MR. IRVING ON DRAMATIC ART.
(At Puffinburgh, N.B.)
Mit. Ikying said:—
“ Ladies and Gentlemen,—I feel I should be wanting in the respect due to the British Drama, and to myself in particular, were I not to testify to the sincere and unfeigned pleasure I feel in concluding the most brilliantly remunerative engagement ever achieved within the walls of this or any other Theatre, and to place on record my appre
ciation and approval of the high intellectual development of this City,
to which I attribute this result. It is in no mercenary spirit that 1 have come before you to-night to announce the fact that a sum of upwards of £4346 has been realised—(cheers)—whereas in Crummelstown, the same number of performances only reached the sum of £4,200,—thus showing the intellectual standard of this City to be £146 above that registered by any other town in the United Kingdom.
(Loud and prolonged cheering.) This interesting record stands to your credit. I hope I shall not be accused of egotism, when I say that, in a sense, it stands to my credit also.” (Great applause. At this point Mr. Ikving became visibly affected, and his usual clear and ringing tones grew indistinct, and his articulation at times almost inaudible, so that some interesting figures which Mr. Irving desired to frankly communicate in detail to the audience, failed to reach the ears of our reporter.)
Mr. Ikving continued:—
“iLadies and Gentlemen,—To a community of Puflinburghians these figures will speak more eloquently than I can, and 1 think I shall not be accused of egotism, when I say that the British Drama—1 may say the North British Drama—(enthusiastic cheering) —as represented here by me, is satisfactory—the certified receipts prove it to be most satisfactory. (Cheers.) The Town of Pufhnburgh is endeared to me by many early associations, and the longer I live, the older—the more time-honoured—those associations be
come ! It was in the University town of Puflinburgh that I passed my student (theatrical) life. (Cheers.) It was from the rugged heights of Arthur s Seat (which will henceforth be ever memorable from these associations) that I drank in those inspirations which have since enabled me to restore the Tragedy of Macbeth to the place to which it is undoubtedly entitled among the English-speaking races —as is proved by the fact, that the average nightly receipts, re
corded in the archives of the Lyceum Box-ofiice, amounted to no less than £198. (Loud applause.)
“ At the risk of being thought egotistical—(a Voice, No. no!’)— I may mention that I was at that time in receipt of a salary barely equal to the then value of three orchestra-stalls (the price of which I have been reluctantly compelled to double during the present
engagement, owing to a general and pressing demand). It was in the intervals of those weekly vicissitudes—I say, it was in the intervals of those vicissitudes—(hear ! hear /)—that 1 devoted my student-life
to the study of my first important role in the annual Christmas production which, thanks to the many psychological touches with which I was enabled to invest it, and the patient and martyrlike mien with which I received the blows and kicks invariably inflicted on the representative of the civil executive—(hear ! hear !)—by the leading comedian, I succeeded in alienating from him the sym
pathy of the audience. (Immense cheering, during which Mr.
Ikving was visibly affected). I little thought that this creation was destined to lay the foundation of my conception of the character of Shylock, to the correctness of which the London critics, who are specially adapted to the appreciation of my impersonations, have testified in a manner which will reflect lasting credit upon the keenness of their artistic perception. This view of Shylock has,
moreover, the merit of being the one which Siiaksi EAKE himself would have adopted, had he been enabled to see the character by the lights of the present day. (Enthusiastic applause.) The supe
riority of my reading of this character over that of all others—if I may say so without being considered egotistical—(‘ No ! no ! ’ and deafening cheers)—has been abundantly established by the fact that a sum of £20,030— (cheers)—or thereabouts—(renewed cheering, which continued for several minutes)—was realised by my latest Shakspeakian revival at the Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street,
Strand, London. (Prolonged burst of applause, during which Mr. Ikving retired, waving his handkerchief, and kissing his hand to the audience.)
Mr. Irving at Crummlestown.
After referring, in a few well-chosen and touching words, to the fact that over £4200 had been taken during his engagement here,
Mr. Ikving (who was much affected) observed:—
“ Erom my heart I thank you—not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of Miss Terky, whom I have engaged for a period of several years. I have, from my earliest youth, always regarded Puflinburgh—I beg pardon—Crummlestown—as the cradle of my artistic career, endeared to me as it is by the recollection of my early struggles in the interests of that Art for which I shall continue to live, so long as I continue to live by it! (Loud cheers.) My thoughts will often turn again to dear old Crummlestown, which has in so interesting and substantial a manner set an example to other towns in the encouragement of Art. So long as you continue to show your appreciation of my artistic efforts in so handsome and unmistakable a manner, I shall always be happy to return to the scenes of my
former triumphs, when I venture to hope that I shall receive at least an equal, if not even a greater share, of that public support which it is my constant endeavour to earn. (Cheers from the Manager of the Box-Office, in ichich the Orchestra joined.)
