Adah Isaacs Menken

A carte-de-visite portrait of the actress Adah Isaacs Menken, as she appeared in the role of Mazeppa, based on the poem by Lord Byron. When the production opened at Astley's Theatre in London in October 1864, this is one of the reviews that appeared the following morning:

'The season at this theatre commenced last night, and the appearance of the spacious and elegant house soon after the doors were thrown open - crowded as it was from floor to ceiling - was something unprecedented at this time of year. Mr E.T. Smith, the lessee, ventured upon a bold, but hazardous experiment, in announcing the reproduction of the well-known drama of Mazeppa, founded upon Byron's poem, with the principal character performed by a lady. Curiosity was excited to an extraordinary degree as to the effect of this experiment upon public taste, and though it was stated that Miss Adah Isaacs Menken had won well-deserved laurels in California, the colonies, and the United States, there were many who doubted its success in this country. If the verdict of last night may be accepted as conclusive, no greater theatrical triumph has ever been achieved. Miss Menken was received with hearty plaudits on her appearance as Cassimeer, the page in the Polish Castle in the first act [...] and was enthusiastically recalled at the fall of the curtain. The terrific ride up steep and wild mountain paths, the fording of rivers, the leaps down precipices, and the other exciting accessories, was given with an energy and truthfulness which drew forth frequent and warm applause, and Mr Smith had again twice to lead Miss Menken across the stage amidst a shower of bouquets and almost rapturous acclamations. Both in the first and second acts Mazeppa has to take part in frequent combats, and whether on foot or mounted as in the tournament, proved herself no less accomplished in the use of her weapons than as a horsewoman. [...] Slim in figure, of middle stature, and sinewy, though beautifully formed in limb, the scanty drapery in which she carries on the main action of the drama is admirably calculated to exhibit these physical capabilities for the part, while at the same time avoiding any offensive display, and the female portion of the audience were as enthusiastic in their applause as the masculine.

'Mr Smith has mounted the drama with unusual splendour and almost lavish expenditure.[...] Of course in spectacles of this description more depends on these external accessories than upon the acting, but with few exceptions the various characters introduced were personated with great vigour and propriety, and a long and prosperous run may be fairly predicted for Mazeppa in its new dress and its novel attraction. At the close, Miss Menken was twice recalled, and on the second occasion expressed in brief but appropriate terms, her heartfelt thanks for the kindness, the warmth with which she had been received, both of which she hoped to deserve' (Morning Advertiser, 4 October 1864).

Photographed by Charles Reutlinger of Paris.