PUNCH,
OR, THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
VOLUME 98.
MARCH 8, 1890.
THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE LYCEUM THEATRE.
"This is what the County Council's Licensing Bill forPlaces of Entertainment did not intend, as, according to the latestauthoritative explanation, the L. C. C. does not consider Theatres ascoming under the head of "places of entertainment". Rather hard on theTheatres!"
Yesterday, before the Theatres Committee of the London County Council,the appeal of Mr. Henry Irving (the well-known actor and manager) againstthe decision of the Sub-Committee to refuse a licence to the LyceumTheatre, came on for hearing.
After Mr. Henry Irving (who appeared in person) had addressed theCommittee at some length, dwelling upon the character of the pieces hehad produced during his management, and the care and expense with whichthey had been mounted, several members of the Committee expressed a wishto put questions to him, which Mr. Irving promised to answer to the bestof his ability.
Mr. Hecklebury. I think you told us that Hamlet was one of yourfavourite parts? Is it not the fact that the chief character in the playdrives his fiancée to madness and suicide by his cruelty, slays herfather and brother, together with his own step-father, and procures thedeath of two of his school-fellows?
Mr. Irving admitted that this was so. (Sensation.)
Mr. Hecklebury. That is all I wanted to ask you.
Mr. Fussler. I understand that you have produced a play called Othelloon more than one occasion; perhaps you will inform us whether thefollowing passages are in your opinion suitable for public declamation?(Mr. Fussler then proceeded to read several extracts to which heobjected on account of their offensive signification.)
Mr. Irving protested that Shakspeare, and not himself, was responsiblefor such passages.
Mr. Fussler. Unfortunately, Shakspeare is not before us—and you are. Youadmit that you have produced a play containing lines such as I have justread? That is enough for Us.
Mr. Medlam. Unless I am mistaken, the hero in Othello is not only amurderer but a suicide?
Mr. Irving. Undoubtedly. (Sensation.)
Mr. Medlam. We have heard something of a piece called The Bells. Iseldom attend theatres myself, except in the exercise of my publicfunctions, but I do happen to have seen that particular play on oneoccasion. Does my memory mislead me in saying, that you committed abrutal and savage murder in the course of the drama?
Mr. Irving said that, as a matter of fact, the murder took place manyyears before the curtain rose—otherwise, the Member's memory wasentirely accurate.
Mr. Medlam. Whenever the murder was commit