| Author: |
Irving, Henry |
| Address: |
15A, Grafton Street, Bond Street, W. |
| Recipient: |
Committee of the Royal Literary Fund |
| Address: |
[London] |
| Date: |
1881, June, 3 |
| Document Type: |
Letter (3 p.) |
| Content Summary: |
He presents an application for assistance from J. Maddison Morton, a familiar author of over 100 popular plays. He depends entirely on writing, and many of the favourite actors who made his plays successful have died. |
| Published: |
- |
| Notes: |
Written by Bram Stoker and signed by Irving. John Maddison Morton, 1811-1891, wrote many popular comedies, and was awarded £100, and a further £75 in 1887 as resident in the Charterhouse. A supporting letter from G.A. Sala on 21st June 1881 describes Irving as "the most generous of mankind". By kind permission of the Royal Literary Fund. |
| Document Holder: |
BL (Reference: Loan 96 RLF 1/2119/6) |
| Ref.No: |
8482 |
|
|
| Author: |
Irving, Henry |
| Address: |
[London] |
| Recipient: |
Fitzgerald, Percy Hetherington |
| Address: |
- |
| Date: |
1872, April, 17 |
| Document Type: |
Letter (3 p.) |
| Content Summary: |
He is extremely gratified to receive Fitzgerald's letter and to know he thinks him qualified to play 'Mercadet' successfully. He would like to play the character but thinks his large hands and Englishness would overcome him. Interest in Balzac is encouraging and Irving's next new play is founded on one of his stories. He will think of 'Mercadet' in its original setting. He only knows 'Rabagas' by reputation but sees it is to be played at the St James's. He is most grateful for Fitzgerald's suggestions, which he hopes will not be the last. |
| Published: |
- |
| Notes: |
Addressed "My dear Sir". 'Mercadet' or 'Le Faiseur', 1851, by Honoré de Balzac was adapted the same year by G.H. Lewes as 'A Game of Speculation'. Irving's new play was 'Philip' by Hamilton Aidé, not staged until 1874. 'Rabagas' by Sardou was performed by a visiting French company in London. |
| Document Holder: |
GAR (Reference: Fitzgerald, vol.1, p.69.) |
| Ref.No: |
8484 |
|
|
| Author: |
Irving, Henry |
| Address: |
15A, Grafton Street, Bond Street, W. [Margate] |
| Recipient: |
Terry, Ellen Alice |
| Address: |
[Berlin?] |
| Date: |
[1889], [July] |
| Document Type: |
Letter (+8 p.) |
| Content Summary: |
... Harry is like him but Irving values his own harder upbringing. Harry is an excellent spouter but too weak for an actor. Irving is disappointed in Harry's reaction to his father's public reception in the Margate Theatre. Herman Vezin has stupidly been urging Harry to go on the stage and Irving makes disparaging remarks. Harry and Laurence were to play Jacques and Touchstone at Marlborough on Tuesday and they'd hardly read their parts when they left. He has been copying his part in a little account book handy for his pocket. It is short but difficult to act, as is hers. He likes the "filling up - sort of acting" - like 'The Bells' it is restful. There is much of Manette in Robert Landry and of Landry in Manette. What shall be their next play? No children under 10. Tree in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is pathetic. What about 'Charles I'? They might get hold of Marshall Wilder but he would be no good outside America. Winter's letter is odd? Had he intended to stay with Irving? His reference to the empty Grange makes the point. There is no one in Margate Irving knows. The Skirrows are at Broadstairs and left a card so he must return their call, otherwise he has the attractions to himself. He must stay there for a least 3 weeks as his home is upside down with drains overhauled, roof falling in &c. The surveyor had condemned the drains, which frightened Asprey into action. God bless his dearest. Remember him to the Hollanders. |
| Published: |
- |
| Notes: |
Signed with Irving's cross and circle symbol. The discussion of Harry's acting ambitions is written around the margins of the inner pages. Jacques and Touchstone are characters in 'As You Like It' which his sons returned to their old school to play. 'The Dead Heart' was to be produced at the Lyceum on 28th September 1889. He compares it to 'A Tale of Two Cities'. A Bill in Parliament proposed to restrict the age of children appearing in the theatre, which affected the productions named. Beerbohm Tree was not to stage 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' until 1900. Marshall P. Wilder, 1859-1915, was a very short American comedian. William Winter had stayed at Irving's house The Grange in 1888. Asprey was Irving's landlord in Grafton Street. See also Letter 4666. |
