… suggested she try acting on the stage, and it kicked off her theatre career. She started in an amateur production of a comedy called “A Fair Encounter” with Henrietta Labouchere playing the other leading role and coaching Langtry on how to act.
Following positive reviews, she made a London debut playing in “She Stoops to Conquer” at the Haymarket theater. The public loved her, although the critics had some reservations.
Although her affair with the Prince was over, his attendance at her shows brought int big audiences. Early in 1882, Langtry started her own touring company that traveled across the UK, still under the teaching of Henrietta.
When Henry Abbey arranged a tour of the US for Langtry and her troups, she arrived in October 1882 met by a press and her friend Oscar Wilde. Her debut was anticipated, but the theater burned down the night before she was to appear. They moved to a different one and continued on a coast to coast tour of the Us for a full year and a lot of money.
When Langtry had an affair with Frederick Gebhard, a wealthy young American during the trip, Henrietta left the troupe over the conflict. Gebhard now escorted her across the country on more tours. The public loved her; the critics hated her, so she returned to Paris to study acting in 1883.
(Lillie in early 1880’s gown)