{"id":31086,"date":"2016-10-04T11:58:34","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T15:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/?p=31086"},"modified":"2016-10-04T11:58:34","modified_gmt":"2016-10-04T15:58:34","slug":"julia-marlowe-a-cincinnati-girl-learns-to-be-juliet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/2016\/10\/julia-marlowe-a-cincinnati-girl-learns-to-be-juliet\/","title":{"rendered":"Julia Marlowe \u2013 A Cincinnati Girl Learns To Be Juliet"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Sydney Vollmer<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Julia<\/a>On August 17, 1866, Sarah Frances \u201cFanny\u201d Frost was born in Caldbeck, England to John and Sarah Frost. \u00a0As Julia Marlowe, she died at age 84 in New York City\u2019s Plaza Hotel. \u00a0Between those two events, she discovered passion, love (multiple times), and fame.<\/p>\n

The future Shakespearean actress was born into a relatively normal family. \u00a0She had four siblings, three sisters and a brother and her parents owned a general store while also working in the trades of needlework and boot making. \u00a0Her father sometimes got drunk and her mother always got frustrated with him. \u00a0At the age of 5, though, all of that \u201cnormalcy\u201d changed for Marlowe. \u00a0It was the year that her father whisked the family away to America. \u00a0Plenty of people were immigrating to America during the 1870s, but Marlowe\u2019s father did so to stay out of trouble. \u00a0During an impromptu horse race between her father\u2014where he was most likely drunk\u2014 and one of their neighbors, Mr. Frost allegedly took out his competitor\u2019s eye with his whip. \u00a0Knowing that he would surely face prosecution if he stayed, he immediately took his wife and children to America. \u00a0Once arrived, they first settled in Kansas, but soon moved to Portsmouth, Ohio with the new surname \u201cBrough,\u201d which was the maiden name of Julia\u2019s mother.\u00a0 Later on, the family would find out that the competitor had been playing a cruel joke and there had not been any reason to leave so urgently.<\/p>\n

After living in Portsmouth for a short time, the family yet again relocated downriver to Cincinnati and this is where Marlowe spent the majority of her adolescence before leaving for New York. \u00a0In Cincinnati, her parents sought a divorce. \u00a0Shortly thereafter, Marlowe\u2019s mother remarried. \u00a0Her new husband went by the name of \u201cHess.\u201d \u00a0He was not a kind man, and he resented his new wife\u2019s children. \u00a0Not wanting to go against her husband, the two were often harsh with the youngsters, demanding they learn a trade so they could help provide for the family and fill any idle time they may have had. \u00a0To aid them in this, like many parents still today, they gave the children weekly chores. \u00a0It was the allowance from said chores that gave Marlowe the ability to buy her first book of Shakespeare.<\/p>\n

\"Marlow<\/a>The purchase was made some time when Julia was ten years old. \u00a0A travelling book salesman came to the family\u2019s door, a common method for selling books in the late nineteenth century. \u00a0Marlowe\u2019s mother was taken by the Bible\u2014as she often was\u2014but Marlowe fell in love with a Shakespeare volume at first sight. \u00a0Being young, she did not have the finances to pay for the book directly, but she bargained with her mother and they eventually came to the agreement that she could have the book, but she would sacrifice her allowance until it was paid off. \u00a0Delighted with the arrangement, she took the deal and read the book in any moment of spare time she was given.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t too long before Marlowe was able to take her love of reading plays and transform it into performing them herself. \u00a0She was 12 when she saw an ad in the newspaper looking for children to perform in Pinafore<\/em>. \u00a0Alone, she went to the shop listed on the advertisement. \u00a0The shopkeeper, amazed at the child\u2019s boldness, sent her home to receive permission from her mother. \u00a0After meeting with those in charge, her mother agreed and off Marlowe went with the company in the role of a common sailor, under the care of actress Ada Dow, and director Colonel Robert E. J. Miles. During the run of the play, Marlowe decided that acting was her dream. \u00a0When she came home and was badgered about what she was going to be when she grew up, knowing acting wasn\u2019t something her overly-religious mother supported, she tried dressmaking, factory work, and being a telegraph operator. \u00a0None of those careers would do. \u00a0Marlowe simply would have nothing less than the stage.<\/p>\n

