| Madame Sand | |
|---|---|
 José Ruben and Mrs. Fiske in Madame Sand | |
| Written by | Philip Moeller |
| Directed by | Arthur Hopkins |
| Date premiered | November 19, 1917 |
| Place premiered | Criterion Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Episodes in three loves of George Sand |
| Genre | Satire |
Madame Sand is a 1917 play written by Philip Moeller, who subtitled it "a biographical comedy". It consists of three acts, with a medium-sized cast and moderate pacing. Most of the play's characters are historical, figures from the Romantic literary and musical world of the 1830s. Each act has only one scene and one setting. The subject is an episodic treatment of three love affairs conducted by George Sand, with Alfred de Musset, Pietro Pagello, and Frédéric Chopin.
The play was long on witty conversations and irony. Intended as mild satire, some critics labelled it as burlesque,[1] while others pointed out the limited appeal of Romantic era writers for modern audiences. "Who reads George Sand anymore?" one critic quoted.[2] Moeller used the characters' own writings as source material, though he wasn't above lifting a phrase from elsewhere and ascribing it to one of his figures.[3] Very much a star vehicle, the play's appeal in actual performance relies on the popularity of the sole lead: in the original US production this was Mrs. Fiske, while in the UK revival it was Mrs. Patrick Campbell.
- ^ "'Madame Sand' of Washington Square". The New York Times. New York, New York. November 20, 1917. p. 11 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Corbin, John (November 25, 1917). "The Real George Sand". The New York Times. New York, New York. p. 82 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Hammond, Percy (January 22, 1918). "Mrs. Fiske in "Madame Sand"". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.