The Palace of Truth is a three-act
blank verse "Fairy Comedy" by the English dramatist
W. S. Gilbert. First produced at the
Haymarket Theatre in London on 19 November 1870, the plot was adapted in significant part from
Madame de Genlis's fairy story
Le Palais de Vérite. It was the first of several such plays that Gilbert wrote founded upon the idea of self-revelation by characters under the influence of some magic or supernatural interference. The play ran for approximately 140 performances, then toured the British provinces and enjoyed various revivals even well into the 20th century. There was also a New York production in 1910. This photograph shows the real-life married couple
William Hunter Kendal and
Madge Robertson Kendal as the lovers Prince Philamir and Princess Zeolide in the original 1870 production of
The Palace of Truth.
Photograph credit: London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company; restored by Adam Cuerden
