2-979-786 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Mr. Compton, of the Theatre Royal Haymarket, as "Touchstone", 1857. Portrait from a photograph by Mayall. Henry Compton '...has played the whole of that fine round of characters which are familiar to us as the clowns of Shakspeare...he has shown a decided originality of conception, and...a marvellous force of dry humour, such as we can imagine Shakspeare himself intended. That his acting is perfectly natural let any one say who have seen his Touchstone, in "As You Like It"...Shakspeare has placed some of his finest philosophy in the mouths of his clowns; they are not buffoons...but philosophers in the guise of dependents or jesters. They are characters requiring the highest histrionic ability to realise...the accomplished comedian...invests the simplest character with the exact force and individuality intended by the author. Mr. Compton has proved himself singularly efficient in this respect'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.