The Productions: Princess Ida
For his next libretto, Gilbert borrowed his 1870 blank-verse play, The Princess, which itself was a burlesque of Tennyson’s lengthy poetic medley. Lyrics were written for Sullivan’s setting, but the text retained the blank verse. Princess Ida (1884) opened successfully at the Savoy and was sent on tour in England. It began its New York run at the Fifth Avenue Theatre five weeks after the London premiere, but Princess Ida was not a success in America.
[Souvenir advertisement]. [London]: Hildesheimer and Faulkner [1884].
Scenes from Princess Ida designed by Alice Havers. With tipped-on notice of D'Oyly Carte's touring company in Princess Ida.
[Program]. New York: Fifth Avenue Theatre, week ending Mar. 22, 1884.
Original New York production of Princess Ida.
[Contemporary engraving]. The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (London), Jan. 19, 1884. "Princess Ida at the Savoy Theatre" by D.H. Friston.
[Cabinet photograph]. New York: Sarony [1884].
Florence Bemister as Lady Psyche and chorus members in D’Oyly Carte’s New York production of Princess Ida.