Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-23
IRVING. THE ACTOR.
His Arrival in New York-A Short Re.
s,1rnae of His Career

His Arrival in New YOrk-A Short Re
sumo of His Career.
| Mr.. Henry Irving, the distinguished
English actor, who is to appear with his
company at the Star Theatre, New York.
on October 49, arrived Saturday in the
steamer Britannia, accompanied by Miss
Ellen Terry, who is to support him. The
circumstances of Mr.. Irving's engage
ment by Mr.. Henry T.. Abbey are familiar
to the reader. Mr.. Irving is held to be by
many intelligent and scholarly English
men the best representative of the English
school of acting that the British stage
now possesses. He is certainly the most
eminent and successful of English PLAYERS
of our day. and he has done more than any
one of his generation to beautify, interpret
and pOpulariZe the dramas of Shakes
peare. To have done all this without ex-
traordinary talent is impossible The
recognition of Mr.: lrying's position by the
kindred professions of art and literature
in London, and the esteem in which he is
held by all the intellectual workers there.
make HIM a representative visitor.
Mr.. Irving's engagement in New York
will last until November "a, and at the
conclusion of his New York season will
travel through the United States, visiting
all the principal cities, returning to Eng
land to open his own theatre in May, 1884.
He brought with him his own scenery
costumes and full company.
Henry Irving is the assumed name of
John Henry Brodrib. He was born at
KeintOn, near Glastonbury, in SOmeset-
shire, February 6, 1888, and was educated
for mercantile pursuits. On leaving
school he was placed in the Office Of an
India merchant in London. CONNER
cial life was naturally distateful to him,
and. having opportunities to frequent the
play-hOuses of the metropolis, he soon
conceived passion for the stage and was
wisely allowed by his family to become
an actor. He was but lad of IS when
he first appeared in the character of
"Orleans" in Lytton's play of "Richelieu''
at the Lyceum Theatre, Sunderland, Sep
TENDER 30, 1856. He remained at Sunder-
land until the end of the autumn of that
year, playing minor parts and creating
little remark.
In the following year he filled an en-
gagement at the Theatre Royal, Edin-
burgh, under the management of Mr.. II.
II. Wyndham. While there he enjoyed
the advantages of. the acquaintance and
counsel of such actors and actresses as \
the late E. ID. Lyons, Miss Glyn, Charles
Matthews, TOOle, Charlotte Cushman,
George VandenhOff, Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred
Wigan, Blackstone and Helen Faucit.
His first appearance on the London
stage was III October, 1859, and in 1860 he
went 10 MdnCDeStef where he served MS
apprenticeship until 1864, where he first
appeared as Hamlet He previously sup
ported Booth, the FlOrences, Montgomery,
SOthern and Charles Matthews. In Febru-
airy, 1865, he played ''RObert Macaire," and
aitrweards, leaving Manchester, he went
to Liverpool, were he attracted the notice
of Dion B0ucicault, and was engaged by
him 10 act in some private theatricals,
playing Il part in London Assurance"
He was thus introduced to a select circle
of cOnnoissieurs who quickly discerned
the fact that he possessed talent, and in
duced him to return to London. The
good results of ten years patient cultiva-
ton of his art in the provinces was appa-
rent from Irving's first appearance at the
st. James Theatre, Oct. 6, 1866, when he
played "DoricOurt" to Miss Kate Terry's
"Letitia Hardy" in '"rhe Bellies Strate-
gy." He subsequently appeared as RAW
don Scudamore," in "Hunted Down." Sub
sequently he created a sensation by his
representation of "Bill Sykes" and his
popularity continued to increase with
each successive part he performed, until
he acquired considerable eminence in his
profession. A greater part of his success
is due to the support he has received from
Miss Ellen Terry who accompanies him
to the United States. 1t is hoped. that he
will visit the South i'll his tour.