William Sterling Battis: interpreter of Dickens

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WILLIAM STERLING BATTIS INTERPRETER OF DICKENS



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Some people cannot read; some people will not read; some find it difficult to pursue the verse form in which the book is presented.  Help them over that by setting forth the history in narrative.—Charles Dickens.




Lecture Recitals

Dickens' Schools
Dickens' Child Studies
Dickens' the Humorist
Dickens' the Reformer
Sermons from Dickens




Announcement
WILLIAM STERLING BATTIS stands alone in this country as an impersonator of Dickens' characters who has devoted his whole time and talent to this work only, and who has succeeded in catching the spirit of the author in the spoken word and a faithful portrait of the individual by use of clever make-up and marvelous facial transformation.

When you go to an entertainment you go to be entertained.  This, then, is where Mr. Battis is conceded to be an artist, for he makes the work he sets forth absolutely entertaining.  He makes Dickens plain, comprehensive, instructive, amusing.  His Dickens characters are as complete as the best set forth by the actors upon the stage.  He gives you real life pictures that are as wonderful as any Henry Lee has given to the stage.  Add to this the great satisfaction that comes to one who becomes familiar with historical characters.

Frequent commendations which I have heard from many of the most competent literary critics, has convinced me that Mr. Battis stands absolutely unequalled in America in the unique field he has chosen.

I believe this announcement would not be complete if I did not add that an experience of the past two years in placing the Battis entertainments has convinced me that, in addition to the prestige of his work as a literary masterpiece, it has proven itself to be one of the most popular entertainments available for either Chautauqua or Lyceum platform.

ALFRED L. FLUDE, Personal Manager.




Dramatic Monologues

Nicholas Nickleby
Oliver Twist
Mirawber
Life Portrayals
Characters in Costume)



Life Portrayals
When we come to study character as interpreted by Charles Dickens a new world is opened to us; a world peopled by grotesque figures in fantastic garbs, who play important parts in the development of the truth, and utter great thoughts in a queer and most striking manner.  Dickens scarcely ever drew a scene or character he had not studied from life with minute care.  He dealt with lie; life in all its stern and ever-changing reality.

In Life Portrayals Mr. Battis presents thirteen of the more widely known creations of the great novelist, with all their peculiarities of speech and dress, with an appropriate monologue arranged from the book in which the character appears.


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Joliet (Ill.) Daily News
Dickens from the library of the London streets lives again in William Sterling Battis.


Marshfield (Wis.) News
A large audience assembled to hear and see Wm. Sterling Battis in his wonderful impersonations, and if any one was disappointed, he is yet to be heard from.


Peoria (Ill.) Daily Star.
Life Portrayals from Dickens was simply marvelous.  In every character and every scene, Mr. Battis appears to his audience not as an impersonator, but as the real living character.


Akron (O.) Beacon-Journal
Mr. Battis is a characterist of the finest type.  His impersonations were given in costume, the changes being made before the audience.  His acting was indeed remarkable.


The Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wis.)
It was a lecture in costume; educational as well as interesting.  Mr. Battis analyzed the works of Dickens, each by itself, and while talking stood behind a low screen where he could be plainly seen, and by means of grease paint, wigs and quick-change clothes, completely costumed the parts, making the changes in view of the audience.  The characters assumed were varied and showed the versatility of the man who is a consumate actor as well as a character artist.


The Lyceumite
In his Life Portrayals Mr. Battis has something entirely new to the lyceum.  Only the deep student of Dickens could do what he does in this entertainment.  He does not suggest the characters—they are flesh and blood creations.


Mail and Empire (Toronto)
The main feature of the evening was the portrayals of Dickens' characters by William Sterling Battis.  All the characters were depicted with much insight and vividness, the costumes following the most celebrated engravings of each.


Waukegan (Ill.) Daily Sun
World of fancy made reality!  William Sterling Battis and his Dickens characters made loved books and people come to life.  He did not impersonate—he was!  It was a Dickens feast to warm the heart; one never to be forgotten.


Aurora (Ill.) News
A good audience thoroughly enjoyed Life Portrayals by William Sterling Battis.  The entertainment was interesting and unique in that Mr. Battis made up for each character in full view of the audience.  To those who know nothing of how the actors make up for their parts this was really more interesting than listening to the quotations from the famous author which were given after the gentleman had dressed to look the part.





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Nicholas Nickleby
One of the most widely read of Dickens novel.  Written to call public attention to a system of uninspected private schools, of which the author had heard dreadful accounts in his boyhood.  American readers cannot realize the enormity of this foul system, because it would not be allowed to exist even for a day in this country.  These scenes so stirred public indignation that the schools so justly denounced were doomed to rapid extinction.

Mr. Battis has dramatized this great story, presenting it in monologue.  He impersonates all the characters, and in a manner that makes one lorget there is but one person on the platform.  The drama is keenly alive with interest, bristling with bright sparks of humor.



The good in this state of existence preponderates over the bad, let miscalled philosophers tell us what they will.  If our affections be tried, our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, however sad, is the best and purest link between this world and a better…

—Nicholas Nickleby





Boston Herald
Mr. William Sterling Battis showed great power as a character impersonator.


Paducah (Ky.) News-Democrat
William Sterling Battis can give Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde any kind of a handicap and win in a walk.


Toronto Daily Star
Mr. William Sterling Battis gave a dramatic recital of Nicholas Nickleby, and more than fulfilled the high expectation of those who had known of his work as an interpreter of Dickens.


Aurora (Ill.) News
Each character was so life-like; so nearly as one could imagine it from the author's word-painting, that it would have been easly recognized if the entertainer had not named it to the audience.


Toronto Globe
Mr. Battis proved himself a master of facial expression, gestures and mannerisms.  His portrayal of the characters of Ralph Nickleby, Newman Noggs and the wretched Smike, were excellent.


Dixon (Ill.) Daily Sun
Mr. William Sterling Battis has no superior in his line, and his ability of changing rapidly from one character to another by means of voice, facial expression and attitude, is certainly of the highest class of impersonation.


Joliet (Ill.) Herald
For valuable information and at the same time amusement, it was unsurpassed.


Henderson (Ky.) Journal
One of the most attractive and appreciable features of the entire Chautauqua program was the recital of Nicholas Nlckleby by Wm. S. Battis.


Lafayette (Ind.) Journal
It is seldom one sees a man of such ability as to be able to give an impersonation of Dickens' characters so real and interesting to a critical audience.


Corbin (Ky.) Times
Mr. Battis is one of the best impersonators that has ever favored this city.  His rendition of Nicholas Nickleby places him in the fore front as an entertainer and master of dramatic art.


Charleston (Ill.) Daily Courier
Nicholas Nickleby by William Sterling Battis was one pf the best entertainments of the kind ever given in Charleston.


Mt. Vernon (Ill.) Daily Record
In his work as an interpreter of Dickens Mr. Battis is certainly unsurpassed, and with his perfectly modulated voice, his wonderful facial expression, so marvelous in its changes, he presented his characters in a way that made his hearers personally acquainted with them.




Oh!  the suspense of standing idle by while the life of one we dearly love is trembling in the balance!  The desperate anxiety to be doing something to relieve the pain, or lessen the danger, which we have no power to alleviate; the sinking of soul and spirit; what tortures can equal these!

—Oliver Twist



Oliver Twist
The first novel presented to the world by Charles Dickens, and closed with the opening of Nicholas Nickleby.  It is a standing protest against the atrocious poor laws of a past generation.  It is a series of pictures from the tragic-comedy of lower life, worked out by perfectly natural agencies from the dying mother and the starved wretches through the scenes of gradations of crimes which have a frightful consumation in the last volume.

Mr. Battis presents his interpretation of this powerful story in four acts.  The characterization calls forth all his powers as a character delineator.  The interest never slakens, from the opening comedy scene in the workhouse to the tragic ending of Fagin in the prison.


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Jellico (Tenn.) Advance-Sentinel
* * Affording those present an hour and a half of unusually wholesome and delightful enjoyment.


Hoopston (Ill.) Chronicle
Mr. Battis' second number was as enjoyable as his first.  Oliver Twist is stronger in dramatic action than Nicholas Nickleby, and the characters equally grotesque.


Bellefontaine (O.) Index-Republican
The dramatization by William Sterling Battis held the rapt attention of a magnificent audience.  The familiar story as presented by the verastile skill of a close student of Dickens furnished one of the most pleasing entertainments on the program.


Shelbyville (Ill.) Union
Mr. William Sterling Battis gave a dramatic interpretation of Dickens' Oliver Twist.  His readings are one of the best features of the program.  The hall was crowded with most attentive listeners, and many went away because lack of room.


Akron (O.) Beacon-Journal
The story of Oliver Twist is full of tragedy, a tragedy so deep as to possess dignity, and through it all Mr. Battis did not miss the value of a single word or look or ect.  His voice is one of the finest possible.  It is flexible and under perfect control.


Paxton (Ill.) Record
Mr. Battis is surely an artist in his line, and cannot fail to please many, especially the lovers of Dickens.


Charleston (Ill.) Daily Courier
Mr. Battis was better lin Oliver Twist than in Nicholas Nickleby.  He was given a large audience, and showed his appreciation by his excellent and painstaking work.


Bellefontaine (O.) Examiner
It was a splendid entertainment, and greatly appreciated by all.  One seemed almost carried back to Dickens' own time, and to be seeing the plot actually carried out.


Charleston (Ill.) Plaindealer
Mr. William Sterling Battis gave a delightful reading of Oliver Twist, The spectators were able to recognize in Mr, Battis the characters as Dickens pictured them.  As an impersonator he is a decided success.


Henderson (Ky.) Journal
At one moment the audience was enjoying a hearty laugh at the humor in the story, and when Mr. Battis described some pathetic scene, or spoke the words of some persecuted character, the people in the audience felt as if they were in the number of characters in the Dickens' story.





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Micawber
A dramatization from David Copperfield, probably the most popular and most widely read of Dickens' works.  Dickens had been born in poverty, reared in distress, and he projects himself into the character of David Copperfield, living again the sufferings of his childhood, his struggles and triumphs, his successes and failures, in this creature of his imagination.  The book is considered more or less autobiographical.

