Sapho (play)

Sapho was a British play produced in 1902 by Clyde Fitch. It was controversial when it was produced in New York City in 1908 with Olga Nethersole.[1][2]

History

The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice protested the play and during one New York City performance, Olga Nethersole was arrested for "violating public decency" and later found innocent at trial.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Olga Nethersole Dies At Age Of 80. Famed British Actress, Whose Role in 'Sapho' Led to Furor, Quit Stage to Aid Poor Revolted Against Prudery Turned to Welfare Work Made Her Stage Debut in 1888". New York Times. January 11, 1951. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0915F9395D147B93C3A8178AD85F458585F9. Retrieved 2011-03-19. "Olga Nethersole, one of Britain's most popular actresses of earlier generations, died at Bournemouth yesterday." 
  2. ^ "Sapho". Internet Broadway Database. http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=6515. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  3. ^ "The Sapho Affair". American Experience. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/peopleevents/pande30.html. Retrieved 2011-03-19. "During one performance, Olga Nethersole was placed under arrest for "violating public decency." Her trial transfixed the city for weeks. Instructed by the trial judge that they were "not the guardians of the morals of this community," the jury took only 15 minutes to find Nethersole innocent. No sooner had the judge laid down his gavel, than the curtain rose again on Sapho. This time, the crowds were even bigger."