JOHN BILLINGTON, ACTOR.

Otago Witness, Volume 21, Issue 2636, 21 September 1904, Page 61

JOHN BILLINGTON, ACTOR.

(Contributed.) Joloi- Billington.. who died in London on. . Thursday, A September 8; having earned 1 * in the j ; English" provinces- the -reputation oL being a< j painstaking actor, made his first a-ppeaianc* i on--thVLondon stage- as Harry M'owbray in a ] play entitled "Like and- Unlike^ at the - Adelphi .Theatre tfn -April 1 14, 1857." Fiom that' date down' to the year 1866^ — a» period of- 11 | years I—Mr1 — Mr- Billington renrained a member of j the" Adelphi company, under' the- management' j of Benjamin -Webster. He appeared in -nearly every-pla-y oi importance originsilly -performed at that theatre, during- the term- of this long . ' engagement. Tfio following^ amongst -themany characters sustained" by him are , deserVihg rtf record 1 : —^Walter, .in the first performance'of "The ; Poor Strollers" (Watts* Phillips); on- JM-on'day,'"". January 18, 1858; M:Dubois, in the first" performance of "Ici on- 1 P,aTle' Francais,'^ on Monday, M^ay 9, 1839;FredericE' Wardour; in the first performance of "The House or the^ Home" ._(Toni Taylor),on Monday; Ma-y'16,'1859 ;. JBeaumont Fletehev,in -'Orte Touch of Nature," oh Saturday, August JG, 18a9; Hardress Cregan, in the first performance in London of "The Colleen Bawn" (Bcocicfbult), on Monday, Sejitemlier 10, 1860. Count D'ATcy, in the first- performance of "Magloire, the Prestigiator," on Mon- j day, April 1, 1861 ; George Peyton, in the first performance in London of '''The Octoroon" ("Boucicault), on Monday, November 18, 1861; Sfed Plumper, in the first performance of "Dot" (Boucicatilt's dramatised version of "The Cricket on the Hearth") on Monday, April 14, 1862; John Mellish, in "Aurora Floyd" (dmmatised. version by Benjamin Webster, jun.l, in March.. 1863:'; Modus, in a revival cf "The Hunchback" (Miss Bateman, as Julia), on Monday,' January 13, 1865 ; Kit Coventry, in the first performance of Walter Gordon's play "Through Firo and Water," in July, 1865. "Walier Wilding, in the first performance of "No Thoroughfare" -(Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins), on Thursday, December 26, 1867. In 1868 Mr Billington's long connection with the Adelphi Theatre terminated. For j the ten years following he principally devoted | his time to playing "star" parts m the pro- j vinces and leading ro!e3 in London with his ■wife, Adeline Birlington. On Monday, October 9, 1971, first performance at the Olympic Theatre, of "The Woman in White" (Wilkie Collins), Mr Billington as- - sinned the • character o£ Sir PercivaF Glyde. January 31, 1874, at the Adelphi Theatre, London/ in Paul- Merritt's drama- " Rough, and •Beady*-' he played Mark Musgrave. On Mon,day, July 17, 1875, he entered upon the marregei&ent of the Globe Theatre, London, for a •brief 'season and produced . there the- lastmentioned -play^ sustaining the same charac- . ier, and also appearing in his original character Alfred Caseby in an old comio drama by ■Benjamin- Webster, senr., entitled "The Hen ana Chickens." | John Billington was ths first English Cregan in "The Colleen Bawn" (the play was produced in the United States before its appearance

at the Adelphi), and Mrs "Billington was the Mrs Cregan. Supported Charles Pccnter on his last appearance in London at the Adelphi, when that actor made an enormous hit as Obenreizer in "No Thoroughfare,' a play dramatised by Wilkie Collins from his story nf ihe same name written in collaboiation with Charles Dickens for the Christinas number of All the Year Bound. On December 15, 18S0, Mr Billington played lone Hessel in, the nrst performance of "Quicksands" (."William Archer) at the Gaiety, the cast including W. H. Vcrnon (who visited this colony in 1385 with Genevieve Ward), and Arthur Dacre. At that time Mr