In and About Drury Lane, and Other Papers Vol. 1 (of 2): Reprinted from the pages of the 'Temple Bar' Magazine

In Short

This volume is an affectionate, anecdote-filled tapestry of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century London theater and social life. Originally serialized in Temple Bar magazine, the collected essays guide the reader through the bustling alleys around Drury Lane, behind the curtains of famous playhouses, and into the grand townhouses of Leicester Fields. Rather than offering a formal history, the text presents a colorful gallery of child prodigies, tragic stage queens, noble families, and cultural oddities. It has endured because of its gossipy warmth, sharp wit, and deep, first-hand affection for the theatrical arts.

The Story

The book opens on Boxing Day in 1865, as the narrator navigates the grim, unsavory slums surrounding Drury Lane to reach the stage door of the famous theater for a pantomime rehearsal. This brief foray into the contemporary city serves as a portal into a rich historical exploration of English and French theatrical culture, urban geography, and high society.

The narrative quickly shifts to the astonishing phenomenon of Master Betty, the "Young Roscius." English-born and Irish-bred, the boy actor took the turn-of-the-century stage by storm, drawing massive crowds, causing box-office riots in Liverpool, and commanding exorbitant fees that dwarfed those of veteran performers. From this astounding child prodigy, the chronicle expands into detailed portraits of mature theatrical giants like Charles Young and William Charles Macready. It examines their artistic lineage, their rivalries, and the changing tastes of audiences who watched them bring Shakespeare's heroes and classical tragedies to life.

The scope then widens across the English Channel to trace a line of legendary French actresses and stage eccentricities. Readers are taken into private noble theaters, from the modest stage behind a hatter’s shop where Adrienne Lecouvreur first performed, to the grand royal plays of Marie-Antoinette at the Trianon, and finally to the dramatic triumphs of Mademoiselle Georges and Madame Allan Dorval. These French chapters expose the intense passions, strict court sumptuary rules, and bizarre legal disputes that governed the continental stage.

Turning its gaze back to London's physical landmarks, the work delves into the rich histories of famous grand residences and public spaces, particularly Northumberland House and Leicester Fields. It uncovers the origin of Leicester Square as former "lammas land," detailing its royal inhabitants, foreign ambassador residents, and celebrated neighbors like the painter William Hogarth and the needlework artist Miss Linwood.

Finally, the narrative sweeps through a retrospective of broad cultural life a hundred years prior, detailing literary rivalries, high-society weddings draped in fortunes of diamonds, and popular public exhibitions. The text comes to a natural close by capturing the vibrant, sprawling energy of an era where art, royalty, and street life constantly intersected.

How It Unfolds

The journey begins A walk through the unlovely Drury Lane slums on Boxing Day leads directly onto a theater stage where a new pantomime is being rehearsed. This opening scene establishes the author's lifelong, intimate connection to the stage.

A boy takes the stage The extraordinary rise of Master Betty, the child acting sensation, captures the attention of the entire nation. Stagecoaches, lotteries, and raised prices mark his chaotic tour through Birmingham, Sheffield, and London.

Giants of the boards Profiles of classic tragedy actors like Charles Young and William Charles Macready detail the rigor, jealousy, and brilliance of nineteenth-century theatrical life. Their careers highlight the shifting temperaments of audiences and the changing styles of performance.

Courts and continental curtains The narrative crosses into France to explore private theatricals, royal pageantry, and legendary tragedy queens. It recounts how stagecraft flourished from small shops to royal palaces, alongside strict court rules and bitter rivalries.

The heritage of the fields A deep geographical and historical excavation of Leicester Fields reveals its transformation from common land into a hub for royalty, foreign embassies, and iconic artists. Stories of grand mansions, high-stakes lotteries, and extraordinary needlework exhibits illustrate the area's rich past.

The People

• Master Betty: The "Young Roscius," an English-born child actor who becomes a nationwide sensation, driving audiences into frenzies and commanding massive night-to-night payouts across Britain.
• William Charles Macready: A meticulous, serious-minded actor whose father abandoned the upholstery trade for the stage. He works his way up from country playhouses to become a major, critical voice on classic drama and older legends like John Kemble.
• Charles Young: A celebrated actor of elegant, refined style and rich vocal talent, known for keeping the green-room merry with stories between his most serious tragic scenes.
• La Champmeslé: The first truly sublime French tragic actress, taught by the playwright Racine, whose hypnotic verse recitations move audiences to tears and captivate high society.
• Mademoiselle Georges: A magnificent French stage queen who rules over prose drama, mesmerizing spectators across Europe with her intense performances in works by Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.
• Miss Linwood: An exceptionally skilled schoolmistress and artist who spends decades reproducing famous paintings using fine worsted needlework, attracting royalty and endless crowds to her Leicester Fields exhibition.

In Its Own Voice

"In the afternoon of ‘Boxing-day,’ 1865, I had to pass through Drury Lane, and some of the worst of the ‘slums’ which find vent therein." The author sets the scene for his journey into the heart of London's theatrical neighborhood.

"Seen near, she is plain, and I am not astonished that my son was ‘choked’ at his first interview with her; but when she breaks into verse she is adorable." Madame de Sévigné describes the miraculous transformation of the French actress La Champmeslé upon the stage.

"The awful Grand Chamberlain once banished an actress from the Court stage at Compiègne for the crime of wearing mock pearls when she was playing the part of a duchess!" A sharp anecdote illustrating the absurdly strict sumptuary rules imposed on performers before royalty.

What It's Really About

Beneath its entertaining anecdotes, the book is a meditation on the fleeting nature of performance and memory. Because theatrical art exists only in the moment of its creation and dies with the actor, the text serves as a dedicated effort to preserve the ephemeral magic of the stage.

It also explores the intersection between public entertainment and private power. By contrasting the gritty realities of stage managers and street slums with the grandeur of royal court plays and aristocratic townhouses, the author examines how culture is built, funded, and consumed. Ultimately, it celebrates human eccentricities, artistic passion, and the vibrant social history etched into the physical buildings and streets of London.

Why Read It Today

This volume will deeply satisfy lovers of theater history, Victorian prose, and historic London lore. Reading it feels like sitting down with an exceptionally well-read, witty old friend who knows every piece of gossip, every forgotten alleyway, and every famous ghost of the 18th and 19th centuries. The author's voice is warm, genial, and utterly unpretentious, delivering vast historical knowledge without a trace of academic dryness.

Modern readers should be prepared for its episodic, non-linear structure, as it moves freely between biographical sketches, urban topography, and backstage reflections rather than following a single story arc. It also reflects the casual period assumptions and antiquarian detail typical of Victorian magazine writing.

What lingers long after reading is the vivid sense of presence. Whether describing a crowded box office in Liverpool, a tense rehearsal in the wings of Drury Lane, or a grand sedan chair carrying a diamond-covered bride across Leicester Square, the prose brings a vanished world back to vibrant life.