Junius Brutus Booth: Theatrical Prometheus

2. Showdown at Old Drury

2 Showdown at OldDrury Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere. -1 Henry IV; V, iv, 65 B ooth first had to inform Richard Booth ofthe impending new generation of Booths. What explosions rocked Queen Street when the prodigal son introduced his pregnant Adelaide to Richard we can today only imagine, but some uproar seems likely. On the other hand, Booth had demonstrated his potential as a starring actor and had the doubtful advantage of Pasquin-Williams' patronage. In any event, when the air cleared, Booth and Adelaide took up temporary residence on Queen Street and began looking for work. On 10 April 1815 Booth received a note from Dr. Williams, suggesting the actor caJI the next day on Henry Harris, then manager of Covent Garden, using Williams' name to gain entrance.1 Booth accordingly applied for a position to Harris, who promptly showed him tlle door. Booth immediately wrote to Williams for further assistance; on 9 Jmle Williams replied from Brussels, "1 have received your letter. -.As to interfering further between you and Mr. Harris, I have only tllis answer to return; namely, that he is, and will be, the 21 22 Junius Brutus Booth governing judge ofwhat concerns his theatre; and that I have done all that I can, atleast immediately, do, by introducing you to his notice.The rest remains with yoursel£"2 Williams also urged Booth to play his best roles that summer at Brighton, suggesting Richard III, Norval, and Sir Edward Mortimer, all roles Booth had acted on the Continent. He further urged Booth to study the role of Achmet in John Brown's Barbarossa; or, The CaptiveQueen, but not to write him in Brussels again. IfWilliams got Booth through the manager's door at Covent Garden, he could expect nothing more, and the actor began to realize patrons varied widely in their influence. Meanwhile, Booth andAdelaide were married on 8 May1815 at St. George's ofBloomsbury, a parish church just around the corner from Queen Street.3 Richard Boothsurelyattended his onlysurviving son's wedding; certainlyhe must have strenuouslyencouraged the hasty ceremony . Mter a few weeks oftantalizing silence, Adelaide finally wrote to her mother in Brussels to reassure her about marital propriety. May 26, 1815. Very Dear Mother-It is with the greatest pleasure in the world that I inform you that I am married to Booth since the 8th ofMay, and am the happiest of women. He was engaged at the Theatre Royal ofLondon for five weeks, but does not commence before September next, consequently he takes a place meanwhile at another theatre, but this appointment does not suit him, and I do not wish to leave his fatller. I am in a millinery store, where they are well satisfied with me. I work during the whole week, and on Sunday Booth comes for me and I return on Monday. The day of our marriage I did not wish it to be known, and I returned immediately after the ceremony and worked the same as usual. Adelaide enclosed a copy of the marriage certificate to placate her distressed parent, emphasizing its cost of twelve francs. She closed, "Tellme, mother, ifyou are well, also all the family, and embrace them for me and say to my uncle that some time we will be married by a Catholic priest, that is to say, when our finances are better.... I am as well as I can be, and I am getting as fat as a great beast."4 Booth added a note, expressing the hope that their marriage consoled Mme Delannoy and asking her to tell Williams to write him. Showdown at Old Drury 23 In alater letter Booth told her he had on Mayfourth signed afive-year contract with Covent Garden, beginning at forty francs (eight dollars ) a week, doubling by the fifth year.5 In the meantime he accepted a summer position at Brighton. Booth offered his best regards to his in-laws and advised Mme Delannoy to write to him in English. Adelaide accompanied Booth to Brighton for his engagement with Mr. Thomas Trotter, manager of theatres in Brighton and nearby Worthing.6 Booth earned thirty-five shillings a week, an improvement over his income from Jonas and Penley but hardly enough to support a wife and imminent dependents. He spent the summer with notter, playing roles of no great distinction. No reviews mentioned him; he evidently did not particularly...