Billington was playing with Toole at the Polly. It would be impossible to write of the professional career of John Billington without also speaking of his brilliantly clever wife, Adeline Billington. The Billingtons were long associated with London Adelphi in the days of Benjamin Webster they were, husband as well a3 wife, stich valuable types of the oldworld actor and actress, hard-working, persistent, indefatigable, as compared with the gaudy, glittered, oveicoloured butterflies of to-day, who flit between the sober stage and the fringe of society — making of their art a holiday pastime, instead of a solemn and serious business (to quote the late Clement ?cott), who liave no times to study or rehearso because they a'e mainly occupied at bazaars, fancy fairs, drawing loom meetings, church benefits, being interviewed, and what- not, that I must tell what an actor's life was like in "the great .struggle between the provinces and London, 'experienced by an Edmund Kekn as well as a Benjamin -Webster. Tne " management of the Adelphi and the Haymarket in 1860 showed a degTee of slovenliness. Bucksfcbre was as popular a comedian.' as 'ever trod the stage, the -aiere Found of l.is 1 voice behind the scones creating a roar of laughter. Benjamin Webster, never sufficiently appreciated, was as good an actor as was seen in his day, deriving his inspired moments from the best French school at a time that the school in question was the best in the world. But neither Bucksitone nor W_ebster wero ideal managers. The scenery at theii theatres was \3oor, the wardrobes hopelessly inefficient, and the casting of a play a matter of indifference. It is net surprising, therefore, that Buckstone and Webster, notwithstanding their stock companies and congregation of fossils should bo saved by stars. Edward Askew Sothern saved Buckstone with his Lord Dundreary. Webster was in those -early sixties three times rescued. First by Dion BbucicauJJb with "The Colleen Bawn," secondly by Miss Bateman with '"Leah," thirdly by Joseph. Jcfierson. in "Rip Van ""Winkle." " In all these successes John Billington' or his" wife, sometimes both, were con-, rected. Mrs Billington (Miss Moitimer, her then stage name), began her stage work at a salary- of five shillings a week, et the Queen's Theatre. Manchester, under the management of the late Charles Dillon, manager and'actor— and an admirable actor too. From Manchester they went to the'-Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, where Miss Blanche Fane (a lovely girl, the original of "Tha Little Treasure" at the Haymarket,\London);^and her father, Mr Ranger, were playing a star engagement. On the night- of their-arrival the lady star was ill, and _ once^niore Miss Mortimer played Julia in "The • Hunchback-."' E-durund Glover -was- the star, and the company included Marie Wilton (Lady Bancroft), 'and Henry' Haigh, a beautiful singer. ' En passant, 'Haig'h wes- invited out one evening, and being tht lion was asked tc sing. i "No," he. said, 'I never sing at private I parties." "Oh," said his aggrieved hostess, 1 "bub we quite expected you to sing after sup- ■ per. We gave you two' soits of cheese, and lan excellent slipper." "No, madam," said . he, "not even two sorts of cheese will tempt • me.*' I They next want to the Theatre Royal, Dubi lin, where the stage manDger was Dr Joy, •Charles Kean's factotum, who rfterwards | helped Colonel Batsman to boom, his daughter •at the Adelphi. Hers they i>layed three nights' I "drama, and tlwe-* nights' grand opera, with 1 Miss Lanza and Sims Reeves. I -Once •during "The Honeymoon" Julia was | Irt-ing v>lavod 'by a sister of the celebrated ■' Mrs Nesbdtt) ,and r.t the speech r.nd exit of Juliana, where the -Duke said, "I took you for a". wife, and e'er I've done I'll know you for a good one," she has a speech, "You shall find me a