The copy on the verso of the photograph states that this card is a souvenir of the 75th performance at the Park Theatre, Boston of Rice's comic opera 'Venus' with libretto by Charles Alfred Byrne and Louis Harrison and music by Gustave Kerker. As the star, Camille D'Arville is listed separately at the foot of the cast list. She plays Prince Kam, son and heir of Poom, the Grand Llama of Thibet. The photo is a head-and-shoulders portrait of a distinctly womanly D'Arville wearing an embroidered cap on her mop of short, curly hair and a doublet with puffed sleeves, elaborately jeweled around the collar.
Born Neeltye Dykstra in the Netherlands, Camille D'Arville studied music in Amsterdam and made her debut there in concert in 1877. She appeared in London, toured the English provinces and came to the United States in 1888 under the management of J. F. Duff.
The photographer, Charles F. Conly [1846-1892], was best known for his theatrical photographs. Very good .
Keywords: THEATRE; THEATER; MUSIC; COMIC OPERA STAR; CAMILLE D'ARVILLE. SIGNED CABINET PHOTO; SIGNATURE; AUTOGRAPH; PRINCE KAM OF THIBET; PRINCE KAM; OR, A TRIP TO VENUS; NINETEENTH CENTURY; 19TH CENTURY; PHOTOGRAPHER; CHARLES F. CONLY.