The subject is an episodic treatment of three love affairs conducted by George Sand, with Alfred de Musset, Pietro Pagello, and Frédéric Chopin.

Intended as mild satire, some critics labelled it as burlesque,[1] while others pointed out the limited appeal of Romantic era writers for modern audiences.

[3] Very much a star vehicle, the play's appeal in actual performance relies on the popularity of the sole lead: in the original US production this was Mrs. Fiske, while in the UK revival it was Mrs. Patrick Campbell.

[7][8] After three days of performances, the production went north to New York, playing one night stands in Poughkeepsie and Ithaca, then a full week at the Star Theater in Buffalo before heading to Broadway.

[9] One Buffalo reviewer summed up the local experience: "The comedy is of the intellectual sort and plenty of it last night went right over the footlights and didn't find a resting place in the audience".

[11] The reviewer for The New York Times admired the cleverness of the dialogue, but felt that the production amounted to a burlesque in the style of the Washington Street Players.

[12] Aside from Mrs. Fiske, who wore pants and smoked cigars while in character, José Ruben was the only actor consistently singled out for praise by the Broadway critics.

[13][14] The reviewer for Brooklyn Life said Ruben's acting "is not eclipsed even by that of so great an actress as Mrs. Fiske, and he far surpasses any member of her supporting company".