woman who scorns to be taught submission when her swelling heart cries out ; re-, cnge." She was wearing -r. large- plume ! of feathers, and as she tossed her little head, i one of the feathers foil from the plume, and [ a. wag in the gallery cried out, "You're moultj'ing, ma'am," to the lady's pardonable indigi nation and a roar from the house. I -After several years through the provinces v.ith Charles Mathews, Chariot Cushmaa, Phclps, M&cinne Celeste, Ben Webster, Sims i Eetves, John Colemau, Mrs Billington foli Jewed her husband to London, and«n Monday, ["tho Sth May, 1859, they both played in "Ici on Bade Francais". at the Adelphi Theatre with J. L. ' Tcole. Scon, after, this the old theatre was cortdtanned, and' the- last night was a memorable , oriel At the supper on the stage, in 'addition ,to the company, theiM* were present Thackeray, John Leech, Oxenf ord, Albert Smith, Hosjarth, f Wilkie "Collins. When the toasts'-and' brilliant ' speeches were over a fir^e noble hea-d like a lions was thrust orer the stage box, and its owner" askedt' if 'he was in time. T£is was the celebrated Maark Lemon, r.«f Tie was hailed with delight by all present, and he was soon the noisiest of the band. During the building of the pew Adelphi the company went ovsr to th? Surrey, where they ! played "The Flowers cf the Forest," "Jack i Sheppard," and many other pieces, staying iiLere a month. They then went to the Queen's Theatre, Dublin, where they again met their old and esteemed friend, John L. Toole, and commenced a friendship which existed to the clay of John Billington's tlea.th. One- night after the performance, having tiiker a covered car to s*o to their respective lodgings (the Tooles lived near the theatre, tl' e" Billingtons a little further off), and when Mr and the late Mrs Toole alighted, he v.ent to Billiugton und ftiid, "Jack, I have given him n shilling. If you give him 1 sixpence it will be ample.'" The cabman, with a roguish look on his face having hesrd the remark, v. ent to the door and said, "Suie, don't I know one genH eman will not be worse than the , other?" which, of coui"^, go hied him, the other j sixpence. r There was fin old Irishwoman who used' to sell playbills, and you could hear her long j Lofore you saw her, crying, "xtval or Queen's — bill cf the play." It was the custom in those days in writing to s friend to enclose a p^ybiM, so one night, while playing "The Green Bushes," on their way to the theatre Ifr Billington accosted the old lady, and said, "Give me one — how much?" "Green Baish?" sho replied, "or Ireland as it was? Begorra, it's Ireland as it ne^er was, or will be." "How much?" he asked. "Twopence." "Go along, i*'s cms penny." "Ail, veil." eir- I'jy/iiecL a? she haaded him tbe bi'J, "by Jwbete, ih.l'a Ireland cs it is," pursuing her way with hear cry, "Ryal or Queen's." They were playing Dickens's "Nicholas | Kickleby." Toole was old Squeers, and in I th^ noted schoolroom scene, where Toole was I giving brimstone and treacle, suddenly there rose a great cry and commotion in thei gallery (Billington was Nicholas, who, as tutor, was seated with the boys). "Give Billington

toms." The 'cry -was taken up lay the pit as v.ell as the gallery, and at last 'iooie said, "Come on, Jack, pretend to lake borne." "No, I vrill not." 11ns made them more noisy when the}' saw he resented it. "Give Billinglon some," they connnued, until the noise increased to an uproar, and at last, m despeiation, Nicholas went thiough the form of t?kmg some, r.ncit then the audience shouted, "'He's taken it. Three cheers for Bihington!" And co ihe play went on. During this season, in a performance of "Othello,'' thero was what in theatucal park.nee is called "a stick." Mrs Harry Webb was the Dcsdemoua, a gentleman named John Silver — a clever actor, who always p'.ayed the villains — was Isgo, and