SALUTE TO IRVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

SALUTE TO IRVING.

BY A LOYAL DISCIPLE. " 1 lliinlt that no one on the English stage will deny that there is nothing today in England comparable with the Lyceum Theatre under the rule of Irving. I think there are many who would like to see England with another incomparable theatre. After living's time he opened the flood-gates and there has been a general inundation. It, has dono no harm. After Irving should come a flood." Loyalty and enthusiasm are both charming qualities especially iu an ago in which subtle depreciation is the favoured method of many eminent biographers, "Henry Irving," by Gordon Craig, is not in any sense a conventional biography. Jt is rather the loving tribute of an affectionate pupil to a revered master. Craig entered the Irving service at the Lyceum Theatre in 1889. " Jo-day, as he did forty-one year ago, lie regards living as the greatest actor of all; and this book is the record vivid, entertaining, true, of his master as he knew Jiim over many years." The portrait of Irving that emerges from this record is that of a great actor a great gentleman, and a great man —sensitive, kindly and ruthless. " Irving was a selfish man without a jot of self-inter-est. He was without consideration for anyone else, never spared himself and would never, unprovoked, hurt anyone. He had a failing (I suppose it must be called a Weakness) and that was that ho too often credited others with Jiis own powers of endurance and self-criticism." Ellen Terry (the author's mother), was often amused by this ruthlessness, and would say, " with a lovely twinkle in her eyes, ' Yes, yes—were I to be run over by a steam-roller to-morrow Henry would be deeply grieved; would say quietly 'what a pity!'—and would add after » moment's reflection: 'who is there—er—to go on for her to-night ?" She knew he was selfish for our British Theatre's sake —that ho placed the stage above the ground, as a priest does his church, and that whether lie dropped dead or she ..." the play must go on."

Gordon Craig, whose reputation as an innovator in stage production is worldwide, contends that the " new movement (jives its salute to Irving, and will remain at tiie salute . . It is destined to win through. It requires just exactly what Irving required, the lack of which killed him, because ho could not get it—good support." As the salute, then, of ono original character to another though with perhaps, as the author makes the shade of Henry Irving, remark, " A dam sight too much " of Shaw—with whom Craig is utterly out of sympathy—" Henry Irving " adds a characteristic footnote to the already considerable literature on a fascinating subject. "Henry Trvine" by Edward Gordon Craig (Dent.)