I did a course years ago on 19th century drama - the prof was apparently forced to include some Shaw, etc, but mostly it was plays no one's heard of, several of which were terrific (John Galsworthy's Justice, frex).

I think the majority of them had fascinating heroines, annoying heroes, and comic characters who were the real heroes (and who were usually the best-paid members of the company, apparently).

(Oh - the script to Under the Gaslight is online here. (http://www.archive.org/stream/underthegaslight00dalyrich/underthegaslight00dalyrich_djvu.txt))