BOUCICAULT, boo'se-lco, Dion, origin ally called BOURCICAULT, Irish dramatic author and actor: b. Dublin, 26 Dec. 1822; d. New York, 18 Sept. 1890. He was educated at London University and wrote his first play, 'London Assurance,' under the pseudonym of "Lee Morton') when he was only 19 years old. This was produced at the Covent Gar den Theatre in London and won immediate success. He made his first appearance as an actor in 1852 in his own play, 'The Vampire' ; in 1853-60 he was in the United States, where his success on the stage was asgreat as it had been in England. He founded a theatre in Washington and reconstructed the Metro politan Theatre in New York, but was not very successful as a manager. Returning to London in 1860 he brought out 'The Colleen Bawn,' one of his best-known plays, and was at one time joint manager of the Adelphi and manager of a new theatre, the Westminster. The latter venture was unsuccessful, hut he shortly afterward brought out a number of very popular plays. In 1876 he came to New York, where he lived until his death. He
continued his work as both actor and play wright, and also opened the New Park Theatre on Broadway. Boucicault wrote about 400 plays, many of which were adaptations; among the best not already mentioned are 'Old Heads and Young Hearts' ; 'Love in a Maze' ; 'Used ; 'Corsican Brothers' ; 'The Octo roon,' dealing with the condition of the slaves in the United States; 'The Streets of Lon don'; 'The Shaughraun' ; 'Daddy O'DowcP ; and 'Foul Play,' a dramatization of Charles Reade's novel of the same name. In 'The Colleen Bawn> he created one of his favorite types, the Irish hero that appears in many of his plays. He also rewrote and adapted 'Rip Van Winkle) especially for Joseph Jeffer son's use. While writing his numerous plays he found time to engage in a political con troversy with Lord Beaconsfield over the rights and liberties of the Irish people. He intro duced many improvements in the staging of plays, being the first to use carpets on the stage and moving scenery.