In Montreal Whittaker witnessed the early careers of actors such as Christopher Plummer, Gratien Gélinas, John Colicos, Jean Gascon, Denise Pelletier, and Amelia Hall. He worked in close collaboration with many pioneers of the Little Theatre Movement, the Dominion Drama Festival, and Canadian theatre in general, such as Martha Allan, Charles Rittenhouse, and Pierre Dagenais. His involvement with Dagenais' L'Equipe allows him to report on the early days of francophone theatre in Montreal and the cross-fertilization between Martha Allan's Montreal Repertory Theatre and actor-directors such as Dagenais, Gratien Gélinas, and Yvette Brind'Amour. He also gives us glimpses of the early theatrical spaces in the city that no longer exist, as well as some, such as the Salle de Gésu and the Monument-National, that have survived. This engaging memoir of exciting times is prefaced by a personal tribute from Christopher Plummer and set in context through an introduction, chronology, and bibliography by Jonathan Rittenhouse. Illustrated with a selection of Whittaker's stage and costume designs as well as photographs, Setting the Stage provides a captivating visual record of the period and is a must for everyone interested in Canadian theatre, Canadian arts, culture, and Montreal.

FIFTY YEARS OF AN ACTORS LIFE JOHN COLEMAN AUTHOR OF CHARLES RCADE AS 1 KNEW HIM, CURLY I AN ACTORS STORY, ETC. WITH SIXTEEN PLATES CONTAINING 26 PORTRAITS 7A T TWO VOLS. VOL. II. NEW YORK JAMES POTT CO. LONDON HUTCHINSON CO. 1904 Vvw an cnjrijjfi i fri-i tiy,1 n. vr iini i. L MAI KKA1W A IAGO. JOHN COLKMAX Af OTHK1. J. U. CONTENTS CHAPTER XVI THE MONTAGUES AND CAPVLRTS OF THE STAGE PAGE Charles Kemble Fanny Kemble and Macready Murray and Mrs. Henry Siddons A Cockney Comedian and the Moving Grove 1 Encounter the Great Mac --Thumbnail Sketch as he appeared on an Eventful Night Haifa Century Ago This is I Hamlet the Dane Edwin Forrest The Fatal Hiss Coming Events cast their Shadows before Riots in Philadelphia and Cincinnati--Macbeth in Pantomime at New York An Incomplete Performance An Ovation of Rotten Eggs A Public Requisition and Another Attempt to be Heard Police clear the Parquet A Bombardment The Military are called out The Riot Act readA Volley of Musketry and what came of it Bloodshed and Loss of Life Flight of Macready in Disguise He escapes, and, reaching the Hub of the Universe, finds Shelter in the House of a Friend The Mayor of Boston assures him of Sympathy and Protection from Outrage He embarks Aboard T ic J lbcrnia and returns Home in Safety The Narrative returns to Edinburgh My Unfortu nate Pantaloons Macs Masterpieces Werner, Richelieu, and Virginius .......... 339 CHAPTER XVII THE WORST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME EVER PRODUCED A Roland for an Oliver Webster and Celeste Green Bushes Woman Jfafer and Napoleon The VandenhofFs Second Edition of Antigone Burlesque thereof Enter John Braham The Mad Sailor, Charles Reade La Grande Charlotte and Sister Sue as Romeo and Juliet Charleyde Boots, vi Contents PAGF Rob Roy, and the Bailie Sir Walters Avowal of the Author ship of WaverlcyThc Cricket on the Hearth and Time Works Wonders First Failure Punching the Prompters Head Breaking the Spell I sleep a Whole Week sans intermit tent L as t Night of the Season Dominique the Deserter I desert also, and depart for Dundee 353 CHAPTER XVIII DUNDEE A Youthful Romeo and a Mature Juliet A Heavy Light Comedian Lahore cst honore Burying Douglas beneath the Grampian Hills Tom Powrie - Julia St. George and The Slave An Idiotic Affair of Honour Come open your gates and let me gang free, For I darena stay longer in Bonny Dundee The Kingdom of Fife Back in Auld Reekie Final Interview with the Autocrat of the North Retirement of Murray His Suc cessors, Wyndham, Lloyd, and Leslie Sanctuary Founda tion of a Fortune Retirement of Alexander A Parthian Dart David Prince Miller, and the Wizard of the North The Fire King Glover becomes u Monarch of all he surveys in Glasgow Lloyd Loquitur Murrays Final Exit . . . 373 CHAPTER XIX RETURN TO ENGLAND Return to England To u jours Bertram The Early Days of Hamlet and The Latter Days of Shy lock The Author thereof and E. L. Blanchard Wolvcrhampton The Black Country and Green Border Land Meads of Asphodel and Deeps of HadesThe Rignolds The African Roscius Miserable Dickey 392 CHAPTER XX THE WORCESTER CIRCUIT AND THEATRE ROYAL, LIVERPOOL The Worcester Circuit Terry ORourke and the Terries A Bumper Benefit An Interrupted Banquet and an Inexorable Manager Kate and Ellen Terry Sophie Miles and Henrietta Contents vii PAGE Hodson Coventry Tennyson and Lady Godiva The Shake speare Country, Stratford-on-Avon, Leamington, Warwick, and Kenilworth Promoted toLiverpool Theatre Royal Tom Mead and the Text The Lovely Emmeline Montague and the Beautiful Mrs. Maddocks An Explosion which clears the Air Vandenhoff the Elder Fanny Kemble returns to the Stage A Mature Julia and an Immature Clifford Do it nor leave the Task to me . Another Coleman in the Field Enter Barry Sullivan and Rob Brough The Magnificent Mrs. John Brougham and the Excellent Mrs...