The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01
DICKENS AS AN ACTOR.
He was Known Chiefly as an Ana

He wns known Chiefly ss an Ana
tour.
Charles Dickenss biographer has told
how near the great novelist cams e.
being an actor and how the mere phys!-
cal accident Of having a cold interfere
with this ambition. But tho writer die
not altogether abandon tho footlights
He was most virulent example Of the
amateur player and continued 30 take
delight in these appearances.
For many years 1t was the custom of
Dickens to devote two or three years
t. writing novels Then for a year Ne
would disport himself in many parts OF
England on the amateur stage. As "a
result OF this devotion to the theatre
Dickens became a stage director OF grea
resource He rehearsed the COMPANY
des gncd the costumes and also the
scenery and attended to all the details
/ of the production. So 1t is more than
probable that were Dickens alive to-
day he would make himself very active
in connection with the Liebler produr-
ton AZ WallaCks.
His stage love became so pronounced
that Dickens adopted stage methods
ing from his works. He carried many
properties with him and his own gas
man" so that the lighting scheme might
be suited To the best display Of his
facial expression. His methods of read
ing were strongly dramatic.
Dickens revived his youthful love o.
tho theatre during his visit to tins
country in 1872. by he time he reached
Canada he was wild To act on the stage
I Theatricals 10y army officers CAV
him the opportunity in Montreal on
MAY %. 1Si2. At tho Queens Thentr.
there Dickens played with the Officer
and other amateurs In "A Roland for
an oliver" past Two O'Clock" and
Deaf as n Post" He took enti""
charge Of the productions
When Dickens returned TO England
from America he forcswore the stage
and devoted himself 10 the writing of
novels until 1875. Then he determine
upon playtimc. ON September -.
lS45. he presented Ben Jonsons Every
Man I'm His HumOr" at the Royalty
Theatre in London with COM
pany Of amateurs. The performanco
was repeated on November Is. Dickens
himself played captain BObddR. lie
made such a nit in the presence OF Al
bert the Prince CouSort and the 9th r
DISTINGUISHED persons that Capt. Robert
Leslie, Royal Academy, painted on can
vas one of his scenes. Before the close
Of 1875 Dickens and his company gave
Beaumont and FlotChcrs The Ed =
Brother" at the st. James In Londo1.
They also took it 10 Liverpool and Man
! chester. In iSl7 they took the IonsOn
comedy 10 Manchester In ls4s they
put ON The Merry Wives Of Windsor
with Dickens as JHStiCc ShdllOir ami
, Mark Lemon as FGlstdT. They played
London aud also took thcir production
, to Winchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh,
I Birmingham and Glasgow.
After that rather ambitious tour
= Dickens devoted himself again 10 his
= novel writing. David Copperfield" be-
I longs ia that period hut in 1850 he
ycarned FOR tho stage again. In that
I year at Knc' worth House, tho residen, -
Q Of Lord Lytton, his company prese cd
o. the JOnson play. In 1851 Dickens and
4 his friends founded tho Guild ~ Lit
o. eraturo aud Art" which gave a numb W
II Of perfurmaI-c es under the management
n Of Dickens. Lord l.yttOn wrote for the
q Dickens company Not So Bad A. W.
i Seem" which was presented al Devon
n shire House before Queen Victoria
u Prince Albert tho Duke NJ Wellington,
IS Lord Maoaulay and many other nota
- hlcs In 1888 Dickens distinguished
n himself 10y playing six parts n littlo
Y sketch changing costumes and making
+ mp very rapidly.
q Tho last important production o.
= Dickens and his associates were Light
house" and The Frozen Deep" by
Il Wilkie Collins. In the former the mar
L. part Of the action took place in a little
II room In n lighthouse CEddvstone Light
Il house,. Dickens designed very effec'
2, tive scenic setting for Lighthouse
S which was commented upon with hiEl
e praise hN the professional theatrica
! world. This was IN 1857.
Il The novelist ed in 1870, hut up I,
Il the end retained his extreme interes
," in the theatre, only II few days befor,
q his d,ath he sdia 20 q friend
What do You think would he th'
r. realization Of on" Of my most Cherisho,
n day drrdmsP TO scttl" down now IN
IL t0o remainder of my life within ca 2!
n distance 81 a great theatre, In the al
r. r~rton Of which | should have supreme
l. authority II should he a house .
In course having skilled AND notahl
s" company and one in every way magnin
- Gently appointed The pieces actc
8, should Ice dealt with according 30 m
~ plans and Touched mp here and Their
\ according 10 my judgment, the PLAYER
b. as we'll as the plays hc.ng ahsolutel
under my control. There, that's m
r day dreaml"