M'LLE RHEA AND HER SUPERB COMPANY, INCLUDING MR. WILLIAM HARRIS, UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. FRANK G. COTTER, WILL APPEAR FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANAGER THOS. F. BOYD, IN SHAKSPEARE'S [sic] COMEDY, "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING." [caption title, followed by the cast of characters and synopsis of scenery]

M'lle Rhea [Loret, Hortense-Berbe]

Published by Cotter, Printer, Omaha [NE], 1889

About this Item

Broadside, printed on golden yellow silk. 23 x 11 cm. Edges frayed, particularly the top margin, affecting a few letters of text. M'lle Rhea portrays Beatrice and William Harris is Benedick. Fifteen other cast members are named. The broadside assures the audience that the costumes, arms and equipment are all "strictly in accordance with the period -- the middle of the 16th century -- and are of the handsomest designs and materials, for Worth and Alexandre, of Paris. M'lle Rhea (1844-1899), whose real name was Hortense-Berbe Loret was born in Belgium and began her stage career in Paris in the 1870s. By 1881 she was performing first in England and then, having taught herself English, she spent most of the rest of her life working in the United States. She was known for her performances of Shakespeare, Sheridan, and Dumas. Although she appeared on the stage in New York City, M'lle Rhea's "most pronounced suddesses were won in 'the provinces,' where she enjoyed a vogue that lasted for many years." [see her obituary in the New York Times, May 23, 1899]. The printer of this broadside, Thomas H. Cotter, had set up his job printing office in Omaha in 1881 and was well known in the business community there. No listings found on OCLC for this broadside, although there are other theater programs found for her performances in Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, etc.

Seller Inventory # 66748

Bibliographic Details

• Title: M'LLE RHEA AND HER SUPERB COMPANY, INCLUDING MR. WILLIAM HARRIS, UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. FRANK G. COTTER, WILL APPEAR FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANAGER THOS. F. BOYD, IN SHAKSPEARE'S [sic] COMEDY, "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING." [caption title, followed by the cast of characters and synopsis of scenery]
• Publisher: Cotter, Printer, Omaha [NE]
• Publication Date: 1889
• Seller catalogs:
  • Americana
  • Western Americana