Marie Tudor, 1833
Original title: Marie Tudor
Hugo had promised the manager of Théâtre Porte-Saint-Martin another drama after Lucréce Borgia: Marie Tudor, first titled Bloody Mary. His intentions was to cast mademoiselle George as the Queen of England and Juliette Drouet as Jane, two roles of equal importance. The rehearsals were troublesome - mademoiselle George could not stand the rival and Juliette's intimate liaison with the writer did not make the diva more indulgent. Besides, Hugo's backbiters thought Juliette played her role lousy and the manager insisted on replacing her for Dumas' mistress, mademoiselle Ida, on the day before opening.
But Hugo insisted and during the third act on the premiere night, 6 November, Juliette Drouet was hissed off the stage. She was replaced by another actress the next day. As it turned out, Jane was the last role Juliette ever played.
Notes:
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Mary Tudor, 1516-1558, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She claimed the throne and replaced Lady Jane Grey, queen for only nine days, in 1553. Her reign lasted until 1558, when she died. The last four years rendered her the nickname Bloody Mary, because of her ruthless religious persecutions.
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Marie Tudor was adapted for television in 1966.
