Excerpt from Mary Stuart: A Tragedy in Five Acts From the German of Schiller

The first performance of Mary Stuart in this country in English is said by C01. T. Allston Brown, whose dicta as to theatrical matters are bound to command respect, to have been given at the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, during the season of 1865-66, by Jean Davenport Lander; but it has been found impossible to verify this statement.

It has been found equally impossible to identify the Mary Stuart produced at the Tremont Theatre, Boston, on December 13, 1829, by Mrs. J. R. Duff, at a single performance for this lady's benefit, as a translation of Schiller's play, though the cast of characters, so far as it can be traced, makes this seem to be the fact. Mrs. Duff was the Mary Stuart of this performance, Mrs. G. Barrett the Elizabeth, Mr. Scott the Leicester, and Mr. W. H. Smith the Mortimer. This piece, what ever its source, does not seem to have been repeated by Mrs. Duff or any other, in Boston or elsewhere; but if, as seems probable, it was a translation of Schiller's play, Its unique production slenderly carries off the honors of priority. But whether or not Mrs. Lander played the part in 1865 in Philadelphia in some experimental version, and whatever the origin of Mrs. Duff's isolated performance, Mrs. Lander may fairly be credited with having created the part of Mary Stuart in the United States, since her first appearance in a version of the play prepared expressly for her use by herself and Mr. George Becks can he established definitely, and since her presentation of the character, thus initiated, had a national and not merely a local recognition and repute.

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