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edit»18IMASKS AND FACES.The First Lady Teasle—A Thespian BoardingHouse—“Jane’s Travels.The “School for Scandal ” ia rich in remini*either regarding the play itself, or concerning the actors and actresses whose names and triumphs are associated with it. Mrs. Abingtoa was the original Lady Teazle, and “Nosegay Fan (her earliest sobriquet) was born »Imo.-g literally in the gutter, earned her living by selling flowers in the streets, varied by improuip;u recitations and songs at the tavern doors, d t, the single-handed negro minstrel of the present day ; from thence she rose by rapid staged tlt;* •errant at a French milliner’s in Cockspur- etreet, w. ere she acquired a taste for divas and a knowledge of ti e 1'iench language, and was ac on » time “fellow servant” with the iladdeley of calce fame, who before he trod the boards catered for the public in the capacity of cook; hence no doubt the origin ci the commemorative cakes. Boaden describes her performance of Lady Teazle “as equal to the lirst of her profession,” and as sujier.or to any effort of Garrick's. It is curious to remember that thefirst representative of Lady Teazle was at least forty years of age, when she assumed t:.» character, but we are told that this defect was not noticed by the spectators, and that her impersonation, which lacked the rusticity im*parted to the character afterwards by Mrs.Jordan, met with the full approval of Sheridan and (he playgoers of the time. The salary of the first Lady Teazle averaged £16 per week “with a benefit, and £60 for clothes.” Thf latest Lady T. will probably receive at least £60 per week, but then she is debarred the benefit and the £60 for clothes. The most curious anecdote relative to the present representativeof the character is the fact that on the occasion of poor old Chippendale s benefit at Southport, Mrs. Bernard Bee re appeared for that occasion only as Charles Surface, and a sprightly Charles the lady made we have no doubt. By-the-way, the original^Charles Suiface bore the plebeian name of Smith, and to this day there can be seen in the National Gallery a portrait byLaurence of “Mr. Smith, the Actor,” a comelylooking old gentleman, with a rubicund and dimpled face, a pair of bright blue eves, and apleasant smile. He was known as “ Gentleman Smith,'* and when he retired from the stage devoted himself to field sports and pleasure of the chase. Here, again, it is curious to note that Smith was forty-sevenwhen he first appeared as Charles Surface while King, who played Sir Peter, was exactly the same age. Ten years after his retirement from the stage Mr. Smith reappeared for one night only as Charles Surface, and although the actor was over 70, an inmdent is related of him which shows that there was life in the old boy yet. Lady Teazle happened to drop her fan, and there was a race amongst the male performers to piok it up, but Mr. Smith won easily, and delivered it to the lady with such unaffected ease and eleganoe that the audience were struck with the inmdent and applauded vehemently. The finest Charles Surface of a year ago was Mr. Charlss Ooghlan, and the beet representative of the character amongst our young actors is Mr. Fred Terry. A capitalh Surface is tola of Palmer, the original of the part—“Plausible Jack, as he was called. It was on his return to Drury Lane Theatre, after an unsuccessful attempt to establish an opposition theatre in Goodman's Fields. “Mr dear Mr. Sheridan,” began bet “if you oould but know what I feel at this moment here,” laying hie hand on bis heart and reproducing au his Joseph Surface airs of sanctimonious humility. “ x ou forget,Jack, I wrote it,” was the stinging retort ofShendaa. Joseph Surface is one of the fewr. Beer!aaeodote relating to Joeegnparts that Mr.bohm Tree failed to distin-Snish himself in. Dodd, the original ir Benjamin Baokbit* is spoken of as the “prinoa of pink heels and the soul of empty eminence. The most celebrated SirBenjsmin of later days was the late Mr. Linshoes personal idiosyncrasiss peculiarly in for the part. He played it m the revival of 1874 by tbeBanorofts at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre, a revival remarkable for itspumptuousnees, and its faithful picture of everything hot the manners of tits timet the cos*tones and aooessoriss wan accurate to a button,or a window-blind, tHele. Mr,little Sir Oliver to die famous actress, both