
Produced by Arthur DiBianca
PROGRAMME
BANQUET OF THE ELDERS IN THE CULINARY CAVERNS OF THE REGIONS BELOW.
BY PERMISSION OF THE WORSHIPFUL THE BAILIFFS. - NEW THEATRE, BRIDGNORTH.
THE CELEBRATED INFANT ROSCIUS, MASTER GROSSMITH,
ADVENTURES IN THE READING COACH,
Part II. will consist of Scenes from the Merchant of Venice, Douglas, Pizarro, Macbeth, Richard III., Rolla, and Hamlet. The Infant Roscius will, on the first night, go through the tent scene of Richard III. The scenes will be changed each night, and he will conclude his performance with a piece (composed in two parts expressly for him) on - THE MUSICAL GLASSES.
LINES - ADDRESSED TO MASTER GROSSMITH.
BIRKBECK LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION, SOUTHAMPTON BUILDINGS, CHANCERY LANE.
PART I. MR. GEORGE GROSSMITH. GEMS FROM CHARLES DICKENS (IN MEMORIAM). Little Tony Weller and his Grandfather. Birth of the Junior Partner in the firm of "Dombey and Son" - PART II. MR. GEORGE GROSSMITH, JUN. A New Descriptive Melody, entitled— "SEVEN AGES OF SONG!" And (by request) Selections from his Humorous and Mimetical Sketch, entitled— "THE PUDDLETON PENNY READINGS." - PART III. MR. GEORGE GROSSMITH. THE HUMOUR OF MARK TWAIN. Autobiographical Reminiscences. Our first Visitor. Journalism down in Tennessee. &c., &c. - PART IV. MR. GEORGE GROSSMITH, JUN. New Musical Scena, "IN THE STALLS!"
The narrator, a seasoned society clown of the late‑Victorian era, opens his memoir with a wry conversation about the perils of self‑portraiture. In a dimly lit dining room of 1888 he debates with a stranger whether publishing memories makes one an “ass,” setting a tone that is both self‑deprecating and proudly theatrical. His voice crackles with the same quick wit that once entertained aristocratic drawing‑rooms and bustling music halls.
Listeners will be treated to a series of short, colourful sketches that trace the clown’s life from his early days on the stage to his encounters with notable figures of the time. The anecdotes balance lively humor with moments of genuine feeling, offering a glimpse into the craft of clowning, the social mores of the period, and the occasional melancholy behind the makeup. All told, the memoir promises an engaging, light‑hearted journey that feels as comfortable in a quiet library as it does on a rattling railway carriage.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (268K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Oct 6, 2016
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1912
Best remembered for the wonderfully awkward comedy of The Diary of a Nobody, this Victorian entertainer brought sharp humor to both the page and the stage. He was also one of the original stars of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy operas, known for comic roles that matched his gift for observation and wit.
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