THE
LIGHTHOUSE
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Amateur production in 1865 with Palgrave Simpson as Aaron Gurnock. |
Revival at the Boscombe Theatre, part of Boscombe Lodge, home of Sir Percy Shelley, son of the poet. |
The Lighthouse was a melodrama loosely based on Collins's 1853 short story, 'Gabriel's Marriage', but set in the Eddystone Lighthouse of December 1748. In May 1855, Collins sent the finished play to Dickens who enthusiastically took over the production. Dickens played Aaron Gurnock, the head lightkeeper, and arranged for Clarkson Stanfield to paint the backdrop. Other parts were taken by Collins, Augustus Egg, Mark Lemon, Mary Dickens and Georgina Hogarth. The production ran for four nights at Tavistock House, from 16 June 1855, followed by a single performance on 10 July at Campden House, Kensington.
The Lighthouse was staged at the Royal Olympic Theatre from 10 August - 17 October 1857, Collins's first professional production. Robson played Aaron Gurnock and George Vining read the Prologue. An American version opened at the New Theatre, New York, on 21 January 1858. There was an amateur production with Palgrave Simpson on 3 May 1865 at the Royal Bijou Theatre (Lambeth School of Art) and further revivals at Shelley's Boscombe Theatre during the 1870s and 1880s. The Lighthouse was translated into French by Emile Forgues.
George Cooke who played Samuel Furley (a pilot) at the Olympic in 1857
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