Spencer's Boston Theatre, Vol. 6 (Classic Reprint) (Meki povez)

Excerpt from Spencer's Boston Theatre, Vol. 6: A Collection of Scarce Acting Tragedies, Comedies, Dramas, Farces and Burlettas In presenting a sketch of the popular young tragedian, Mr. J. B. Howe, we feel assured that we are gratifying the public, who are quite anxious to be made acquainted with any information relating to this gifted young actor, who has speedily become one of the greatest favorites of the play-goers of "the Athens of America." He is quite young, having been born October 23, 1828, in Charlotte Street, Pimlico, London, England. His father, Mr. T. Burdett Howe, was for many years a celebrated light comedian and vocalist, attached to the London Theatres. The subject of our sketch, though not intended for the histrionic profession, imbibed a yearning for the "sock and buskin" at an early age, and his first dramatic essay is recorded to have occurred in August, 1845, in the character of Miles Bellerton, in George Almar's very excellent drama of The Rover's Bride, on the stage of the Bower Saloon, Stangate Street, Westminster Road, London. Subsequently he played Walter Wentworth, in the late John Wilkins's drama of The Green Hills of the Far West, at the Queen's Theatre. He then proceeded to the Provinces, and assumed the position of Juvenile Tragedian at the Dover Theatre, at that period under the direction of Mr. Edward Laws. We next find our young hero with "Manager - Gentleman" Rogers, at Rochdale and Blackburn; then with Fitzwilliams and Sefton Parry, at Croyden, near Loudon. His next step was to gain a foothold in the metropolis, and he applied to James Biddles, then manager of the Bower Saloon, and his services were at once accepted for the leading business. After a successful season at this popular theatre, he resigned his position there and joined the forces of Mr. Samuel Lane, of the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, where he became a general favorite, but suddenly conceived the idea to risk his fortunes in America, where genius is but to be known to be appreciated and rewarded. His sudden determination was scarcely conceived before it was executed; and without preparation, or indeed without making his intention known to any but his immediate friends, he embarked for this country, and arrived at New York, September 28, 1853; and without a friend to grasp by the hand, or a letter to introduce him, our energetic and zealous young adventurer, "a stranger in a strange land," made numerous unsuccessful applications to the New York managers, but finally met with that which his indomitable spirit so eminently deserved, an engagement with our esteemed friend Captain Purdy, of the National Theatre, a gentleman who is noted for his amiable qualities, and who has done as much to encourage and foster rising genius, as any manager this side of the Atlantic. The part assigned to Mr. Howe for his advent was St. Clair, in the drama of Uncle Tom's Cabin, then creating a furore unprecedented in theatrical annals. The success which attended his delineation of this role for three hundred consecutive nights, sufficiently indicated that he was an artiste of rare ability, and numerous tempting inducements to visit other cities were made him, all of which he very properly rejected until the termination of the season, when Mr. Thomas Barry, of the new Boston Theatre, solicited him to join the corps dramatique, about to inaugurate that high-toned and classic theatre; which he did, opening as Colonel Britton in The Wonder. During the season he made rapid progress in his art, and became a very general favorite. Among other parts in which he created a decidedly favorable impression, we may instance Lorenzo, in Mr. E. L. Davenport's play of St. Marc. From Boston he proceeded to Baltimore to "lead the business" at the Museum, opening in Hamlet, and creating in that difficult role a sensation of no ordinary character, and eliciting from a distinguished critic the moat gratifying praise.