The enthusiasm of the audience was extraordinary. When some one had called for the feminine “stars” at one of the rehearsals, Mrs. Kendal, with ready wit, seized Ellen Terry by the hand, exclaiming:
“Ancient Lights would be more appropriate, methinks!”
Below is the programme.
| TUESDAY, JUNE 10th, 1902, at 8.15 | ||||
| SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDY | ||||
| ||||
| Sir John Falstaff | Mr. Tree | |||
| Master Fenton | Mr. Gerald Lawrence | |||
| Justice Shallow | Mr. J. Fisher White | |||
| Master Slender | (Cousin to Shallow) | Mr. Charles Quartermain | ||
| Master Ford | } | Gentlemen dwelling at | { | Mr. Oscar Asche |
| Master Page | Windsor | Mr. F. Percival Stevens | ||
| Sir Hugh Evans | (a Welsh Parson) | Mr. Courtice Pounds | ||
| Dr. Caius | (a French Physician) | Mr. Henry Kemble | ||
| Host of the “Garter” Inn | Mr. Lionel Brough | |||
| Bardolph |
|
| Mr. Allen Thomas | |
| Nym | Followers of Falstaff | Mr. S. A. Cookson | ||
| Pistol | Mr. Julian L’Estrange | |||
| Robin | (Page to Falstaff) | Master Vivyan Thomas | ||
| Simple | (Servant to Slender) | Mr. O. B. Clarence | ||
| Rugby | (Servant to Dr. Caius) | Mr. Frank Stanmore | ||
| Mistress Page | Miss Ellen Terry (By the Courtesy of Sir Henry Irving) | |||
| Mistress Anne Page | (Daughter to Mrs. Page) | Mrs. Tree | ||
| Mistress Quickly | (Servant to Dr. Caius) | Miss Zeffie Tilbury | ||
| Mistress Ford | Mrs. Kendal (By the Courtesy of Mr. W. H. Kendal) | |||
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy, but it was played on the first night as a comedy of comedies, every one, including Lionel Brough as the Innkeeper, being delightfully jovial. Every one seemed in the highest spirits, and all those sedate actors and actresses thoroughly enjoyed a romp. When the two ladies of the evening appeared on the scene hand in hand, convulsed with laughter, they were clapped so enthusiastically that it really seemed as if they would never be allowed to begin.
What a contrast they were, in appearance and style. They had played together as children, but never after, till that night. During the forty years that had rolled over Ellen Terry’s head since those young days she has developed into a Shakespearian actress of the first rank. Her life has been spent in declaiming blank verse, wearing mediæval robes, and enacting tragedy and comedy of ancient days by turn, and added to her vast experience, she has a great and wonderful personality.
Mrs. Kendal, on the other hand, who stands at the head of the comedians of the day, and is also mistress of her art, has played chiefly modern parts and depicted more constantly the sentiment of the time; but has seldom attacked blank verse; therefore, the two leading actresses of England are distinctly dissimilar in training and style. No stronger contrast could have been imagined; and yet, although neither part actually suited either, the finished actress was evident in every gesture, every tone, every look of both, and it would be hard to say which achieved the greatest triumph, each was so perfect in her own particular way.
Miss Ellen Terry did not know her words—she rarely does on a first night, and is even prone to forget her old parts. Appearing in a new character that she was obliged to learn for the occasion, she had not been able to memorise it satisfactorily; but that did not matter in the least. She looked charming, she was charming, the prompter was ever ready, and if she did repeat a line a second time while waiting to be helped with the next, no one seemed to think that of any consequence. When she went up the stairs to hide while Mrs. Kendal (Mrs. Ford) made Tree (Falstaff) propose to her, Mrs. Kendal packed her off in great style, and then wickedly and with amusing emphasis remarked: