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B0163
Drawings: B0163
Title
Sir Henry Irving and John Lawrence Toole
Technique
Caricature
Subject
Character
Robert Macaire : Robert Macaire (CS)
Jacques Strop : Robert Macaire (CS)
Jacques Strop : Robert Macaire (CS)
Artist
Dimensions
Height: 10.7cm
Width: 6.8cm
Width: 6.8cm
Other materials
Pencil, watercolour and body colour on card
Inscription/signature
‘AUBERGE / DES/ ADRETS’ (top left); ‘T. R.’: (top right); ‘Two old friends / To /wish you a / happy / New/ Year’ (right side); ‘A present from Father / Formerly belonging to / John Lawrence Toole. -Toole & Irving / in “Robert Macaire.” / Nov: 15, 1906.’(label on back); an envelope fragment is addressed to: ‘J. L. Toole / Sea View / 143 / 145/ King’s Rd [Hastings]’ and the frank is dated ‘January 27, 02’
In this caricature drawing a very tall Irving is seen walking jauntily to the right, holding a stick and a bottle. He wears as blue tailcoat, yellow trousers, red cravat and a top hat. Toole, very short, stands to the left, carrying a drum. His hat, boots, and jacket are black; his trousers are white with vertical stripes.
Selby’s version of “Robert Macaire” was first performed at the Adelphi Theatre on 2 March 1835. Irving and Toole, who were great friends, appeared in a revival at the Lyceum on 14 June 1883, and again in July 1888. The impact of Irving’s characterisation was described by Fewlass Llewellyn: ‘…a great shabby figure in a rusty black coat with a battered hat and a black patch over one eye… I soon realised I was seeing the most wonderful dramatic personality I had ever seen or was ever likely to see. He took my breath away. I sat spellbound’ (cited in “We Saw Him Act”, edited by H. A. Saintsbury and Cecil Palmer, London, 1939). Toole, actor and manager, became a member of the Garrick Club in 1864. Toole’s Theatre in William Street, Charing Cross, originally the Polygraphic Hall, closed in 1895; an extension of the Charing Cross Hospital now occupies the site. Toole in his “Reminiscences” (London: Hurst & Blackett, 1889) wrote of the pleasure he and Irving had playing the two ragamuffins: ‘We rollicked through it. It was as much fun to us as I hope it was to the audience.’
For the single figure of Irving in this role, see Percy Fitzgerald, “Sir Henry Irving” (London, 1906), p. 188.
Selby’s version of “Robert Macaire” was first performed at the Adelphi Theatre on 2 March 1835. Irving and Toole, who were great friends, appeared in a revival at the Lyceum on 14 June 1883, and again in July 1888. The impact of Irving’s characterisation was described by Fewlass Llewellyn: ‘…a great shabby figure in a rusty black coat with a battered hat and a black patch over one eye… I soon realised I was seeing the most wonderful dramatic personality I had ever seen or was ever likely to see. He took my breath away. I sat spellbound’ (cited in “We Saw Him Act”, edited by H. A. Saintsbury and Cecil Palmer, London, 1939). Toole, actor and manager, became a member of the Garrick Club in 1864. Toole’s Theatre in William Street, Charing Cross, originally the Polygraphic Hall, closed in 1895; an extension of the Charing Cross Hospital now occupies the site. Toole in his “Reminiscences” (London: Hurst & Blackett, 1889) wrote of the pleasure he and Irving had playing the two ragamuffins: ‘We rollicked through it. It was as much fun to us as I hope it was to the audience.’
For the single figure of Irving in this role, see Percy Fitzgerald, “Sir Henry Irving” (London, 1906), p. 188.
