Agnes Booth | |
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 InW. S. Gilbert'sEngaged, 1879. | |
| Born | (1843-10-04)October 4, 1843 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | January 2, 1910(1910-01-02) (aged 66) Brookline, Massachusetts, US |
| Other names | Marian Agnes Land Rookes |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1858–97 |
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Agnes Booth (October 4, 1843 – January 2, 1910), bornMarian Agnes Land Rookes, was anAustralian-born American actress and in-law of actorsJunius Brutus Booth,Edwin Booth, andJohn Wilkes Booth, the assassin ofAbraham Lincoln.[1]
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Although there are no records of Agnes Booth's birth or her family's residence in Australia,[2] by her own account she was born inSydney,New South Wales. She migrated toCalifornia with her family in 1858, at the age of about 14.
She made her US debut in early 1858 as Agnes Land, performing with her sister Belle atMaguire's Opera House, San Francisco, attracting attention and gaining recognition and managing a season of the Metropolitan theatre in Detroit. In 1861 she married actor Harry A. Perry in San Francisco, but was widowed in 1862.[2][3][4] Her six-year apprenticeship withThomas Maguire allowed her to move from shape actress to leading lady.[5]
In 1865 she moved toNew York where she appeared at theWinter Garden Theatre.[6]As Agnes Perry, in 1866 she joined theBoston Theatre Company, of which she was a member for several years. In 1867, she was married toJunius Brutus Booth Jr. and she performed as Agnes Booth thereafter.
At the height of her popularity reviews of her performances were effusive. In 1874, theNews described her as "the most finished and effective emotional actress at present on the metropolitan stage."[1] She played Belinda in the first American production ofW. S. Gilbert'sEngaged in 1879.[7] In 1889,Belford's Magazine wrote of another "great triumph" by Agnes Booth inCaptain Swift. "For painstaking attention to detail, nicety of intonation, and powerful expression, Agnes Booth is in the front rank of leading ladies. We have seen her in many society dramas, and in each she has shown a charming appreciation of all the requirements... The mingled expression of shame, suffering and maternal love in Agnes Booth's face during [one] scene is one not soon to be forgotten.[8] In 1874, she and Junius made a praise-worthy trip to the far west playing San Francisco'sCalifornia Theater andPiper's Opera House inVirginia City. Her repertoire included Romeo and Juliet, Hunchback, and Lady of Lyons.[9]
In 1878 she played Madeleine Renaud in theUnion Square Theatre's production ofA Celebrated Case, the program noting that she had "kindly undertaken this part in order to strengthen the cast." From 1881 to 1891, she was with theMadison Square Company. After 1891, she went toEurope, then returned to theUnited States where she resided in the artist community ofNew Rochelle, New York and resumed her work onBroadway in nearbyNew York City. Booth gained fame for her role in the melodramaThe Sporting Duchess (The Derby Winner byCecil Raleigh) along with fellow actress and New Rochelle neighborCora Tanner.[10][11]
Junius Booth died in 1883, and in 1885 she married John B. Schoeffel, manager of Boston's Tremont theatre. Her last major performance was inL'Arlesienne in 1897.[1]
She died at her home inBrookline, Massachusetts on January 2, 1910.[12]
Media related toAgnes Booth at Wikimedia Commons
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