\"Romeo<\/a>During her teens, Julia Marlowe was reunited with Ada Dow, who trained her and often took her to the theatre. \u00a0\u201cAunt Ada,\u201d as Marlowe called her, was the sister-in-law of Colonel Miles, who had become the manager of the Cincinnati Grand Opera House. \u00a0Through that connection, Marlowe was awarded the opportunity to pursue smaller roles with the company, including her first roles in Shakespeare as Balthazar in Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, and Maria in Twelfth Night<\/em>. \u00a0At the end of the season, Marlowe was placed under Ada\u2019s care, who took her to New York when she turned 18.<\/p>\n

Each day they rehearsed and rehearsed, going over characters, annunciation, and lines. Again, utilizing the connections with Miles, Marlowe was given a chance to perform with the Bijou Opera House for two weeks in Ingomar<\/em> as Parthenia. \u00a0Feeling the name \u201cFanny Brough\u201d no longer suited her, she changed to \u201cJulia Marlowe\u201d\u2014Julia after the heroine in The Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/em>, and Marlowe after Christopher Marlowe. \u00a0Being her first time performing in New York, it would be fair to assume that the critics tore her performance apart. \u00a0However, that was hardly the case. They noticed her pitfalls, but they mostly noticed her potential. \u00a0Edward A. Dithmar of the Times<\/em> wrote of the performance:<\/p>\n

Miss Marlowe is not a spectacular Parthenia. \u00a0She did not conquer by a glance or a gesture. \u00a0She is not statuesque. \u00a0She is comely and of good figure, but not beautiful. \u00a0Her eyes are the most attractive feature of her face, which is uncommonly mobile and intelligent. \u00a0She depicted the simplicity and love of the Greek maiden in a sensible, straightforward manner that convinced the minds and touched the hearts of everybody present who had a mind and a heart. \u00a0Her work was marked by none of the failings of the novice. \u00a0Her touch was always sure, and she impressed the critical observer with a sense of the ability to calculate beforehand the actual effect of every look and gesture. \u00a0This is a faculty that three-fifths of the actors now on the stage do not possess. \u00a0Her conception of the character was clear and reasonable; her execution of it, womanly and, above all, intelligent. \u00a0She had no \u201cgreat moments.\u201d \u00a0She made no conspicuous points.<\/em><\/p>\n

But her grasp of the character never relaxed, and she preserved the illusion under the most distressing surroundings. \u00a0The episode of the song of love was treated daintly and without exaggeration. \u00a0The defiance of Ingomar was true and affecting, and not stagy. \u00a0She expressed the anger of the girl very vividly, and without resort to any hackneyed artifice. \u00a0She was equally successful with every other phase of the role. \u00a0She did not carry her expression of love to the limits of great, absorbing passion; but Parthenia is not a woman of strong passions.<\/em><\/p>\n

In depicting the ingenuousness of the girl, she was not too coy. \u00a0When she wept, the tears seemed to be real; and her smiles seemed to be the reflection of a sunny temperament. \u00a0Her voice is strong and pleasing; and if she has a singing voice, it ought to be pure contralto. \u00a0The tones are never mannish; and, best of all, she speaks the English language very well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Reviews of a similar note were published in the Nym Crinkle<\/em> and in the Herald<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The performance led to great things for Marlowe. \u00a0Col. Miles became her manager and introduced her to H. E. Bristol, an owner of a small restaurant. \u00a0So impressed was he by her performance, he gave her $5000 when Henry E. Abbey offered her a week to perform at the Star Theatre. \u00a0Having the freedom to choose what she would perform, she selected Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, Twelfth Night<\/em>, and Ingomar<\/em>. \u00a0In creating her own company, she chose renowned actor Joseph Haworth as her leading man. \u00a0Though skeptical about performing with someone so new, all it took was one quick reading of the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet<\/em> to seal the deal.<\/p>\n

\"Much<\/a>The performance was received well enough. \u00a0Despite audiences loving her performance, the general consensus was that Marlowe was too young and inexperienced to play leads in Shakespeare. \u00a0She was told multiple times that she would not make any money and her time would be wasted pursuing Shakespeare. \u00a0In attempts to give her more experience, she was offered a position at a stock theatre company. \u00a0However, each time she was met with negativity she refused, stating that she could not possibly work in an environment where she did not have creative control. \u00a0After all, it wasn\u2019t about the money or job security for Miss Marlowe. \u00a0All she wanted was to perform, and perform she did.<\/p>\n

