Brief Bright Star

From the Back Cover: The nineteenth century was the golden age of New Orleans theatre. Two young sisters began their careers dancing on the stage of the St. Charles Theatre. One of the sisters ran away in hopes of becoming a famous actress. With her long dark hair, large sad eyes, years of hard work and good friends, she became the theatrical sensation who created a storm of controversy with her daring portrayal of the heroine of a melodrama based on a poem by Byron. The performance in the play was highlighted by a dangerous ride she made dressed in skin-colored tights tied to the back of a live horse. The spectacle both shocked and delighted audiences in New York, San Francisco, London and Paris. She was a show business phenomenon. For a year or two in the 1860's Ada Campbell, the actress from New Orleans, who was known as Adah Isaacs Menken, became one of the highest paid actresses in the world. Her more talented younger sister found a brief love with the son of a fishing magnate who insisted they live in France. After bearing his child and training long hours, she joined the ballet chorus of the famous Paris Opera. Neither sister knew what became of the other. Young and talented in New Orleans, neither young girl could have foreseen her future harrowing life in Europe.