Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/45

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
44
The Strand Magazine.

DAVID JAMES.

Age 25.
From a Photo. by Naudin.
Age 36.
From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry.
Age 39.
From a Photo. by Bertin, Brighton.
Present day.
From a Photo. by The Stereoscopic Co.


F ROM the Princess's Theatre, then under the management of Charles Kean, Mr. David James, quite a young lad, migrated to the Royalty Theatre, where, in Burnand's "Ixion," he played the part of Mercury. Six years afterwards he took an important step by assuming the management of the Vaudeville Theatre, in association with Harry Montague and Thomas Thorne. There "Two Roses" was produced, Mr. James playing Our Mr. Jenkins; and on January 16, 1875, the ever-memorable "Our Boys" commenced its phenomenal career. Mr. James's admirable and masterly performance of Perkyn Middlewick lifted him at once into the front rank of comedians; and night after night, for four years and three months, the Vaudeville was the scene of as honest and healthful laughter as was ever heard within a theatre's walls. In 1886 he went to the Gaiety Theatre, and was afterwards specially engaged by Mr. Charles Wyndham. There are few more popular comedians than Mr. James.