Prints: P1206

Robert William Elliston in 'The Three and the Deuce'

Elliston, Robert William

1812

height: 26.2cm
width: 28.9cm

Print

"The Singles, "vide the Three & the duce" / "The first is Pertinax, a lad of parts" / "Wise, Learned, Grave & Bachelor of arts" / "The next is Peregrine a Buck indeed" / "Sings, Dances, Fights, does every thing but read" / "The third poor Percival a thimple Thoul" / "Travels beneath a tutors strict controul" / The characters are Three the Actor ONE / And each th'inimitable Eliston. / Published, 1 Sepr. 1812, by Walker & Knights, 3 Sweeting Alley, Royal Exchange."

Bequeathed to the Garrick club by Frances Hughes, October 2022.

E0134

Print of Robert William Elliston in the musical entertainment 'The Three and the Deuce', where he plays three different characters, Pertinax Single, Peregrine Single and Percival Single. 'The Three and the Deuce' was a 1795 English afterpiece with libretto by Prince Hoare and music by Stephen Storace, it was first performed at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 2 September 1795 and later revived at Drury Lane, "with great success" by Robert William Elliston. The piece was known for having one actor play three different roles, the three "Singles". In all three characters, Elliston is depicted wearing a black morning suit, his first character Pertinax on the left wears a top hat and carries a cane in his left hand; the middle Peregrine, wears a black bicorne hat and has a stop watch round his neck that he holds in his right hand and a fencing sword in his left; and on the right is Percival, who wears a light brown wide-brimmed hat and white lace collar, and holds a knotted handkerchief between his hands.

Published 1 September 1812 by Walker & Knights, Royal Exchange.
The print has an accompanying excerpt from the 'Memoirs of Robert William Elliston, by George Raymond, p. 273.