FIRST APPEARANCE OF FAMOUS ACTORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 49

FIRST APPEARANCE OF FAMOUS ACTORS.

Many people contend that the actor i« "born, and not made." In support of this theory it is interesting *o note the curious way in which the actor sometimes tumbles — so t.o speak — into the profession.

Amongst modern actors and actresses many instances may be noted in which thn now prominent player was once a clerk or a milliner. Belougiug to the first sxAtnple is SIR HENRY iKVINtt,

who, when 13 years old, became a clerk in the firm of Messrs William Thacker and Co. Three years later, when the firm offered to send him out to their Bombay branch, young Irving declined to go. He had determined to become an actor, and was quietly studying the profession. When 39 ho gave up Mb situation fco accept a theatrical engagement at 10s a week. Sir Henry made his first appearance ab the Lyceum Theatre, Sunderland, in the part 1 of Orleans in " Richelieu."

Mr John Hare was studying for a Civil Service clerkship when he first began to think of the stage. So strongly did lie feel that, the stage was his propar sphere that he at once gave up his chance for a Government clerkship, and at 20 devoted himself to the profession in which he now occupies so prominent a place. Mr Hare made bis first appearance at the Prince of Wales's Theatre in 1865, when he was so nervous that the audience finally hissed his acting.

Mr J. L. Toole also started life as a clerk in a city wine merchant's office. He had, however, already joined the City Histrionic Club, and having contracted a bad attack of stage fever, he decided to go into tha profession. He made his first appearance at the Queen's Theatre, Dublin. Mr W. S. Penley,

" chaeley's aunt,"

in his early days was posseesed with the idea of becoming a great singer, and he was a prominent member of various choirs. He had not yet been recognised aB a successful actor, and he entered the city firm of Copestakes, and laboured quietly and uneventfully until one day an old chorister friend told him that there was a vacancy for a chorister at the Opera Oomique. Mr Penley played many times for the magnificent salary of 12s per week.

To be, first of all, a timbsr merchant's clerk, an amateur actor, and a private in the army falls to the lot of few actors. One who has passed through this experience Is Mr Brandon Thomae, actor and playwright.

Mr Edward Terry began life as a clerk, but before he was 20 he had given up the qnill ; while Mr Richard Temple became an actor after a short sojourn in the office of his father — a stockbroker.

But for variety of occupations Mr William Terriss bears away the palm. A member of an aristocratic family, at 14 he became a midshipman in the Eoyal Navy, resigned, and started tea-planting at Chittagong, came home, and apprenticed himself to an

engineer, finally adopting the stage as h!c profession when 20 years old, his first week's salary being 18s. Mr Charles Wyndham was intended for tho ministry. When a boy at school in Germany it is said he joined in partnership with a schoolfellow and founded aWesleyan mission ohapel. Then came a spell of medicine — a short career with the medical department of the Federal Army in the American War, — finishing up with a theatrical engagement, in which he played small parts. MR WILSON BARRETT also grew up in a religious atmosphere, being not allowed to enter a theatre until some time after the years of youth ; and quite likely it would be shortly after when — as ho tells — he witnessed " Hamlet " at a Leeds theatre, and determined that he, too, should some time play the part of the Prinoe. He afterwards became the proprietor of the very theatre in whioh he saw the performance. Me Barrett first trod the stage when 22 years old.

MR BEERBOHM TREE came from the rankß of the amateur. The son of a wealthy grain merchant, who died in 1893, the future manager was given an excellent education. After a few years in his father's office he found he had acquired sufficient ability as an amateur to fit him for the professional stage. His success waß immediate. It is interesting to note that his wife did not turn to the stage until after her marriage with Mr Tree in 1884. v Two actors of very different walks in the profession had peculiarly similar career before adopting the stage.

MR KYRLE BELLEW, for example, when a youth, entered the mercantile marine. Next ho went into an office, and then returned to the sailor's life. Then he tried lecturing, followed by a turn with a waxworks show, a trial of gold digging, and three years' colonial press experience. Finally he took to the stage in 1575. In the case of

ME LIONEL BUOUGK,

it was only after the popular comedian had served an apprenticeship to journalism that. he turned biß attention to the stage. After four years he returned to journalism, followed by a round of " enteriaiments"' and "ghost shows." These over, he re-en tared the profession.

MISS ELLEN TEIUJT was born in tbe profession, and delights in telling how she made hor first appearance when bat eight yeara oJd. Ths part was thai; of Mainilius in " A Winter's Tale," during tho Shakespearean revival of Charles Koa^ some 34 years ago. Mies Ada Rahan, when but a slip of a girt, ra&do be? fii-sG appearance spine 20 years ago in a small parfc in " The Mighty Dollar" at tho Louisville Theatre. Miss Florence St. John isegan h« public career as a singer stt a second-hand diorama. Whou this occurred tha popnlar burl«eque actress conld not have been more than 10 years of ago. Miss Letty Lind tried the ooncerfc platform as a vocalist before treading tho stage.

The immortal Sarah Bernhard{,when asked what sha would lika r.o be ou growing up, replied, " I desire to be a nnn, unless I oau ba an actress of the Cornedle ITraneaiae."