Lily as Rosalind
By 1880 rumours of Lily's impending divorce were rampant. Both husband and prince were no longer as forgiving of Lily’s behaviour. Suddenly Lily found herself no longer a “kept” woman. Overnight funds--at least enough to keep her in the style to which she had become accustomed--had dried up. Her good friend Oscar Wilde proposed an acting career and helped Lily forge the connections with the London theatrical crowd. Lily worked hard to learn the ropes and, by 1881, made her London debut in She Stoops to Conquer.
Critics tended to be harsh on her, nevertheless Lily generally played to full houses. After getting her feet wet on the English stage, in 1883 she sailed to New York City to begin the first of many tours of North America. Here her popularity was even greater than in England, as were the financial rewards. She played many different roles during her tours, one of the most famous being, Rosalind, from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Lily played in all of America’s great cities and in smaller ones too, wherever a healthy income was to made. Later her tour extended to major Canadian cities as well.
Critics tended to be harsh on her, nevertheless Lily generally played to full houses. After getting her feet wet on the English stage, in 1883 she sailed to New York City to begin the first of many tours of North America. Here her popularity was even greater than in England, as were the financial rewards. She played many different roles during her tours, one of the most famous being, Rosalind, from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Lily played in all of America’s great cities and in smaller ones too, wherever a healthy income was to made. Later her tour extended to major Canadian cities as well.
