Milnes Levick (January 30, 1825 – April 18, 1897) was an English comedian and actor who left England in 1853. His work in the United States gained him recognition as a Shakespearean actor, particularly for his portrayal of Julius Caesar,Evening Journal Vineland New Jersey April 19th 1897 - Page 1 MercutioThe Cleveland Leader June 9th 1877 - Page 3 and Macbeth.Chicago Tribune December 31st 1872
Biography Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, Levick left England at the age of 28 and achieved career success in the United States. He performed in numerous productions, particularly Shakespeare's plays. He died of cancer in 1897 after more than fifty years on the stage, mostly as the leading man to some of theatre's most prominent names of the late 19th century. Levick became a United States citizen on October 14, 1861.
Early career Levick began his career in his home town in England at the Boston Dramatic Company in 1844, or perhaps even earlier. A newspaper article dated January 3rd 1845 recorded an indictment against Milnes Levick and his fellow actors for creating a nuisance, "by firing off guns & pistols and making loud noises late at night in the performance of plays, etc." This being the earliest record of his career onstage.
In 1846 he and his fellow actors wrote to The Era (newspaper) complaining that they had not been paid for their services.The Era January 3rd 1847 The newspaper published their complaint and the response of the theatre owner, a Mr Daniels. In the latter half of 1848 Levick was living in Kingston upon Hull with his wife and daughter, where he was working on stage. His second daughter was born there on August 19th 1848 and her birth certificate records her father's profession as a performer. In 1851 he appeared onstage in Scarborough and Sunderland. On January 1, 1852 he appeared at the Theatre Royal, Sunderland in Macbeth, The Teacher Taught and The Tipperary Legacy. [The Era] 11 Jan 1852 In July of that year he received a positive review for his performance in Leap Year at the Theatre Royal in Scarborough. [The Era] 25 Jul 1852 Four months later, he was on stage at the newly reopened North Shields theatre. In September 1853, he received a positive review for his performance at the Theatre Royal in Scarborough.[The Era] 18 Sep 1853 In November, the New Theatre Royal in North Shields announced its opening season, and at the same time informed the public that Levick had left the country. [The Era] 13 Nov 1853
Initially a comedian, Levick had graduated to acting but achieved little recognition until he arrived in New York. In late 1853 he appeared as Alfred Highflyer in A Roland for an Oliver at the Old Broadway Theatre. A History of the New York Stage T. Allston Brown page 396 He was then cast as George Harris in Uncle Tom's Cabin at P. T. Barnum's American Museum on December 6, 1853,A history of the New York stage : from the first performance in 1732 to 1901 by T. Allston Brown vol.1 page 73 replacing Corson W. Clarke. Uncle Tom's Cabin & American Culture © 2006 the University of Virginia https://utc.iath.virginia.edu/index2f.html This Tom show was one of the earliest performances of Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, which had been running for a month when Levick joined the cast, and where he initially gained recognition in the US.
After four years at Barnum's museum, he joined Laura Keene when she opened her own theatre. His first appearance with Laura Keene's company was in Blanche of Brandywine which ran from April 22nd to May 12th 1858. A History of the New York stage page 130 He then appeared as Fag in The Rivals on September 6th 1858, followed by the role of Trip in School for Scandal which included eight acknowledged stars in its cast. A History of the New York stage vol 2 page 132 On October 4th he appeared in London Assurance, before Our American Cousin was played for the first time on October 18th. A History of the New York stage page 132 There he established a reputation in the role of Lt. Harry Vernon (of the Royal Navy) in "the most successful comedy produced in the US for many years", to quote Thomas Allston Brown. Levick's second wife (born Emily Sagon Page) also appeared with him as Skillet. The run eventually ended on April 15th 1859. It was revived on January 9th 1862 when Levick replaced E. A. Sothern in the role of Lord Dundreary. A History of the New York stage page 140 On May 4th 1863, Laura Keene starred in Tib, or Our Cat in Crinoline, one of several plays Levick wrote, which marked the closure of the season, as well as Laura Keene's management of the theatre on May 8th 1863. A History of the New York stage page 144
The following is a quotation from Thomas Allston Brown's A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 in which he refers to Levick's early years on stage:
Milnes Levick appeared here (the Old Broadway Theatre) as Alfred Highflyer in "A Roland for an Oliver." He was afterward engaged for Barnum's Museum, making his debut as George Harris in Uncle Tom's Cabin, where he continued to act for the four succeeding years, and during that time wrote two plays - "The Limekiln Man" and "Sybil's cave" - which were both played here, achieving success. He was next engaged by Laura Keene, and after Sothern, who had made his first success as Lord Dundreary, left that theatre, Mr Levick appeared in that character. He afterwards travelled with Miss Keene for two years, filling the positions of leading man and stage manager. He was then re-engaged at Barnum's Museum and afterwards went to Chicago, Ill., for a season; Mr Barnum again sent for him, and engaged him as stage manager and leading man. During that season he wrote and produced another play entitled "Pale Janet." The burning of the Museum threw him out of employment, and he retired to his farm at Wilton, in Westchester County, New York, where he remained for two years. He was especially engaged to support Chas. Fechter at Niblo's Garden, during his first engagement in America, and was seen as the King in Hamlet.
