Henry Irving in America

By: Richards, Jeffrey

Sir Henry Irving was the first British actor-manager to tour North America with his company and the scenery and special effects of his London productions. There were eight tours between 1883 and 1904, so at the height of his powers Irving spent four years living in America. These highly profitable tours were essential in sustaining the unprofitable London productions at the Lyceum. This book traces the impact the Lyceum tours made on theatre-goers and stage production in America. It analyses the nature and quality of the acting of Irving and his co-star Ellen Terry and the critical reaction to them and their work. It charts their impact as celebrities in the transatlantic celebrity culture. The book analyses the changing repertoire, examines the company finances and demonstrates how the tours were reported on as major cultural events, with focus on Irving's innovative Shakespeare productions and his mastery of pictorial spectacle.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1807074730
• ISBN13: 9781807074739
• Release Date: April 2027
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Length: 352 Pages