By the year 1888, Marlowe\u2019s career truly took off. \u00a0It was also that year when she met her future husband, Robert Taber. \u00a0Established with the Boston Museum, Taber was already a well-known American actor when he began performing with Marlowe. \u00a0Together, they put on a number of Shakespearian and other classical plays. \u00a0The two approached new characters from opposite directions. \u00a0Marlowe, for her part, would come to a new character meekly. \u00a0In this way, she would let herself get to know the characters better and eventually build them to their true potential. \u00a0Taber did the opposite, coming at a character full blast and settling it down as time went on. \u00a0The creative differences offered a unique dynamic. \u00a0It was one that must have worked for a time, as the two were married in 1894.<\/p>\n

In between that time, Marlowe took a break from acting due to contracting typhoid fever in 1891. \u00a0Ironically, the illness turned out to be a blessing. \u00a0Although she loved her Aunt Ada, she had been under a strict legal arrangement with her. \u00a0When she became ill, the contract was dissolved. \u00a0\u00a0After she returned to work, Marlowe and Taber continued to tour. \u00a0In the 1895-96 season, Taber and Marlowe set out to perform Henry IV<\/em> and She Stoops to Conquer<\/em>. \u00a0Not having strong roles for women, Henry IV<\/em> was played by Marlowe out of consideration for her husband. \u00a0Taber picking shows where he would get to outshine his wife became a pattern.<\/p>\n

When Marlowe came under the management of Charles Frohman\u2014one of the men who had originally tried to discourage her from forming her own company\u2014in 1896, now discouraged her from performing with her husband. He did not want to manage her if she continued to co-star, believing she would be more successful on her own. This time, Marlowe took his advice.\u00a0 Taber, insulted by the news, moved to England where he thought he might have a better chance at respect as a performer. \u00a0Unfortunately, the rift was too much for the relationship, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1900.<\/p>\n

\"Marlowe<\/a>Marlowe continued her career, performing in numerous plays and receiving top billing. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t until 1904, however, that another notable partnership was created. \u00a0E. H. Sothern, the son of actor E. A. Sothern, became the Romeo to Julia\u2019s Juliet\u2014making for the start of possibly the most memorable Shakespeare duo of the 20th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

Together, Marlowe and Sothern first appeared in Romeo and Juliet<\/em> as the title characters.\u00a0 \u00a0Later, they moved on to the leads in Hamlet <\/em>as Ophelia and the title character, and then Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing<\/em>.\u00a0 \u00a0They took their shows all over the United States, adding plays as they traveled. The two dissolved their company for a brief period between 1908 and 1909 after their contract expired because by then it made sense for the couple to pursue separate avenues. \u00a0Fortunately, they reunited for a performance of Antony and Cleopatra<\/em> in 1910 and finally, in 1911, the duo took their relationship beyond the stage and got married.\u00a0 Being two people of equal ambition, their relationship was regarded by friends as uniquely happy. \u00a0They continued touring until Marlowe fell ill in 1924.\u00a0 Sothern still performed, but retired in 1928. \u00a0From then until his death in 1933, Sothern continued his onstage presence as a lecturer with speaking tours, giving talks on Shakespeare\u2014how to perform and the intricacies of the work.<\/p>\n

Julia Marlowe lived until 1950, when she passed away in the Plaza Hotel at the age of 84. \u00a0After the death of her husband, the Cincinnati-raised actress became somewhat of a recluse, only making a select number of public appearances.\u00a0 Her last appearance was to give the Museum of the City of New York a trunk of costumes which she and Sothern had used in their days of performing. \u00a0The world, she was certain, would remember Julia Marlowe as long as Shakespeare is remembered\u2014perhaps even beyond that time.<\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about Julia Marlowe, E. H. Sothern, or anyone else who might have graced Cincinnati with their stage presence, please give us a visit. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Call us at 513.556.1959 or send us an email at archives@ucmail.uc.edu<\/a>. Don\u2019t forget to check out our Shakespeare quadricentennial page on the Archives & Rare Books Library website at http:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/exhibits\/shakespeare400\/ <\/a>or to like our Facebook page at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArchivesRareBooksLibraryUniversityOfCincinnati\/<\/a> where there is always something Shakespearean being posted.\u00a0 You can also find us on Twitter at @ARBLibrary.<\/p>\n

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By: Sydney Vollmer On August 17, 1866, Sarah Frances \u201cFanny\u201d Frost was born in Caldbeck, England to John and Sarah Frost. \u00a0As Julia Marlowe, she died at age 84 in New York City\u2019s Plaza Hotel. \u00a0Between those two events, she … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,13],"tags":[53,1211,67,742,877],"class_list":["post-31086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arb","category-uclibraries","tag-cincinnati-history","tag-julia-marlowe","tag-rare-books","tag-shakespeare","tag-shakespeare-400"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31086\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/liblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}