Life, 1895-04-25 · page 12 of 18
Life — April 25, 1895 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Trilby" Stage Adaptation Review This page celebrates the theatrical adaptation of George Du Maurier's novel *Trilby*. The text discusses how skeptics doubted the book could be dramatized successfully, yet the stage production proved them wrong. The photographs show three male cast members (Little Billee, Svengali, and Taffy) and the actress playing Trilby. The article credits playwright Paul Potter and producer Palmer for skillfully translating the novel to stage—preserving its essential characters and emotional truth while making necessary dramatic cuts. The satire targets literary snobbishness: readers believed they alone appreciated the novel's merit, not recognizing Du Maurier's genius. The stage success vindicated both author and adapter, proving great literature could translate across media when handled thoughtfully. This was a genuine theatrical phenomenon of the 1890s, not political commentary.
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THE IMMORTAL. HEN Mr. George Du Maurier put on his intellectual togs and strolled down the crowded avenue of liter- ature he could never possibly have anticipated the sensation he was about to create. He had a name and he wrote a book which he sold at a fairly good price. That it should be the remarkable production of a decade was something that neither he nor his publishers could have known in advance. The idea of turn- ing “Trilby” into a play was scouted as absurd by almost every one who had read the book. Now we can realize —the present writer among the rest— that it was because we fancied it was our own delicate perceptions that LITTLE BILLEE (Me. Hicxsan), SVENGALI (Mr. Lacxave), (owed 86 HwER axo TAFFY (Mx. McIxtosn). that was true and given more credit to the author and artist and less to our realin the creations WN belief in our individual preceptiveness, we could have ofthe author, We Understood better how easily " Trilby ” would have lent itself thought that the 0 the uses of the dramatist. types presented, ‘The successful dramatization of “ Trilby” is one of the were only realized highest tributes that Mr. Du Maurier could receive. Many a in their true value, &T¢at novel has been dramatized, but none within recollection by those who had $0 Successfully. No matter how well arranged by the play- | the experience to Wright, no matter how well cast and produced, no story, | give them life _ brilliant as it might be, could furnish the inspiration of the through theic own Present one, unless it was the work of a genius and its char- knowledge of Bo- a¢ters were so distinct, its pathos and humour so elementary hemian and other Nd true, and its motive so simple that it could appeal to phases ofexistence. ¢Very nature, | Faulty as may be With all credit to Du Maurier and the material he has Mr. Du Maurier’s furnished, it must be allowed to Mr. Paul Potter and Mr. drawings incertain Palmer's excellent company that they have done work which technical points, _Producesan absorbing, touching, and highly artistic ensemble. they are distinct: Mr. Potter has evidently absorbed the spirit of the book, and These aidthe read- V0iding unnecessary exaggeration and distortion, given the er to crystallized author's work as good a stage exposition as one could con- impressions of the characters. But there is no denying that ceive: He has taken liberties but few which were not al his word pictures are also vivid and clearly drawn. Had we !wtely required by stage possibilities. He has wisely cut those parts of the story which were more philosophical than The portraits on this page are reproduced by the consent of Mr. A, M. amatic. Mr. P is heartily c ¢ Palmer and Messrs. Harper and Brothers under the: copyright of E- dramatic, Mr. Potter-is heartily to be applauded for: the difficult task he has accomplished. TRILBY (Miss Haxxeo). ickering. comicbooks.com