New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-03
An ACTRESS ON THE THEATRE.
A SOUVENIR OF MRS. kendall


The opinions OF Mrs Kendall will be widely
read, and they will he read with interest ana
pleasure. Mrs. Kendall, indeed is less lmpor'ahb
a writer than she is as an actress NeI as d
writer she has piquant manner ana d hA"o
touch. and therefore her compositions-whIch re-
late chiefly to the stagc-arc more agreeaoc IMAM
those of more solid and laborious COMMENTATORS
Mrs Kendall has passed her life III the theatre
She comes of an old theatrical family she IS inc
twenty-second child of her parents, ana she was
introduced to the stage at the early age oil
,broo t. would be readily possible for her to
write a copious and charming autobiography
enriched with Chmpses and anecdotes OF many
nersons DISTINGUISHED on the English stage and
in London society during the last fortN years; ;
and indeed this book of Opinions is somewhat
outobiographical in character. But regular
,nemor was not contemplated by it's author.
The famous actress was asked 10 write something
about her profession, for Murray's Magazine
and she complied with the request by giving To that
periodical these off-hand. familiar observations,
tonching on many points that interesting to
those who care for plays and players impress
xions rather than thoughts are scattered
+broucb these neat little pages. Mrs. Kendall
seldom follows out her specific notions to their
logical results Yet her book is one that persons
DESTROYS TO settle their views of stage questions
NAV find fruitful of suggestion. She Is
n firm believer in the nobility and beneiicence Oh
the art of acting: she even thinks that the stage
is good place for girls; and she MAINTAINS tha'
all theatrical aspirants who wish to become actors
must begin when they are children. IL is inc
duty Of the actor, she declares. to make the
audience see the part from his point OF vle"'
and not from their own. To small extent the
actor must bring his own individuality and omar
acter upon the stage. she affirms. and 10 TINS
;cal,- md frul
what we are" These citations indicate the scope
and quality of Mrs Kendal's views. And her
thoughts are kindred with her views. The more
Won know of Shakespeare" eXclaims this writer.
the more YOU read of him. the more marvellous
does he appear and the more subtle. Ihat Is a
thought.
MANY interesting facts must have come under
Mrs Kendals notice. Some of these are recorded
by her She remarks that her brother " Tom
Robertson. the author of Caste. Ours, etc.
was the eldest son of their parents and that she,
being the twenty -second child never knew him
except as a man. The Robertson family lived IN
Lincolnshire and Mrs. Kendal's uncle, Old Tom
Robertson the Mogml managed theatres in the
eight towns of the Lincolnshire circuit. This
property eventually came into the possession OF
Mrs Kendals father. who lost everything In
speculation Mrs Kendal's mother was German,
born near The Hague, her name being Elizabeth
Marinus Mrs Kendall lNIadge Robertson was
brought out as Eva. in Uncle Toms Cabin, at
Bristol and later when about fifteen, was engaged
at Bradford, for singing parts and buresqne; after
which time she played at nottingham and Hull,
and ultimately she came to the Haymarict
Theatre & .ondon, where she remained seven years.
and where she met Mr. Kendall and became his
wife NIr. Kendal's real name is Grimston0 One
Of her memories is that of Ira Aldrdge negro.
who acted as Othcllo. and she mentions that it
was his custom 10 take Desdcmona ont Of bed
by the hair of her head, in act fifth.
and drag her round the stage before he smotheled
her-an entirely unwarranted, incorrect and dis
gushing action, which, it is comfort TO Know
was loudly hissed. Nowadays since the Salvn
craze, it would probably be admired. While al
Hull she went on for Lady Macbeth. TO the Mac
beth of Samuel Phelps. and she records that the
gallery boys proposed to duck that famous ira
cedian In the Humber because, when called before
the curtain. he omitted to take ont Our Madge.'
Mr. Blackstone she says. always asked the opinion
of the musicians at rehearsal concerning any play
that he purposed to produce and he was en-
couraaed when he found it favorable OF her
brotber's plavs Mrs Kendall speaks with entirely
Unsuitable pride and favor II is among hcr
yecollections that she met him once, and only once
as a manager The always sagc-managed his own
plays which was when she acted niue part Ill
his comedy of Dreams" at the London "aletY
Tbeatre with Alfred Wigan and John Clayton in
tho cast-both now dead. Mr.. Wigan she de-
scrihes as great artist and the kindest creature.
so full Of encouragement and so wsh1ul 10 'ef
Won of everything that was TO your advantage
Blackstone she records. was most delgh'lul 10 "t
vith-sympathetic, helpful, and he never t'ok
advantage of anybody. The play OF lnpuiS''
by Mr. Stephenson, is deemed by Mrs Kendall
III pinp
and her husband have ever had. She pays a
warm tribute 10 the STYLE OF Mr. Pinero. stating
that the lines he gives to women TO speak are
espccially subtle pretty. and right This IS the
sort of praise that the actors Of old uscd 70 ac-
cord TO Vanbrugh-whOse language is lnvarlaoy
natural flexible and appropriate, ana therefore
easv IN learn and TO retain. The language and
ideas of Wills are mentioned by Mrs hendal as
having excited her greatest admiration, almost
her reverence She also names with favor Mr..
Sidney Grundy, Mr.. Henry Arthur Jones, Mr..
Robert Buchanan. Mr. Clement Scott. Mr. A. W.
Dubourr and Mr. They're Smith-thc last named
of whom blessed the amateurs b. wrItlng a
Uappv Pair" and "Unclc's Will II is remark
able that she nowhere names Mr. Gilbert. although
il is historical that she appeared in at least I'VE
of his PLAYS and therein gained some OF the
best successes Of her career Mrs hendal
was the original Lillian Vavasour, in New Men
and Old Acres" written by Mr.. Dnbourg III as
ISOLATION with Tom Taylor-a play that IS reme'n-
bered here in association with }. w. Walack, IT,,
and Madeline Henriques.
The spirit that shines through this little
book is gentle, kindly, sympathetic ana
tolerant. No doctrine is urged with acerbity or
viewed with impotence. On some points Mrs
Kendall is content 10 he judiciousy non-com-
initial The difference between the French and
the English styles Of acting, for example, IS
stated with neat precision and without word of
bias or preference. There is mere record
without comment, Of the fact that old Mr.
Chippendalc, OF the IIaymarket. read Tom Robert
SONS play Of SocictN7 and wrote upon Inc Ms