| Title: | Owens, John E. (1823.86) American Comedian, as "Solon Shingle," |
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| Description: | Owens, John E. (1823.86) Went to America in 1828, making his New York debut as Uriah Heep (1851). In 1864, he played Solomon Shingle in The People’s Lawyer. It was an instant hit, and he performed it that year at the Adelphi under the title Solon Shingle for 42 nights. |
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| 1st Performance: | Jul 3, 1865 |
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| Theatre: | Adelphi |
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| Source: | The Illustrated Sporting News, Jul 8, 1865, p. 277 |
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| Review: | The Illustrated Sporting News, Jul 8, 1865, p. 278 |
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ADELPHI.
On Thursday last [29 Jun, 1865], Mr. J. L. Toole took his annual benefit, and, as a matter of course,
the house was crowded in every part; and equally, as a matter of course, the most demonstrative
audience the Adelphi sees from year to year had assembled. It is now a custom to mark
Mr. Toole's benefit by the production of some piece written expressly to develop his remarkable
and versatile qualities. Generally speaking these dramatic efforts have not been remarkable
for great excellence, and although
the actor has made signal successes in them, they have been attributable to his individual efforts,
rather than to the material on which he has worked. The drama of "Through Fire and
Water," by Mr. Walter Gordon, proves to be no exception to the rule, for the piece is utterly
unworthy the amount of genius infused into it by Mr. Toole. It is a domestic drama, and
treats of the loves of Joe Bright, Mr. Toole; and Ruth, Miss Henrietta Simms. Joe is a
fireman and has saved Ruth from a conflagration. She
is nurtured and watched with tender care by the fireman and his sister Honor, Mrs. Alfred Mellon,
and returns their solicitude by the most ardent affection. For Honor the love is that of a
sister, for Joe that of the man whose lot in life she would share; but it is revealed at last
that the unknown Ruth is a rich heiress, and then various characters appear upon the scene to
complicate the hitherto pleasant life of the trio, and the poor fireman is subjected to a series
of doubts and fears, which prove too severe
a trial for his brain, and he drowns his cares in drink. Whilst in a state of intoxication,
he reverses almost every trait in his character. From a perfect man, he degrades himself to
a perfect beast--and goes so far as to aim a blow at his devoted sister. This state of
things happily does not last long, and he recovers to a better frame of mind, but then comes an
agony of doubt, remorse, and shame, at length to be dispelled by perfect happiness. The
acting of Mr. Toole, in the character of Joe Bright, is beyond
all praise. Nothing could be more artistic than the effect he produced from end to end,
and if anything can add to his fame, it will be the rendering of the trials and sufferings of
the distracted fireman. The support he received from Mrs. Alfred Mellon cannot be too
highly estimated. Her portrayal of the good sister Honor is very marvellous--and should be
seen by all lovers of true acting. Miss Simms was the Ruth, and a more pleasing representative
of the character could not be found. The other characters were
played with the care which usually characterises the Adelphi company. The piece was, as it
could not fail to be, perfectly successful, and the efforts of Mr. Toole were received with every
mark of approval. Joe Bright will, no doubt, become one of his most popular characters.
On Monday last [3 Jul, 1865], the long-announced Mr. John E. Owens, an American comedian of repute, made his
first appearance on these boards in the part of Solon Shingle, in a drama of that name. We
may at once say that the vehicle for the introduction of this gentleman to the English stage is
about the very worst American importation we have ever had, whilst the actor is about the very
best. Mr. Owens is undoubtedly a great actor, and his humour is so thoroughly original, that
we seek in vain for anything to compare with
it. Solon Shingle is a stupid old Yankee farmer, who has a weakness for law--and indulges in
it to his heart's content. This propensity gives rise to the great scene of the case--the trial
of "the great apple-sass case"--than which we never heard anything more completely and
excruciatingly funny. The audience is kept in a long-continued shriek, and it is a relief
when it is all over, for in this hot weather it is slightly fatiguing to writhe with laughter.
Mr. Owens has two things against him--the badness of his piece and the weather--but if he only keeps
on until his reputation extends, and cooler nights set in, even "Solon Shingle" will draw
crowds to the Adelphi Theatre. The success of the actor was triumphant.
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