Ellen Terry's Shakespeare lecture. Some authorial assistance from Christopher St John.
3 scanned imagesImage not available
Triumphant Heroines of Shakespeare, 15 November 1911, Image 1 of 3
By arrangement with the Lecture Agency, Ltd. The Outer Temple, London, W.C. Music Hall : Union Street : Aberdeen. Wednesday Evening, 15th November at 8 o'clock. Doors open at 7.30. Miss Ellen Terry and her charming recital "The Triumphant Heroines of Shakespeare" with illustrative acting. Tickets reserved : 5/- and 3/- ; unreserved : 2/- and 1/-. James Macbeth, Musicseller, 181 Union Street. Telephone 235. Telegrams: "Macbeth Aberdeen".
Image not available
Triumphant Heroines of Shakespeare, 15 November 1911, Image 2 of 3
"The Trimuphant Heroines of Shakespeare" with illustrative acting. Miss Ellen Terry's Repertoire consists of four Shakespearean Recitals in which she illustrates in her own inimitable way the most effective scenes associated with the engrossing characters of Viola, Desdemona, Emelia, Juliet (including the Potion Scene), Katherine, Lady Anne, Helena, Constance, Julia, Lady Macbeth, Beatrice, Rosalind, Portia, Mistress Page, Virgilia, Volumnia, etc. On the present visit Miss Terry will give "The Triumphant Women" amongst Shakespeare's Heroines, this being the brightest and most delightful of the Series, including, as it does, many of the characters with which the great Actress's name will for ever be associated. Photo by Window and Grove, London. Miss Ellen Terry as "Beatrice". Ellen Terry – The glory of all countries and the idol of her own. Not since Byron so aptly summarised the popularity of the Irish Melodist has there been any personality before the public of this country to whom the poet's description could more happily be applied. The very soul of comedy comes lightning-like at the touch of her genius, and the inevitable despair and anguish of remorseless tragedy flash before us in compelling realism when she deals with the great sorrows of life. Adorning illuminating the inimitable art with which she magically conjures up our smiles and our sighs, there is her own charming individuality ; a combination of mental and physical graces which for over a score of years have held in bondage the admiration of both hemispheres. – A.G.M. Miss Ellen Terry's London Recitals (May-June, 1911). A Few Press Opinions. The Times says : - "There is nothing conventional, nothing stereotyped about Miss Ellen Terry's Recitals. Wherever and whenever she speaks it will always be different and always fresh, not the dry discourse of an expert scholar or literary critic, but the living, laughing, triumphant, tearful, scornful words of a great actress who is proud to be a woman. The magnetism and charm of her is forever breaking out, not only in her considered Reading and Acting, but in numbers of little womanly impromptu gestures and remarks aside. The Recital is full of touches of satire, humour and pathos. It is a happy thing for England, as well as for Miss Terry, that she has found so effective a way of bringing home to Shakespeare's country men and women the inner meaning of his plays and the charm of her own art." Photo by Window and Grove, London. Miss Ellen Terry as "Portia". The Daily Telegraph says : - "It was as if the record of those brilliant Shakespearean seasons at the old Lyceum, extending over a period of years, had been compressed into two brief hours, and memory flew back to the days when Henry Irving and Ellen Terry reigned supreme at that Theatre, and by their marvellous art created a gallery of portraits which no one who had the privilege of looking upon will ever permit to lapse into oblivion, on the draped stage of the Haymarket, beside a table almost entirely hidden by heaped-up banks of flowers. Miss Terry discoursed on the heroines of Shakespeare's plays, many of whom she herself has helped to vivify and render splendidly real to a generation of playgoers. First in easy and eloquent language, she gave us the why and wherefore of her faith in each, bringing into strong immediate relief the salient qualities of characters familiar as household words. Miss Terry did not confine herself to mere analysis of character. Ever and anon she sought to illustrate the poet's text by means of her own exquisite art. In all these Miss Terry threw herself heart and soul, stamping every impersonation with the grace, power, and charm of an individuality which every student of Shakespeare will long hold in loving remembrance. It was a memorable afternoon.
Image not available
Triumphant Heroines of Shakespeare, 15 November 1911, Image 3 of 3
Miss Ellen Terry's London Recital. The Pall Mall Gazette says: - "The Recital showed how much brain-work a great actress puts into her study of a part. Take all the ‘Triumphant Women' Miss Terry dealt with – Beatrice, Rosalind, Volumnia, Portia – when you have heard what she has to say about the character of each one, you will realise how poor your own conception of them was, compared with that she reveals to you. In truth, it is an education to hear her views on them, and an infinite delight to see her acting bits of Beatrice, Portia, Volumnia and Rosalind. To watch the change of Miss Terry being simply Miss Terry lecturing, to Miss Terry throwing herself into one or other of these characters is a revelation, a revelation which should do much to teach audiences what acting may be, and so, perhaps, help to keep alive the art of Shakespearean acting, which is said to be dying out." The Globe says : - "There is a charm about Miss Ellen Terry that is irresistible, and an enthusiasm that is contagious. It was delightful to watch Miss Terry's radiant expressions and graceful movements." The Referee says : - "At the Haymarket Theatre, a delighted audience listened with rapt attention while Miss Ellen Terry addressed them for nearly two hours on ‘Shakespeare's Triumphant Heriones.' In rapid succession the great – nay, still our greatest – actress sketched the chief features of such glorious characters as Beatrice, Rosalind, and Portia, with side lights on Volumnia and Virgilia. The skilful and keen-sighted manner in which she analysed the characters and the beautiful way in which she acted certain scenes made this ever-delightful actress's glorious gallery of Shakespearean portraits perfect. Wherever the fair artiste goes those who miss her Recitals will miss the most graceful, most gracious, and most fascinating exposition of Shakespeare to be found." The People says : - "Miss Terry was in her most radiant of moods, and looked beautiful in the most picturesque surroundings. She varied her remarks by giving realism to her subject in some delightful illustrative acting, which touched upon scenes and characters inseparable from her career." The Manchester Courier says : - "Miss Terry's study of Shakespeare is permeated with keen humour, daring and independence: the joy she takes in her work is self-evident, her high spirits are infections, while the courage with which she backs her beliefs, and delivers her opinions, is wholly charming. Few could venture to disagree with conclusions arrived at so frankly and ingeniously: one can only admire the audacity of thought, and the revolt from cut-and-dried convention and preconceived notions that are continually displayed."
Did you know?
Edith Craig sold women's suffrage newspapers in the streets of London.
