The cast of 'La Mascotte'

A Woodburytype portrait showing the principal members of the cast of La Mascotte, an English adaptation by Messrs Farnie and Reece of a French opera comique. The play was the first production staged at the newly opened Royal Comedy Theatre.

In the back row (left to right): Monsieur Gaillard as Pippo, Lionel Brough as the Duke of Plombino and Henry Bracy as Prince Frittelli. In the front row (left to right): Minnie Byron as Fiammetta, Violet Cameron Bettina, also known as La Mascotte, and J.P. Haynes as Rocco.

According to a review of the opening night, attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, which appeared in The Times (17 October 1881), a 'mascotte' was a 'girl endowed by the fairies with the gift of bringing good luck to anyone under whose roof she may be living, a gift which is lost in the case she should wed the man she loves'.

Photographer unidentified.