POLYGLOT PRODUCTIONS

In the era of international touring stars, audiences wanted to see celebrity performers likeSarah Bernhardtdespite their inability to perform in English. This posed little problem since audiences knew their Shakespeare and other works of the standard repertory. If the star did not travel with a company performing in the same language, American actors might be hired tosupportthe star. Thus the lines would be given and cues picked up in two different languages, or sometimes even three. For example, the Polish-born actor Bogomil Dawison (1818-1872) performed in German oppositeEdwin Boothin 1866. Booth also played Iago to the Italian-speaking Othello ofTommaso Salviniin 1886.

See alsoforeign stars and companies on the American stage.