The Octoroon 'The Octoroon; or, Life in Louisiana' is a play in four acts by Dion Boucicault and was the first play to treat the subject of African American slavery seriously. It was first performed in the United States at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York in 1859. The play was first performed in London at the Adelphi Theatre in 1861. Material for this play includes illustrations, programmes and two twentieth century newspaper articles. There is material from the 1859 New York production and the 1861 production at the Adelphi Theatre, London. 1859-1981