| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31 Onslow Square, SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1875, Jan., 27 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Thanks for a private box for 'Hamlet' the previous night. Congratulations, but there were some drawbacks to her enjoyment. How little Shakespeare is known by the higher and educated classes. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | |||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2219 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31 Onslow Square, SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1875, July, 6 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | On her return the previous night she found the book Irving had sent after they had talked of it at lunch the previous day. She thanks him for the present. She does not usually read books about Shakespeare - she likes to go to him for information, but this book has excellent commentaries and a few careful illustrations. She compares it to Sacred History and comment on Raphael and Michelangelo. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | |||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2220 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31 Onslow Square, SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1876], March, 18 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Can they have a box for Tuesday evening? She encloses a photograph by Lombardo of F.W. Burton's portrait of her as Antigone. She only sat for the head, not the grand pose. Burton has succeeded Sir William Boxall as director of the National Gallery. This picture was painted in Dublin some years previously. She hopes he is not finding the "noble moor" too exhausting. She thinks her spirit would have tired of the strain even before her body. It is hard that an actor's art has to yield to the demands of scenery and machinery. She wishes the audience told to use its imagination as Shakespeare expected in actor and audience. They aim at everything and sacrifice essentials. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | On Irving's earlier Lyceum 'Othello'. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/1/21) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2225 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Bryntysilio, near Llangollen | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1876, April, 27 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | She has been in Wales for 16 days where she found winter and leaves spring. They have not seen 'Queen Mary'. Can they the next Tuesday evening? She fears the play does not make an attractive acting drama but hopes it will repay the care Irving has expended on it. She has heard nothing about Buckstone's benefit. She regrets he only asked her to do Lady Teazle, a part she never liked which did not suit her. She has had a curious account of Rossi's 'Hamlet' from a friend, and would not have the patience to sit it out. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Tennyson's 'Queen Mary' opened on 18th April. Irving was asked to play Joseph Surface in 'The School for Scandal' for J.B. Buckstone's benefit on 8th June. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2226 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31 Onslow Square, SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1876, May, 19 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Rumours are circulating why she is not appearing in Buckstone's benefit (the real one - being abroad - left out). Her husband heard a new one in his Chambers - because she would not act in the same play as Irving. To scotch this she would be happy to appear at his Benefit. Could he play Sir Tristram in 'King René's Daughter' and Swinbourne play King René? It is only an hour long and Irving can do the principal roles for the rest of the evening. It must be at night because she hates the dis-illusion of the light. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Irving played Joseph Surface in 'The School for Scandal' at J.B. Buckstone's benefit, and Helena Martin at Irving's benefit on 23rd July. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2227 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31 Onslow Square SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1876, May, 22 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Irving's suggestion of 'The Lady of Lyons' for his benefit takes her breath away. 24th June is convenient. As for the Lady - she is unused to the heat - and has no appropriate dress, which would be costly. Could Irving do portions of 'Hamlet' after 'King René's Daughter'? Will he call to talk it over? | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | The date was later changed to 23rd June. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2228 | ||
| Author: | Pigott, Edward Frederick Smyth | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 150, Oxford Street, W | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1887, Feb.(?), 15 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (2 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Sends Irving his copy of '[Marino] Faliero' which belonged to Macready and from which he made his acting version. Macready dealt as freely with Byron's adaptation of Miss Lee's story as Byron had with the language of the original. Irving need not feel the slightest remorse for his treatment of 'Werner'. He has always seen 'Werner' as pre-destined for Irving. Irving finds his greatest scope in parts full of irony. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Irving's performance of 'Werner' was on 1st June 1887. Irving's reply is Letter 4765. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/33) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2241 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 31, Onslow Square SW | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1876], May, 31 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | She sends Irving the promptbook for 'King René's Daughter' as it was sent back from the Haymarket the previous December. It is very untidy, but she has found a clean copy so that Irving can study Sir Tristram. A slight sketch was sent to Mr O'Connor of the Haymarket, but he has not returned it. She has the music but that will do later. She sends a copy of her husband's 'Madonna Pia', which she had thought of acting; but running nightly is impossible. She thinks it a savage custom and destructive of the art of acting.The character of the sensitive jealous husband would suit Irving admirably. The play is only printed for private circulation. They start for Wales the next morning. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | The play, to be performed at Irving's benefit on 23rd June, was also by her husband Theodore Martin. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2231 | ||
| Author: | Martin, Helena (Helena Faucit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Bryntysilio, near Llangollen | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 18[76], June, 2 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (4 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | She is sorry she did not give Irving their Welsh address before she left town - the weather is lovely. They are there until 12th or 13th June. Send her the advertisement for his benefit a good fortnight before so she can ratify how he presents her name. Mrs Leigh Murray has acted Martha with her in 'King René's Daughter' and would do it again, but if Miss Pauncefort is at the Lyceum Irving could not do better. Has Irving received the books she sent the previous Wednesday? | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | The benefit was to be on 23rd June. Helena Martin has reversed the last two figues of the date. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/30) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2232 | ||
| Author: | Pigott, J.S. Smyth | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Union Club, Brighton | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1889?], Dec., 24 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (3 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Sends [Richard] Mansfield's letter. His statement of his affairs is correct; he has been playing a losing game since he commenced to star. As for his proposal to manage Irving, it would be good for him but Pigott does not see where Irving would come in. It is an impudent suggestion trying to follow North & Barnett's example. Thanks for the invitation for 5th which he accepts. Compliments of the season. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | For further reference to the Mansfield controversy see L.Irving, pp 507-510. Mansfield's letter is not attached, but is probably that of 12th December, Letter 2749 & 2751. A visiting card also enclosed - Mrs Smyth Pigott (with Mr. added in ink); the Misses Smyth Pigott, 14, Montagu Place, Bryanston Square, W "with congratulations" which may be of later date, on Irving's knighthood. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/33) | ||
| Ref.No: | 2244 | ||