The Lyric opened on December 17, 1888 with a revival of Dorothy, a light opera. Initially the Lyric staged mainly light opera, with Marie Tempest as the most popular leading lady, although Eleanora Duse, the great Italian actress and rival to Sarah Bernhardt, made her London debut in Camille in 1893 and also appeared in Fedora and A Doll's House. Many revivals were staged from 1906 to 1910 while during the 1910's and 1920's the theatre was best known for musicals such as The Chocolate Soldier (1910) and Lilac Time (1922). Humorous and straight plays by contemporary playwrights began and continued throughout the war years. In more recent years, musicals such as Five Guys Named Moe which ran for nearly five years have been the mainstay of the Lyric.