Diseases; Embossing (Printing); Kean, Ellen, 1805-1880; Kean, Charles John, 1811?-1868; Letters; Performances; Retirement; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Henry VIII; Signatures (Writing); Watermarks
Ellen Kean writes to Fanny Rose about her personal life. She describes her illness and how it affected her stage work. She also gives a short account of her husband, Charles Kean, and a recent theatre performance. She contemplates retirement and...
Poel's written extracts of private letters received in praise of his play, "The First Franciscans," about the life of Sir Francis. There is also a review clipped from the Manchester Guardian. [These extracts may be the enclosures referred to in...
Playbill for Shakespeare's play, "The merchant of Venice," being performed at St. George's Hall, London. The playbill contains the names of the actors and characters, two reviews, as well as part of a paper on the play's dramatic treatment on...
Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893; Players (Club); Booth, Junius Brutus, 1796-1852; Booth, John Wilkes, 1838-1865; Winter, William, 1836-1917; Benedict, E. C. (Elias Cornelius), 1834-1920
Brief article published by Playbill, Incorporated containing a brief biography of the actor Edwin Booth and the history and customs of the Players Club at 16 Gramercy Place, which he founded. The publication also contains advertisements for...
Booth writes from Piccadilly to thank Boughton for his praise in light of recent critical comments and to express chagrin at Boughton's dislike of his costume.
Sarah Siddons writes Lady Perceval, godmother to her daughter, Cecilia, with concern for the health of Mrs. Soame, Lady Perceval's aunt, and recommends a prescription to ease her discomfort. Siddons comments on the 1808 destruction of Covent...
Mrs. Henry Siddons, daughter-in-law of Sarah Siddons, writes her daughter a family letter mentioning a package from India, Willie's birthday, Arthur's trip to India, and other matters. The letter contains notations by a second hand.
Harriet Siddons, daughter-in-law of Sarah Siddons, writes her children saying that her son, Henry, will be in charge in the event of her death. The pages are torn.
Kemble, Charles, 1775-1854; Thackeray, Thomas James; Wages; Dramatists; Letters
Charles Kemble writes the playwright, T. J. Thackeray, consoling him over his disappointment with the lack of remuneration for a piece he had submitted. Page 4 is a self-cover with a seal. The page 4 scan was rotated 90 degrees clockwise. The...
Charles Macklin writes an unnamed correspondent discussing his health over the winter. The unnamed correspondent may be John Pearse and the letter could have been written in 1788 or 1789. The letter is stained and has been repaired.
M. Macklin writes her father from London asking that he attend her benefit. She claims that she would be the joke of both theatres, particularly Covent Garden, if he did not attend. In the post script, she updates her father on Woodward House and...
A transcription of the Charles Macklin letter dated 29 April to an unnamed correspondent discussing Macklin's health over the winter. The letter contains commentary stating, "Copy. for fear you may not make it out." The transcript may have been...
Kean, Charles John, 1811?-1868; Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831; Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823; Macready, William Charles, 1793-1873; Theater; Letters; Watermarks
Charles Kean writes Mr. Donne discussing his admiration for Mrs. Siddons and John P. Kemble, his dislike for Macready, his belief in the value of the Royal Theatricals, his own role as a pioneer in the theatre, and his plans for the future. Mrs....
Kean, Charles John, 1811?-1868; Letters; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Henry VIII; Signatures (Writing); Theatrical managers
In a letter, Kean asks for images from the two plays "Henry VIII" and "Faust and Marguerite" to send to his manager. He requests to see the letter recipient in person.
Irving, writing from Romford, England, lists his reasons for leaving Thacker & Co., explains why he entered the acting profession, and describes his first roles. The letter cross-written on one page: page 5 is written horizontally across page 1.
Pinero, Arthur Wing, Sir, 1855-1934; Letters; Irving, H. B. (Henry Brodribb), 1870-1919
Irving thanks Pinero for his sympathy, writing 8 days after the drowning of Irving's elder brother Laurence. Written on stationery from the King's Arms Hotel, Oxford. [Information taken from file folder. This letter is a possible response to...
Writing from London, Irving declines Nevill's invitation. He invites her and her daughter to join himself and Lord and Lady Wolseley for dinner after a performance of "Dead Heart."
Lawrence, William J. (William John), 1862-1940; Letters; Archer, William, 1856-1924
In a typed letter from Dublin, Lawrence writes that he has sent the slides requested by Archer in his last letter and discusses various theories about the structure of the traditional playhouse, including the existence of a central curtain and a...