Mrc Billington Emilia. The three were on tho strge together, and at tbe lines where Enu'.ia says, "Tc be called wanton, would it not make one weep?" theie was a pause. "You," said lago, looking at Emilia. "No " "You then," turning to Desdemona. "Xo, not me," ohe said, looking 1 clpless'y roundi. The situation gre»7 cesperate and the audience impatient. Then the hiss came, and at last so marked that, in -sporting phrase, the saddle must be put on t'ho right hoise. The prompter was nowhere to bs -seen. lago at the back of the stage, Emilia in the piompt corner, and Desde-mona 0:1 tte O.P. s-itle, all waiting for the missing lines. At last the i-iompter was brought. He ,r,sked, "When sso you? What wore <he last words?'' Emilia told him. "Yeu sit," be said. "Beshrew Lira for it— ho-»v conies this trick upon him?" S i, reluctantly and bad-ternpsredly, lago was obiige'cl to take up the words, md he was rewarded by sound hissing, and the ladies were honoured by a special call — but, oh, the agony of ii! Playing ''Uncle Tom's Cabin" in Dublin Silver vas the Legree, and in the scene with Uncle Tom, where- he says, <c Why, you cuss, ain't you mine, body and soul?" the slave replies, "No. Massa, my body am yours, but mv soul belongs there,"' pointing upwards. Glsptrap, but always brought down a long round of applause. When the two actors came off the stage, Uncle Tom saicl to Legree. "My scene went splendidly. ' "T* r hat." ssid Silver, "'your scene?" "Yes." "We'll see who's scene it is to-night " So accordingly ths next night, when it came on, instead of speaking brutally a« before, ho uttered the v.-ore's laughingly, as though in chaff. No sympathy for Uncle Tom rand no applause. This shows lioto- an. artist is at tlie mercy of his fellow actors. They rettmied'lo London in time to be prepcr.l at tlie laying of the foundation stone of ■Hie present lArleltuu Theatre, losig be-fors it wj.s again restored by the popti'ar and estirjrb'.e Brothers G-atti. Benjftiain Webster laid the stone of the structure with which his forty>rie was afterwards so intimately connected. Beneath the stone, in a sealed bottle and tin case, memorials were deposited, collected by John G-allot, the prompter at the old Adelphi for 38 years. These consisted of coins oi George I\, William IV, aivl Victoria, a bill of tie last night's performance in the old htrase. and a paper bearing the following insciintion in. the handwriting of Webster: — "The Now Royal Adelphi Thectre.— The f( auidation stone of t-ho new theatre was laid Ijv Benjamin Webstar, sole proprietor. Date: Thursday, July 15, 1853." At the moment of lowering the stc-'e '-he irspiring notes- of the Highland Butle ?.larch sevrded from ia neirfibouriiis buildine, blown by John Edwards, the Adeloki hsill-keeuer, an old guarc'sman. who, at Waterloo, when he was a mere boy, sounded the ncal charge for the G-usrds: "Up. Guards, and at 'cm." Anc! the bugle h.s used was tho same instrument which on that glorious da.v rang out its call f.ver the Belgian baUlefieM. as was attested by the following insoripHon engraved, on a piece of br2,ss attached to it : — "John Edwards was field tiumcete-r to Lord Edward SoinorEet on thai ever memorable -day, anil he served his c&untrv for 32 years during the reif-p of three Kings am-d her present Maiesty -lilie Queen. He was discharged from the First Life Guards in tiho } ear 1841 while nerving under the command" of Colonel Cavendish." "VTith John I/. Tcole ;n A Teiv F^ind in 1890 (unt'iv +-he management of TVilliamsou, Garner, and Mussvovo*). Mr Billington slavedContain Mp-guire, In "The Serious Family." John Pei-ribingle. in "Dot." Brown, in "Tlip "Weavers." <"*o!one] Hardy, in "Paul Fry." U'-.ele Ben, in "IWrer Than Life." H-a original cbaracLer of Morse Dnbois. in "Ici on T>arle Francis." wss ployed in Nev; Zoalancl by Mr G. M. Lowne.