James Russell as the Clown in 'Twelfth Night'

Timothy Edmund Russell Gray (2nd Great Grandson)

05 May 2020, 15:13

A leading Shakespearian Actor. Oxberry's Dramatic Biography, and Histrionic anecdotes, Vol.V11, printed and published by Duncombe,19, Little Queen Street, Holborn, London, in 1825, were provided by The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, Washington,D.C. (Georgianna Ziegler, PhD). Exerpts from Oxberry's biography follow:-

"Born in London on 15 Feb 1789, he was, we are informed, intended for the medical profession ; Apothecaries Hall, however had no charms for him, and he was resolved to play Doctor Ollipod on the stage rather than in the real world. We know not, for certain, whether he ever commenced a career of physics ; at all events we find him, at the age of eighteen, enrolled among the dramatic company of that most delightful of all sea-ports, Sheerness.

The first Character which our hero played in public was that of Hogmore, in 'Who wants a Guinea' ; -- he was from the first looked upon as a very promising young actor, but his efforts in 'Monsieur La Rolle, in 'The Young Hussar', considerably advanced him in the opinion of his manager, although we know not if there resulted from such enlarged valuation, any very important rise of salary. In fact, Mr Russell was considered a very great acquisition to the theatre........"

After Sheerness, he travelled to Sunderland and Durham with great success and "then succeeded the late lamented Mr Knight, at the York Theatre, where our hero remained for four years. From York he was engaged at Edinburgh - engaged to play before the most fastidious people of the play-going world, a people, which Kean condemned as being, in his own words, 'cold-blooded enough to spoil an actor.' Mr Russell appeared in the modern Athens with good success, and for some time maintained a very elevated situation in the theatre. We positively know that he may ' rank among his list of friends,' the great Sir Walter Scott, having frequently had the honour of making a visit to him, and of even, at the special request of the baronet, sitting for his portrait as the Clown in Twelfth Night (1821) which portrait a short time back adorned the walls of Abbotsford.

"From Edinburgh, he came to the English Opera House, where he made a successful appearance as Peter in 'Up all Night.' He has since played at Covent Garden and the Haymarket; at the former house,it will be in the recollection of our readers, as a candidate of tragic fame. With the Dublin audience Mr Russell may also boast the best understanding.

The fame of Mr Russell as an active, intelligent actor, is in every way well merited. In his eccentrics there is a shrewdness, a pungency, as it were, which makes them distinct characters. In opposition to these we may instance his admiraable portrait of 'Dandie Dinmont'. Our readers will,no doubt, sufficiently estimate the ability of Mr Russell, when we give it as our opinion that his 'Dandie' is the next to Emery's ; - there is so much boisterous honesty and heartiness in the rough farmer, unalloyed by stage-trick, or hankering after effect. In addition to his comic laurels, may also be considered a few bright leaves from the tragic muse. When we consider the opposite line of character so long indulged by Mr Russell, we must allow his 'Shylock' to be an effort of considerable talent, developing many admirable perceptions of the actor. Mr Russell is at the present time (1825) engaged at Drury Lane, and as a man and a gentleman, we know of no individual throughout the profession who possesses a more enviable combination of moral rectitude and acquired talent."