“ I can imagine no better proof of your appreciation of the Drama as represented by—by—in fact by Myself—(cheers)—and my company—(hear ! hear !)—than this brilliant result to which the afore
said figures bear witness. I thank you for your hospitality, and I can only say in return, that when you come, to London you will find an equal welcome at the Lyceum Theatre. (Great cheering.) Let us know you are coming—secure your seats in advance, to prevent disappointment. Should you not be visiting the Metropolis, you will always find accounts of my sayings and doings in the columns of most of the daily papers, which will keep you fully informed as
to the past, present, and future of the theatre of which I am proud to be head. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for the £4000— I mean I thank you four thousand times.” (Loud cheering, amidst which Mr. Ikving retired.)
Mr. Irving at Trumpetmgton.
In his address to the Young Men’s Self-Cultural Association, in reference to the social status of the Actor, Mr. Ikving said:—
“ The Stage is undoubtedly the cheapest form of educating everybody—from the highest to the lowest prices—especially those unable to read and write. How refreshed in mind will be the Costermonger, gifted with poetic aspirations, and the fortunate possessor of a shilling, after witnessing any one of the performances at the Lyceum
Theatre! (Cheers.) But 1 shall not rest satisfied until I can induce the Bishops of the Established Church, Cabinet Ministers, and the
Ministers of religion of all grades, to give their earnest and loyal support to the drama as represented—if I may say so without being considered egotistical—by—er—Myself — (loud and prolonged ap
plause, in which Mr. Ikving unconsciously joined)—and come, or send by telephone or telegraph, for we do not neglect one single modern scientific invention — (“hear! hear. ”)—and book their
seats at least a month in advance at the Box-ollice of the Lyceum Theatre. Gentlemen, this, and this only, is the way to make the Stage the one popular educator of the people.” (Immense applause,
waving of hats and handkerchiefs, during which Mr. Ikving bowed several times, and then retired.)
Hour Glasses.—Old Eather Time’s spectacles. Yet they ’re his
not our glasses.
HUNTING.
Illustrated by Dumb Crambo Junior.
Huntsman and Two Whips.A Good Scent.
Giving Tongue.For’ard !
(At Puffinburgh, N.B.)
Mit. Ikying said:—
“ Ladies and Gentlemen,—I feel I should be wanting in the respect due to the British Drama, and to myself in particular, were I not to testify to the sincere and unfeigned pleasure I feel in concluding the most brilliantly remunerative engagement ever achieved within the walls of this or any other Theatre, and to place on record my appre
ciation and approval of the high intellectual development of this City,
to which I attribute this result. It is in no mercenary spirit that 1 have come before you to-night to announce the fact that a sum of upwards of £4346 has been realised—(cheers)—whereas in Crummelstown, the same number of performances only reached the sum of £4,200,—thus showing the intellectual standard of this City to be £146 above that registered by any other town in the United Kingdom.
(Loud and prolonged cheering.) This interesting record stands to your credit. I hope I shall not be accused of egotism, when I say that, in a sense, it stands to my credit also.” (Great applause. At this point Mr. Ikving became visibly affected, and his usual clear and ringing tones grew indistinct, and his articulation at times almost inaudible, so that some interesting figures which Mr. Irving desired to frankly communicate in detail to the audience, failed to reach the ears of our reporter.)
Mr. Ikving continued:—
“iLadies and Gentlemen,—To a community of Puflinburghians these figures will speak more eloquently than I can, and 1 think I shall not be accused of egotism, when I say that the British Drama—1 may say the North British Drama—(enthusiastic cheering) —as represented here by me, is satisfactory—the certified receipts prove it to be most satisfactory. (Cheers.) The Town of Pufhnburgh is endeared to me by many early associations, and the longer I live, the older—the more time-honoured—those associations be
come ! It was in the University town of Puflinburgh that I passed my student (theatrical) life. (Cheers.) It was from the rugged heights of Arthur s Seat (which will henceforth be ever memorable from these associations) that I drank in those inspirations which have since enabled me to restore the Tragedy of Macbeth to the place to which it is undoubtedly entitled among the English-speaking races —as is proved by the fact, that the average nightly receipts, re
corded in the archives of the Lyceum Box-ofiice, amounted to no less than £198. (Loud applause.)