of whom were dealtwith very roughly by Churchill in the “ Rosciad, ” 176L Mr. Fnd Everill, one of the last remaining members of the Old Haymarket company ia aocounted the best Sir Oliver of to-day. To?morrow the public will have theseeing Mr. Charles WBeere, Mr. Bouohier: w. —.Giddena, and Mr. Blakeley in these favouritesnneesones were aooursta so a button,w-bHnd, but the acting was fin de\ Richard Taken the original of dear liver, was a good actor and husbandIt is unkind of O. A. CL to suggest theestablishment of a Thespian Boarding House, or “On Tour”Club, whose mission it ehall be to run commodious mansions in the principal provincial oantres, in order that actors and actreesoh may obtain board and lodging on the table d'Mte system. Do not the poor people see enough ? yes, and too muoh of one anotheralready. Have they not to meet perforce every evening and to spend interminable hours during innumerable rauway journeys together ? How stale the low comedian's jokes must be to his fellow-sufferexs, and how naussoos the jeunepremier*» endless narrations of imaginary love affairs. Still as things are at present, the company bear cheerfully with one another, for the joyful prospect of a whole day's separationsustains them. No, G. A. S., your suggestion is not a happy one ; the idea is original, out we fear that if you were to start a company in order to carry it out your dividends would be butThe vivacious “Jans would appear to be auniversal favourite. Her popularity in town is immense^ while Mr. Charles Frohman. of New York, has purchased her “double ” for America. She is to visit Australia under the auspioee of Mr. W. H. Holloway, a gentleman who hasmade a fortune out of theatrical management inthe Colonies. She will visit the Continent underthe auspices of Mr. Bernstein, and on Easter Monday two provincial tours are started for the purpose of exploitiag this “perfect treasure ” in slaveys.The latest secessionists from the stage proper to the music ball are Mr. Harry Evsrsfield and Mr. Cheesewright, who will make tkeir d4but on the variety stage in a sketch, written bv Mr.Albertvariety ert Onevalier, entitleditok“Widow!■ DV JM.1Masnem.Mias Fanny Leslie will also shortly be seen atthea f anny Oxford1uaio Hall.Mr. W. EL Denny is not only a clever actor, as his performances at the Savoy have proved, bat he it also a clever comic-eong writer, and has written more than one play. His latest effort in that direction is a one-act piece, called “ A Mutual Mistake, ” which was produced at the Court Theatre on Friday eveaing last•«Lady Barter, always a consumptive per*fadu aw*y and it replaced at the Prin*oessRheatrsVv a play by Sir Charles Young, in which Mr. Herbert Standing will appear. There is no part in it for Mr. Charles Coghlan.“Judah —with a oordial invitation from the management to North London clerics—ocoupies the hoards at the Islington Grand this week, played in admirable style by Mr. Harold B. Nelson’s company from the Shaftesbury. North London is well stocked with ministers of theWelsh extraction, and otherwise, who might found a useful dieoourse for Sunday next upon the fate of the Rev. Jndah Llewellyn. The piece is finely mounted. The “ curtain raiser uadramatiosketch entitled “HisMother.” Tl Easter attraction will be Mrs. Lancaster-Walland “Tim Pharisee. The cast will incluc Messrs. Edmund Gurney, El wood, J. G. Taylo and Herberte-Baeing.»of “A Mad Paeeionj,” *t Sadlers'Wells svsning, by Mr. H. 7. Housdsn’s companylastItA lar^e house was present at the performanceing, bywould seem that this play was written by Mr. Edward J. IAmpard, woo must have been both mad and passionate when he wrote it. . When “A Mad Passioa has rua its course, “The Royal Oak * will be transplanted from Drury Lane to brave the Ialingtoa airs for a week orMr. A. Memurs patrons attfc Theatre, Biahopsfatn are weeping alt; of “East Lynns this week, wBoh wedged in between “ Little Jack Shei EnglishMr. A Melville’s patrons at the Standardat the woes has been•okSheppard 'andGrand Opera. “East Lynns”is an excellent preparative for Good Friday.At the Parkherst, Holloway, Mr. Henry Bedford and his strong company are playing OtnssnV**Mi%yWhilst*anothasketch “Our‘ of the Tranco-will bring
Newspaper Details
London Evening News and Post
London, Middlesex, GB
Tue, Mar 24, 1891
Page 2
Full Page
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USA 13 Sep 2022
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