Micawber is one of the most striking and never-to-be-forgotten characters ever evolved from the fertile brain of Charles Dickens.  Mr. Battis does not present Micawber as a a full program, it occupying a little less than an hour's time for delivery.



How few of nature's faces are left alone to gladden us with their beauty!  The cares and sorrows and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts; it is only when those passions sleep, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven's surface clean

—Oliver Twist




Albion W. Small, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

He never fails to satisfy the judgment of refined audiences, or to entertain those less capable of critical opinions.  He is one of the most intelligent and versatile readers before the public.

Leland T. Powers

It gives me great pleasure to commend and praise your very excellent work.  I have seldom listened to one who interested me and satisfied me as you did.

Lou J. Beauchamp

It is comparatively an easy matter to don a [few costumes, and apply a little grease paint; but here is a man who changes his voice to suit the character.  Thirteen voices from a single individual—wonderful!

Dr. A. A. Willits

My Dear Battis:—I was one of your delighted audience the other evening.  I wanted all my friends to hear you.  The matchless characters that Dickens has made immortal you portrayed to the life.  The costumes and voices were inimitable.  The idea of keeping your audience in touch with you while you made the changes was a conception of genius, and your rapid and perfect presentations were magical.  Lecture committees could not give their people a more delightful and wholesome entertainment.

Fred W. Bartell
Genl. Mgr. Associated Chautauquas

Mr. William Sterling Battis gave great satisfaction over our entire Chautauqua Circuit.


Valparaiso (Ind.) Vidette
He reads charmingly; his work was difficult, requiring a perfect memory, quick changes of voice, facial expression and attitude.  Those who missed last evening, missed one of the star programs of the season.


Wyandot Union-Republic (Upper Sandusky, O.)
Mr. Battis is not only a past master in the art of make-up and character appreciation, but his conception and delineation are equally masterly.  He is an actor as well as a reader, and his versatility is remarkable.


Tulsa (Okla.) Daily World
As an impersonator he is unsurpassed, and no one who sees him begrudges him the title of being called the world's greatest.


Independence (Kas.) Reporter
The imitations of character by Mr. Battis were vivid and real.  He appeared in many different make-ups, and each was so different from the others that one not knowing would not guess that the same man appeared on the platform each time.




There's something in his appearance quite - dear, dear, what's that word now!  Dear me, how stupid I am!  What do you call it when Lords break off door-knockers, and beat policemen, and play at roaches with other people's money!  Ah!  aristocratic!  something aristocratic about him

—Nicholas Nickleby



Lectures
There is always a demand for the best literature properly interpreted.  Dickens wrote to improve the condition of the people through the medium of a pleasant story.  His educational principles are revealed chiefly by the evolution of the characters in his novels and stories, instead of direct philosophic statements.  One must understand the purpose of an aurhor to fully appreciate his writings.

Mr. Battis has won a wide reputation as an interpreter of Dickens.  In his Recital Lectures he brings out the salient points of Dickens' philosophy in a most interesting and entertaining manner, illustrating the points with readings from the author's works.


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Shailer Mathews, M.A.
University of Chicago

Mr. William Sterling Battis is certainly to be classed with the best readers and impersonators on the platform.

C. R. Boostrom
Pres. Northern Minn. Normal School

Our students were delighted with the work of Mr. William Sterling Battis.


Streator (Ill.) Independent Times
A large audience greeted William Sterling Battis at Masonic Hall last evening and was delighted with his lecture Dickens as a Reformer.  His interpretation of the works of the famous English author was thoroughly enjoyed.


Streator (Ill.) Monitor
Mr. Battis is a fine dramatic reader as well as lecturer, and he held the close attention of his audience from beginning to end, and a number went home with a new interest aroused in Dickens, and resolved to take down the dusty books and again peruse them.


Newark (O.) Daily Advocate
The audience which assembled at Plymouth Congregational Church thoroughly enjoyed Mr. William Sterling Battis' interpretation of Dickens Child Studies.  Mr. Battis is a master of his art, and the cultured audience showed appreciation of his efforts.


The Wymorean (Wymore, Neb.)
The best thing that has been in Wymore in a long time.  Mr. Battis stands in a class by himself.


Logansport (Ind.) Pharos
Mr. Battis grasps his characters with a confidence of a thorough appreciation of their human prototypes.


LaPorte (Ind.) Herald
All the characters which Mr. Battis impersonated were represented to perfection.  It is remarkable with what facility this man can change from one character to another before the very eyes of the audience.


Upper Sandusky (O.) Daily Chief
The entertainer showed a thorough knowledge of the works the great author, the passages from the different works which he recited giving ample opportunity for exhibiting his versatility.  The entertainment was one of the best of the winter.


Waynesburg (Pa.) Daily Times
It is equal to a liberal Dickens educational training to have heard, to have seen and to have pondered over the characters and what they did and what they said and thought as set forth in the form of entertainment by this character genius and student of human nature, William Sterling Battis.





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The Lyceumite Press, Chicago