“ At the risk of being thought egotistical—(a Voice, No. no!’)— I may mention that I was at that time in receipt of a salary barely equal to the then value of three orchestra-stalls (the price of which I have been reluctantly compelled to double during the present
engagement, owing to a general and pressing demand). It was in the intervals of those weekly vicissitudes—I say, it was in the intervals of those vicissitudes—(hear ! hear /)—that 1 devoted my student-life
to the study of my first important role in the annual Christmas production which, thanks to the many psychological touches with which I was enabled to invest it, and the patient and martyrlike mien with which I received the blows and kicks invariably inflicted on the representative of the civil executive—(hear ! hear !)—by the leading comedian, I succeeded in alienating from him the sym
pathy of the audience. (Immense cheering, during which Mr.
Ikving was visibly affected). I little thought that this creation was destined to lay the foundation of my conception of the character of Shylock, to the correctness of which the London critics, who are specially adapted to the appreciation of my impersonations, have testified in a manner which will reflect lasting credit upon the keenness of their artistic perception. This view of Shylock has,
moreover, the merit of being the one which Siiaksi EAKE himself would have adopted, had he been enabled to see the character by the lights of the present day. (Enthusiastic applause.) The supe
riority of my reading of this character over that of all others—if I may say so without being considered egotistical—(‘ No ! no ! ’ and deafening cheers)—has been abundantly established by the fact that a sum of £20,030— (cheers)—or thereabouts—(renewed cheering, which continued for several minutes)—was realised by my latest Shakspeakian revival at the Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street,
Strand, London. (Prolonged burst of applause, during which Mr. Ikving retired, waving his handkerchief, and kissing his hand to the audience.)
Mr. Irving at Crummlestown.
After referring, in a few well-chosen and touching words, to the fact that over £4200 had been taken during his engagement here,
Mr. Ikving (who was much affected) observed:—
“ Erom my heart I thank you—not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of Miss Terky, whom I have engaged for a period of several years. I have, from my earliest youth, always regarded Puflinburgh—I beg pardon—Crummlestown—as the cradle of my artistic career, endeared to me as it is by the recollection of my early struggles in the interests of that Art for which I shall continue to live, so long as I continue to live by it! (Loud cheers.) My thoughts will often turn again to dear old Crummlestown, which has in so interesting and substantial a manner set an example to other towns in the encouragement of Art. So long as you continue to show your appreciation of my artistic efforts in so handsome and unmistakable a manner, I shall always be happy to return to the scenes of my
former triumphs, when I venture to hope that I shall receive at least an equal, if not even a greater share, of that public support which it is my constant endeavour to earn. (Cheers from the Manager of the Box-Office, in ichich the Orchestra joined.)
“ I can imagine no better proof of your appreciation of the Drama as represented by—by—in fact by Myself—(cheers)—and my company—(hear ! hear !)—than this brilliant result to which the afore
said figures bear witness. I thank you for your hospitality, and I can only say in return, that when you come, to London you will find an equal welcome at the Lyceum Theatre. (Great cheering.) Let us know you are coming—secure your seats in advance, to prevent disappointment. Should you not be visiting the Metropolis, you will always find accounts of my sayings and doings in the columns of most of the daily papers, which will keep you fully informed as
to the past, present, and future of the theatre of which I am proud to be head. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for the £4000— I mean I thank you four thousand times.” (Loud cheering, amidst which Mr. Ikving retired.)
Mr. Irving at Trumpetmgton.
In his address to the Young Men’s Self-Cultural Association, in reference to the social status of the Actor, Mr. Ikving said:—
“ The Stage is undoubtedly the cheapest form of educating everybody—from the highest to the lowest prices—especially those unable to read and write. How refreshed in mind will be the Costermonger, gifted with poetic aspirations, and the fortunate possessor of a shilling, after witnessing any one of the performances at the Lyceum
Theatre! (Cheers.) But 1 shall not rest satisfied until I can induce the Bishops of the Established Church, Cabinet Ministers, and the
Ministers of religion of all grades, to give their earnest and loyal support to the drama as represented—if I may say so without being considered egotistical—by—er—Myself — (loud and prolonged ap
plause, in which Mr. Ikving unconsciously joined)—and come, or send by telephone or telegraph, for we do not neglect one single modern scientific invention — (“hear! hear. ”)—and book their
seats at least a month in advance at the Box-ollice of the Lyceum Theatre. Gentlemen, this, and this only, is the way to make the Stage the one popular educator of the people.” (Immense applause,
waving of hats and handkerchiefs, during which Mr. Ikving bowed several times, and then retired.)
Hour Glasses.—Old Eather Time’s spectacles. Yet they ’re his
not our glasses.
HUNTING.
Illustrated by Dumb Crambo Junior.
Huntsman and Two Whips.A Good Scent.
Giving Tongue.For’ard !