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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE THEATRICAL YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
All gentlemen who love the drama … and there are few gentlemen who
are not attached to the most intellectual and rational of all our amusements
… do not come within this definition。 As we have no mean relish for
theatrical entertainments ourself； we are disinterestedly anxious that this
should be perfectly understood。
The theatrical young gentleman has early and important information
on all theatrical topics。 'Well；' says he； abruptly； when you meet him in
the street； 'here's a pretty to…do。 Flimkins has thrown up his part in the
melodrama at the Surrey。' … 'And what's to be done？' you inquire with as
much gravity as you can counterfeit。 'Ah； that's the point；' replies the
theatrical young gentleman； looking very serious； 'Boozle declines it；
positively declines it。 From all I am told； I should say it was decidedly in
Boozle's line； and that he would be very likely to make a great hit in it； but
he objects on the ground of Flimkins having been put up in the part first；
and says no earthly power shall induce him to take the character。 It's a
fine part； too … excellent business； I'm told。 He has to kill six people in the
course of the piece； and to fight over a bridge in red fire； which is as safe a
card； you know； as can be。 Don't mention it； but I hear that the last scene；
when he is first poisoned； and then stabbed； by Mrs。 Flimkins as
Vengedora； will be the greatest thing that has been done these many years。'
With this piece of news； and laying his finger on his lips as a caution for
you not to excite the town with it； the theatrical young gentleman hurries
away。
The theatrical young gentleman； from often frequenting the different
theatrical establishments； has pet and familiar names for them all。 Thus
Covent…Garden is the garden； Drury…Lane the lane； the Victoria the vic；
and the Olympic the pic。 Actresses； too； are always designated by their
surnames only； as Taylor； Nisbett； Faucit； Honey； that talented and lady…
like girl Sheriff； that clever little creature Horton； and so on。 In the same
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
manner he prefixes Christian names when he mentions actors； as Charley
Young； Jemmy Buckstone； Fred。 Yates； Paul Bedford。 When he is at a
loss for a Christian name； the word 'old' applied indiscriminately answers
quite as well： as old Charley Matthews at Vestris's； old Harley； and old
Braham。 He has a great knowledge of the private proceedings of
actresses； especially of their getting married； and can tell you in a breath
half…a…dozen who have changed their names without avowing it。
Whenever an alteration of this kind is made in the playbills； he will remind
you that he let you into the secret six months ago。
The theatrical young gentleman has a great reverence for all that is
connected with the stage department of the different theatres。 He would； at
any time； prefer going a street or two out of his way； to omitting to pass a
stage…entrance； into which he always looks with a curious and searching
eye。 If he can only identify a popular actor in the street； he is in a perfect
transport of delight； and no sooner meets him； than he hurries back； and
walks a few paces in front of him； so that he can turn round from time to
time； and have a good stare at his features。 He looks upon a theatrical…
fund dinner as one of the most enchanting festivities ever known； and
thinks that to be a member of the Garrick Club； and see so many actors in
their plain clothes； must be one of the highest gratifications the world can
bestow。
The theatrical young gentleman is a constant half…price visitor at one
or other of the theatres； and has an infinite relish for all pieces which
display the fullest resources of the establishment。 He likes to place implicit
reliance upon the play…bills when he goes to see a show…piece； and works
himself up to such a pitch of enthusiasm； as not only to believe （if the bills
say so） that there are three hundred and seventy…five people on the stage at
one time in the last scene； but is highly indignant with you； unless you
believe it also。 He considers that if the stage be opened from the foot…
lights to the back wall； in any new play； the piece is a triumph of dramatic
writing； and applauds accordingly。 He has a great notion of trap…doors
too； and thinks any character going down or coming up a trap （no matter
whether he be an angel or a demon … they both do it occasionally） one of
the most interesting feats in the whole range of scenic illusion。
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
Besides these acquirements； he has several veracious accounts to
communicate of the private manners and customs of different actors；
which； during the pauses of a quadrille； he usually communicates to his
partner； or imparts to his neighbour at a supper table。 Thus he is advised；
that Mr。 Liston always had a footman in gorgeous livery waiting at the
side…scene with a brandy bottle and tumbler； to administer half a pint or so
of spirit to him every time he came off； without which assistance he must
infallibly have fainted。 He knows for a fact； that； after an arduous part；
Mr。 George Bennett is put between two feather beds； to absorb the
perspiration； and is credibly informed； that Mr。 Baker has； for many years；
submitted to a course of lukewarm toast…and…water； to qualify him to
sustain his favourite characters。 He looks upon Mr。 Fitz Ball as the
principal dramatic genius and poet of the day； but holds that there are
great writers extant besides him； … in proof whereof he refers you to
various dramas and melodramas recently produced； of which he takes in
all the sixpenny and three…penny editions as fast as they appear。
The theatrical young gentleman is a great advocate for violence of
emotion and redundancy of action。 If a father has to curse a child upon
the stage； he likes