File:Recollections of Fred Leslie (1894) (14765139525).jpg

Identifier: recollectionsoff01vinc (find matches)
Title: Recollections of Fred Leslie
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Vincent, William Thomas
Subjects: Leslie, Fred, 1855-1892
Publisher: London : K. Paul, Trench, Trübner
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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as a study. ^^ Hamlet was played at the Royal Artillery Theatre . . .Mr. Leslie as Polonius . . . one of the finest bits ofcharacter-acting in the play. The Era sent down a critic to see the amateursplay the School for Scandal in 1876, and on the5th of February in that year, reported asfollows : Among those up to professional mark was particularlyMr. F. Leslie. Nothing better than his Sir Peter Teazlehave we seen on the amateur stage. This commendation from the professionaljournal was especially sweet to the aspirations ofthe youthful actor; but he experienced one of hisearly disappointments when the same paper, indescribing his share in the pantomime of 1877(the greatest work he had ever done), briefly dis-missed him thus: AMATEUR DAYS 37 Mr. F. Leslie had a good notion of pantomimic action as King Kokolorum. It was at the Royal Artillery Theatre thatLeslie got to know the Harrisons of CoventGarden. Miss Lizzie Harrison and Miss BessieHarrison frequently assisted In dramatic perform-
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DRESSING-ROOM, ROYAL ARTILLERY THEATRE ances, and in the pantomime just mentioned Mr.Harrison provided the costumes and his sonofficiated as perruquler. Leslie, however, from hisvery earliest association with the stage, requiredno assistance in making up. He knew as alad all the accessories of the dressing-room, and 38 RECOLLECTIONS OF FRED LESLIE had Studied well the effects of shade and colourand lines upon the countenance. On everyoccasion throughout his career he prepared hisface with his own hands and unassisted. In thishe was most careful as well as most skilful, andspectators have sought in vain through theiropera-glasses to detect the artifices by which hecontrived to give his features so many and suchscrange dissimilarities. Concurrently with his dramatic work he con-tinued his contributions to other entertainments,and was instrumental in establishing and carryingon for a time a troupe of Christy Minstrels, de-signated The White Owls of the Prairie, ofwhom he was corner man,

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