''New York Herald'' called it "improbable and absurd in its plot, without any merit in its language, it belongs to the lowest order of sensational plays, and is altogether unworthy of the fine company by whom it is performed."(8 December 1867)
The Drama Legitimate and Illegitimate--The Prospects of the New York Stage
''New York Herald'' But when Phillips' published the play in England he dedicated it "with feelings of deep disgust to the thief or thieves who ... caused a mutilated copy of the work to be circulated in America, to the detriment of its author." He also asserted that "nearly one-third of the Piece being omitted, and the remainder garbled into nonsense by introductions of the plunderer's own."

(official edition) Maud's Peril] Phillips' dismay was no doubt a result of the lax United States copyright laws International Copyright Act of 1891, of the time, which permitted widespread piracy of foreign works.Nicoll, Allardyce
A history of late nineteenth century drama
pp. 70-71 (1975 ed.) The London production lasted for 54 performances. Its reviews were also not very positive, though the ''Observer'' said it was "perhaps the best of Mr. Phillips's dramas."
Retrieved 5 December 2017

Original cast

London, Adelphi Theatre (23 October 1867)

*Sir Ralph Challoner by

John Billington John Billington (also spelled as Billinton; c. 1580September 30, 1630) was an Englishman who travelled to the Americas on the ''Mayflower'' and was one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. He was also the first citizen of the Plymouth Colony ...

*Gerald Gwynne by Mr. Ashley *Toby Taperloy by Mr. G. Belmore *Burrell by Mr. C.J. Smith *Doctor by Mr. W.H. Eburne *Lady Challoner by Ruth Herbert *Kate Sefton by Miss Amy Sheridan *Susan Taperloy by Adeline Billington

New York, Wallack's Theatre

*Sir Ralph Challoner by James H. Stoddard *Gerald Gwynne by Benjamin T. Ringgold *Toby Taperloy by James William Wallack, Jr. *Burrell by George F. Browne *Doctor by W.H. Pope *Lady Challoner by

Rose Eytinge Rose Eytinge (November 21, 1835 – December 20, 1911) was a Jewish American actress and author. She is thought to be the first American actress to earn a three figure salary. Biography Eytinge was born November 21, 1835 in Philadelphia ...

*Kate Sefton by Mary Barrett *Susan Taperloy by Mrs. John Sefton

References

{{reflist

External links

Maud's Peril
(official edition)
Maud's Peril
(New York publisher text, via archive.org) 1867 plays West End plays