Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/122

 He was at the Queen's, Dublin, in May 1869, and for the rest of the year at the Princess's, Edinburgh, playing Mephistopheles in 'Faust' on 9 Oct., Master Ford in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' and Triplet to Miss Heath's Peg Woffington on 10 Dec.

In 1874 Barrett became lessee and manager of the Amphitheatre, Leeds, and on 8 March 1875 first produced there W. G. Wills's drama 'Jane Shore,' with himself as Henry Shore and Miss Heath in the title character. Husband and wife toured in these characters with great success. The Amphitheatre, Leeds, was soon burnt down, to Barrett's loss, but in 1878 the Grand Theatre was built at Leeds by a syndicate, and Barrett becoming lessee opened the new house on 18 Nov. as Benedick in 'Much Ado.' Meanwhile in 1877 he had assumed control of the Theatre Royal, Hull, and both the theatres remained under his control during his career in London.

Barrett first became manager in London on 20 Sept. 1879, when he opened the Court Theatre, with his wife as chief actress. On 13 Oct. he created there the part of the Rev. Richard Capel in 'A Clerical Error,' the earliest play by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones to be produced in London. Barrett's wife soon withdrew from the stage owing to failing health (she died in retirement on 26 July 1887). Under Barrett's auspices at the Court, Madame Modjeska made her first appearance in London, playing Constance in 'Heartsease' on 1 May 1880, and speedily winning popularity. Barrett was Mercutio to her Juliet at the Court (26 March 1881) and Friar John to her Juana Esteban in Wills's tragedy 'Juana' (7 May). He had appeared as Romeo to her Juliet at the Alexandra, Liverpool (1 Sept. 1880). On 4 June 1881 Barrett began his notable management of the Princess's Theatre with Madame Modjeska still in his company. His first conspicuous successes were achieved with Mr. G. R. Sims's melodramas 'The Lights o' London' (10 Sept.) and 'The Romany Rye' (10 June 1882). In both Barrett played the leading part with good effect, the first piece running for 286 nights. On 16 November Messrs. H. A. Jones and Henry Herman's excellent melodrama 'The Silver King' was first produced, and Barrett scored a triumph as Wilfred Denver, the piece running for 300 nights. W. G. Wills and Henry Herman's poetic drama 'Claudian,' with Barrett in the title-character, followed on 6 Dec. 1883 and maintained the tradition of success. The mounting of this play, with a sensational earthquake scene, was applauded by Ruskin, who wrote: 'With scene-painting like that, this Princess's Theatre might do more for art-teaching than all the galleries and professors of Christendom.' Barrett gave a striking impersonation of the boy-poet in Messrs. Jones and Herman's new one-act drama 'Chatterton' (22 May 1884). He revived 'Hamlet' (16 Oct.), and by his new readings and his youthful interpretation of the Prince provoked controversy; but he failed to satisfy rigorous critical standards. The production was repeated for 117 nights, by way of forcing a rivalry with (Sir) Henry Irving at the Lyceum (for analyses of Barrett's Hamlet see Some Notable Hamlets and  Shadows of the Stage, second series (1893), chap, xxvii.). With the revival of 'Hamlet' Barrett's fortunes at the Princess's declined, and although his tenancy lasted another eighteen months, he thenceforth enjoyed few successes.

From an early period in his career he had essayed playwriting in addition to acting, and during his later sojourn at the Princess's and throughout his subsequent career he relied largely on Ms own pen for his plays, either in collaboration or alone. In 1885 he wrote, with Mr. H. A. Jones, 'Hoodman Blind,' a melodrama which ran for 171 nights (produced 18 August 1885), and also a romantic drama, 'The Lord Harry,' which he produced without success 18 Feb. 1886. With Mr. Sydney Grundy he wrote a blank verse tragedy, 'Clito,' which, though splendidly mounted, again failed to attract (produced 1 May 1886).

In the summer of 1886 Barrett left the Princess's heavily in debt, and went to America with his entire company and accessories. After producing 'Claudian' with success at the Star Theatre, New York, on 11 Oct. 1886, he made a profitable six months' tour. He revisited America five times: in 1890, 1893, 1894, 1895, and 1897, often for only a month or two, and producing there some new pieces from his own pen.

On 22 December 1887 Barrett began a brief management of the Globe Theatre in London. The venture began well with 'The Golden Ladder,' a drama by himself and Mr. George R. Sims. Morning performances of old plays were given early in 1888, and on 22 Feb. Barrett played Claude Melnotte for the first time in London. On 17 May he went back to the Princess's, opening there with 'Ben-my-Chree,' an adaptation of Mr. T. Hall Caine's novel 'The Deemster' by himself and the novelist.