#OTD in 1857
Performances of Wilkie Collins' drama The Frozen Deep at the Free Trade Hall for the benefit of the widow of writer Douglas W. Jerrold, during which Charles Dickens, becomes infatuated with the professional actress Ellen Ternan.
Dickens's hand was so prominent—beside acting in the play for several performances, he added a preface, altered lines, & attended to most of the props and sets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frozen_Deep
The Frozen Deep at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1625