Irene Vanbrugh (1872-1949)

"Captain Dieppe"
By Anthony Hope and Harrison Rhodes.
Produced at The Duke of York's, 15th February, 1904.

Mr. H. B. Irving, Mr. Nicholas Holthoir, Mr. lvo Dawson, Mr. Dion Boucicault, Mr. Edward O'Neill, Mr. Clayton Greene, Mr. Lichfield Owen, Mr. Leslie Victor, Master Hallinger, Miss Irene Vanbrugh, Miss Miriam Clements, Miss Helen Ferrers, Miss Ethel Warwick.

At the Castle of Fieramondi we find the lady of the house hatching a scheme to escape from the consequences of gambling at Monte Carlo. No longer on speaking terms with her husband - whom she loves in her own way ­ the Countess of Fieramondi is preparing to make a trip to Genoa, there to borrow the twenty thousand francs advanced to her by a man of disreputable character called Paul de Roustache, who threatens to blackmail her.

As the Countess and her husband do not meet or speak, owing to a quarrel over her supposed flirtation at Monte Carlo with de Roustache, there is no danger of her absence for a few days at Genoa being noticed by her jealous husband. To get away, however, without being seen she borrows the clothes of her cousin Lucia, who remains behind.

Following Emilia's departure there arrives at the castle Captain Dieppe, an unsuccessful agent of the "legitimatist" cause, who has been expelled from France. Knowing the Count of Fieramondi to have political sympathies with his own, Captain Dieppe introduces himself and is at once made an honoured guest - indeed, he is even pressed by the Count to assist in putting an end to the family quarrel.

The Captain, as may be guessed, mistakes Lucia for the wife of his new-found friend, and, of course, he falls in love with her. Then, to complicate the situation, the French police discover his whereabouts, but eventually he defeats them, and gets rid of de Roustache, not, however, before the wife of the French detective charges him before the Count with having kissed the Countess Fieramondi.

The return of the real Countess, and a little manoeuvring between the two ladies and the gallant Captain, suffice to make everything clear. The Count of Fieramondi, knowing nothing of his wife's absence, is charmed to be reconciled to her again, and the curtain falls on two pairs of very happy people.

As Captain Dieppe Mr. H.B. Irving had the biggest share of the work, and he acquitted himself in a manner that secured the popularity of the character with the audience. Strong, humorous, and resourceful, he made the very most of every situation, and in this was splendidly seconded by Miss Irene Vanbrugh, whose charm, as the arch and coquettish Lucia, has seldom been displayed to greater advantage.

The other parts in the story are small, but in every case they were well played, and an excellent representation of what is really a somewhat thin play was given.

The Playgoer, Vol. V No. 27, March 1904