Another actor in Keene's company was Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes Booth. Their father, Junius, was considered the most prominent actor in the US in the first half of the nineteenth century, and Edwin became equally famous. John Wilkes Booth (who had been a member of Keene's company) was widely acknowledged for his Shakespearean roles and was one of the highest paid actors in the US before he shot and killed Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. The president and his wife were watching Keene's final performance as Florence Trenchard in Our American Cousin, a play they had previously seen when Levick was part of the original cast. Keene had arranged the show for that evening at Ford's Theatre and invited Lincoln as she knew it was one of his favorites. After Lincoln died, Keene and some of her fellow actors were temporarily arrested as possible co-conspirators.
Keene had toured Australia with Edwin Booth, and both appeared on stage with Levick on many occasions between 1858 and 1863. Later, Edwin established his own Booth's Theatre, and Levick performed there frequently in leading roles. Levick was also instrumental in the discovery of Mary Anderson, who rose to fame in the US and Europe as a leading lady. In 1876 he was performing in Louisville, Kentucky, to an almost empty house when the then-unknown Anderson approached the manager of Macauley's Theatre and asked to play Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. The manager was desperate enough that he convinced Levick and his company of actors to immediately rehearse for a performance two days later. She later thanked Levick, and said he was the only one to support and encourage her.A Few Memories (1896) by Mary Anderson pages 53 to 56 They remained friends to the end of his life.
Later career Levick served as stage manager and leading man during his time at Barnum's New Museum in the season beginning September 1867 where he appeared on stage with Corson W. Clarke just prior to his death on September 22nd of that year. Clarke was a veteran with 30 years experience at the National Theatre, Park Theatre and the Bowery Theatre. A History of the New York stage page 7 Levick's career received a major boost with the discovery of Mary Anderson (actress, born 1859) in Louisville, Kentucky in 1876. He was Anderson's leading man for several years, ending in June 1881The Sun December 31st 1880 - Page 4 when he became leading man in Edwin Booth's theatre.Boston Evening Transcript July 23rd 1881 - Page 6 During his time with Mary Anderson and Edwin Booth he built a solid reputation as a Shakesperian actor.Octavus Cohen - New York - Steubenville Daily Herald, February 13th 1896 The New York Evening Gazette December 24th 1880 - Page 4 As a mark of appreciation, Mary Anderson presented him with her portrait, on the back of which she had written, "To the best Master Walter that ever trod the stage".The Guardian April 29th 1897
Levick performed leading parts in productions with the most famous actors of the time, including:
Geneviève Ward in Jane Shore.Geneviève Ward Edward Loomis Davenport in Hamlet.Detroit Free Press January 24th 1890 - Page 4 Mary Shaw (actress) in As You Like It.Buffalo Courier February 24 1890 - Page 6 Ernesto Rossi, supporting his 1881-82 tour of the US.https://loc.getarchive.net/media/rossi-american-tour-1881-82-supported-by-mr-milnes-levick-and-an-american-company-1 Charlotte Cushman in Macbeth, Henry VIII, and Simpson & Co..McVicker's Theatre - Chicago Tribune Dec 31st 1872 Minna Gale in The Hunchback.New York Times April 18th 1897 Fanny Janauschek, in Chesney Wold and Henry VIII.Milwaukee News, November 2nd 1873 Margaret Mather, in Romeo and Juliet and Leah.New York Times, August 9th 1886 Julia Marlowe, in Ingomar, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Hunchback, Pygmalion and Galatea.Chicago handbill dated October 28th 1889 Edwin Booth, in The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, and As You Like It.McVicker's Theatre May 10 1879 Mary Anderson (actress, born 1859) - Levick was the leading man in her company of actors, and appeared in Romeo and Juliet, The Hunchback, Evadne, Ingomar, The Lady of Lyons, Love, and Fazio, among others.McVickers Theatre October 21st 1880 Joseph Jefferson in Our American Cousin and Blanche of Brandywine (April 1858).A History of the New York stage (vol 2) pages 123 to 146 Edward Askew Sothern in Our American Cousin. Levick took over the role of Lord Dundreary in 1862 when Sothern left Laura Keene's company to tour Europe. Again in 1866 at Barnum's New Museum he revived the role. A History of the New York stage page 6 Charles Walter Couldock in Our American CousinC. W. Couldock and As You Like It (May 1887 benefit performance).A History of the New York stage (vol 2) pages 123 to 146 Charles Fechter in Hamlet at Niblo's Garden in 1870. A History of the New York stage page 397
Dion Boucicault in Jeannie Deans A History of the New York stage page 137 & 138 and The Colleen Bawn.Boston Evening Transcript March 29th 1897 Page 8 John McCullough (actor) in Richelieu and Romeo & Juliet November 2nd 1874 playbill.The Critic and Record, Washington, DC November 2nd 1874 Page 1 Charles Melton Walcot Jr. in She Stoops to Conquer.Boston Evening Transcript Jul 1st 1897 Page 5 Barney Williams (actor) in The Emerald Ring at Niblo's Garden March 18th 1870.New York Herald March 18th 1870 - Page 2 Walter Montgomery (actor) in Hamlet and As You Like It at Niblo's Garden November 28th 1870.New York Daily Herald November 28th 1870 - Page 11New-York Tribune November 30th 1870 - Page 5