The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 2, February 1891 / edited by George Newnes.

Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 2, February 1891 / edited by George Newnes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and religiously “ drops a line,” during the time he is not wanted in the piece, to all those unknown “young friends” who would tempt good fortune on the stage ; the sofa covered with flowered cretonne ; and in close proximity to the fireplace a rising young actor who had only recently made his appearance—J. L. Toole by name. Near a capital character sketch of Henry J. Byron, by Alfred Bryan, is an old playbill in a black ebony frame. This was the programme for one night:— ]\iK. toole’s pressing-room. ricketty arm-chair in brown leather. The springs are broken, but what matter ? That chair is Toole’s, sir, and Royalty has occlu pied it many a time. Yes, nothing could be more simple than our own comedian’s dressing-room. It is just a cosy parlour, and with Toole in the chair by the fire-side one would be loth to leave it. The mantel-board has a clock in the centre, an ornament or two, and a bust of the occupant in his younger days. In a corner is the veritable umbrella used in Paul Pry. What a priceless collection of theatrical reminiscences meet the eye every¬ where ! There is a portrait group of a com¬ pany of young actors who appeared in the original production of “ Dearer than Life,” at the New Queen’s Theatre, Long-acre ■—Henry Irving, Charles Wyndham, John Clayton, Lionel Brough, John L. Toole, and Miss Henrietta Hodson, who afterwards became Mrs. Labouchere. A tolerably good cast ! And here are por¬ traits of a few actors taken years ago at Ryde, Isle of Wight, showing W. Creswick in a great Inverness cape, Benjamin Webster, S. Phelps, Paul Bedford, and a THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Merchant of Venice. The Drama in 3 Acts : AIind Your Own Business. Keeley Worried by Buckstone. Mr. Keeley . By himself. Mr. Buckstone. By himself. To conclude with the laughable farce, The Spitalfields Weaver. Sirnuions . Mr. John L. Toole. [His first appearance on any stage). Many a white satin programme is about, and the tenant of the little dressing- room of King William-street is repre¬ sented in many parts. Just by the door is Mr. Liston as Paul Pry.^ arrayed in bottle-green coat, big beaver hat, and armed with the inevitable umbrella—“just called to ask you how your tooth was.” An excellent portrait represents John Billington as John Peeryhingle in “Dot,” underneath which are penned some note¬ worthy lines : “ I don’t want anybody to