Conversation so far:
what was Henry's first job?
Irving became a clerk to a firm of East India merchants in London.
What was his first acting job?
he made his first appearance at Sunderland as Gaston, Duke of Orleans, in Bulwer Lytton's play, Richelieu.

Question: was he good at it?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Henry Irving good on Sunderland?