| Document Holder: |
THM (Reference: THM/384/6/5) |
| Ref.No: |
8456 |
|
|
| Author: |
Irving, Henry |
| Address: |
15A , Grafton Street, Bond Street, W. [Margate] |
| Recipient: |
Terry, Ellen Alice |
| Address: |
- |
| Date: |
[1889], [July?] |
| Document Type: |
Letter (+9 p.) |
| Content Summary: |
... saw Toole in 'The Don'. He kindly asked them to stay, and Irving told him especially to bring in the "social status". They did make a bit of theatre, and unreported was a droll incident in that there had once been coldness between Toole & Kendal when the latter caught him kissing his wife behind the door in 'Cousin Joe'. How shocked Madge [Kendal] would be and how her friends enjoyed it. There was never more chaff about this dinner and Mrs Kendal insisting the testimonial should be valuable. Harry and Laurence had gone and he thinks enjoyed themselves doing as they pleased; they were very lazy and smoke too much. He describes Laurence's life in Russia; and he is old for seventeen and a half. He assesses Laurence, and mentions his liking for scandal. Very sorry to hear from Merivale at the Garrick Club, where he had a chop before the Garden Party, about Walter Pollock's problems. Pollock's wife is an alcoholic and was before their marriage. Pollock is the weaker "a loose cracked vessel". Sad cases; only death can sometimes save the other. "Oh, the pity, the pity of it." He did a little work on his hour to town. The drains in Grafton Street are in an awful state - the place has been taken to pieces including the closet and bath much to the sorrow of Mrs Cook who would rather have died of the typhoid than suffer such inconvenience. What did Edie think of 'The Dead Heart'? He is anxious to know as he respects her opinion and wants to know the story's faults. He hopes young Valerie will come on Saturday and perhaps Parkinson may come too, from Saturday to Monday - Bank Holiday. Has heard from the 'White Star' people with an invitation to board the new ship and see the Naval Review, next Saturday. He declined - they will have their review there. The weather is dull and stormy - nothing exhilarating. He is living too quietly and needs shaking up. He hopes she will come to Paris or somewhere, his lovely love, and let him have sunshine at last. |
| Published: |
- |
| Notes: |
Signed with Irving's cross symbol. This is likely to be part of the letter following Letter 8214, describing the leaving banquet to J.L. Toole and Irving's verdict on his sons, who had been holidaying with him. Irving was greatly concerned with the social status of the actor. 'The Don' by Herman Merivale starring J.L. Toole was first performed in 1888; 'Cousin Joseph' was written in 1835, and the production here is unidentified. Mrs Cook was Irving's housekeeper on 1881 and 1891 Census. The revival of 'The Dead Heart' opened 28th Sept 1889. Edy may have been reading John Coleman's book about 'The Dead Heart' (Letter 8460). Young Valerie might be Maude Valerie White, or possibly Sydney Valentine. Joseph Charles Parkinson, 1833-1908 was an old friend, civil servant, journalist and Chairman of the Reform Club.
|
| Document Holder: |
THM (Reference: THM/384/6/5) |
| Ref.No: |
8481 |
|
|
| Author: |
Irving, Henry |
| Address: |
Lyceum Theatre |
| Recipient: |
Fitzgerald, Percy Hetherington |
| Address: |
- |
| Date: |
[1887], [March], [18?] |
| Document Type: |
Misc.Document (1 p.) |
| Content Summary: |
A provisional committee has been formed for the Westland Marston Testimonial Fund. He invites Fitzgerald to appear on the Honorary Committee. Irving has volunteered to play 'Werner' for a special morning performance on 1st June. Reply to the Secretary. |
| Published: |
- |
| Notes: |
A printed circular letter with Fitzgerald's name added in ink. The printed signatures are those of Joseph Knight, J.L. Toole, William Archer, Arthur Cecil, Clement Scott, J. Comyns Carr and Irving. This circular is referred to in Letter 5567. Bram Stoker acted as Secretary. |
| Document Holder: |
GAR (Reference: Fitzgerald, vol.8, p.266.) |
| Ref.No: |
8514 |
|
|