INFANT PHENOMENA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 31

INFANT PHENOMENA.

Babies had been seen on the Drury Lane stage before the pantomimes of Mr Augustus Harris. One of them was the elder Kean, who, "almost as soon as he could walk," joined the ranks of the Drury Lane "supers." In Kemble's great days the child Kean walked in his "processions." He seems to have been as extraordinary a phenomenon as Miss Crummies herself. Thus it is told of Thomas Young, the father of Charles Young, that he sometimes introduced the boy to his dinner table for the entertainment of his guests. The first time Charles saw young Kean was one evening when he was " going down to dessert." The lad was with a decayed-look-ing woman, who sat on a chair in the hall awaiting the host's pleasure. In due time orders were given to "bring in the boy." Kean entered the room, promptly put on an evil expression that must' have looked strange in his boyish face, and, " humping " his shoulder, went through the hump-backed duke's soliloquy in "Kichard the Third." His versatility must have already been surprising; for he then sang a comic song, danced a hornpipe, and " kept the table in a roar" for more than an hour.

Had the education act been in force when they were children, it would have retarded the debut of Miss Kate Terry by two years, and of her sister, Ellen Terry, by four ; and perhaps they would have been lost to the stage altogether. Both "came out" with Kean; Mi&s Kate Terry's first appearance on any stage being during his revival of " Richard the Third," when, at the age of eight, she played the part of the Duke of York. Her sister was only six when she was cast for Arthur in " King John." Mrs Kendal is another actress who may almost be said to have learned to walk on the stage. So is Miss Bateman. When Mrs Siddons made her first appearance she was so very young that the audience would not take to her seriously. The Kernble family were "on the road" at the time, and little Sarah's debut had been looked forward to by her kinsfolk as an important event. The audience did not, however, have it all their own way on that occasion, for the child's mother led her before the curtain, where Sarah repeated the fable of " The Boys and the Frogs " in a way that made the whole house marvel. Taglioni, too, began early, being only nine years of age when she appeared at" Cassel. As for the " young Roscious," though in some ways the most extraordinary of all theatrical prodigies, he cannot be included in this list. He was quite "an old boy" when he was first seen at Covent Garden some 82 years ago ; he had reached the age of 14.

These instances could easily be multiplied. Many a player will tell you that he was "nursed on properties," and several of them claim to have been born, if not absolutely on the stage, at least behind the scenes. Among the stock theatrical stories is this one. The. manager hears on the very evening of a pantomime performance that his principal actress will not be able to play. He is in despair. What is to be done ? There is not even an under-study. Should he close the theatre for a night, or send some " stick" on to read the part 1 There seems no other alternative, and yet it is a terrible thing to " disappoint the public." While he is still brooding the manager feels his hand touched timidly. He looks down and sees a ohild with large blue eyes and golden hair. All he knows of her is that she " comes on " as a fairy in the transformation scene. " What is the matter ?" he asks, brusquely. "If you please, sir," she quavers pleadingly, " I have {earned the part and am sure I could play Jt " He stares at her in amazement. For the first time he notices how beautiful and intellectual she is. Can it be that this is his good angel? But no; she is a mere child.

She, pleads for a trial, however, and the manager gives in. In the" 'evening' that child takes the house by "storm ; and she is now the famous actress, Miss Dash. , I say Miss Dash, because, there are .few managers who have not' this story to j tell of "one of their infant prodigies, and still fewer actresses who do not relate it of themselves. — St. James' Gazette.