Exits and Entrances

In Short

This memoir offers a vivid, affectionate chronicle of British stage life during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Written by a celebrated actress looking back on a long career, it captures the camaraderie, the technical perils, and the human rhythms of the professional theater. More than a professional record, it serves as a dual biography, deeply intertwined with the life and work of the author’s husband, the playwright and actor H. V. Esmond. It endures as a charming, unpretentious window into a lost world of touring companies, London stage lore, and the personal joys of an artistic marriage.

The Story

The narrative begins with a young woman’s determined departure from Brighton to London, driven by the belief that the world is an oyster waiting to be opened. From the outset, the stage is presented not as a place of glamorous artifice, but as a rigorous, communal workplace. The author details the transition from small, underground theaters beside Charing Cross Hospital to the professional demands of long-running West End hits. She recounts the practical realities of the time—the grueling tour schedules, the lack of basic amenities like girls' clubs, and the necessity of finding one's community within the theater walls.

As her career gathers momentum, the arc of the story shifts toward the collaborative life she shares with her husband, Harry. Their partnership is the emotional and creative spine of the memoir. We follow them through the ups and downs of playwriting, the erratic nature of production, and the intense, often comical, pressure of bringing new works to the stage. Whether they are navigating the temperamental moods of famous colleagues like Mrs. Patrick Campbell or performing under the shadow of the Great War, their relationship remains the anchor. The narrative moves through the theater’s "exits and entrances"—the inevitable passing of friends and the changing tides of public taste.

The story does not shy away from the author’s private battles, including her vocal support for the Suffrage movement, which brought her both unexpected public scorn and deeply personal distress. Yet, even during these difficult chapters, the tone remains grounded in the theatrical life. The final movement of the book is a poignant reflection on Harry’s character—his infectious love for life, his deep devotion to his children, and his unwavering sincerity as an artist. After Harry’s passing, the author reflects on the nature of their shared legacy. The book concludes not with grand pronouncements, but with a quiet acceptance of the performer’s lot: a life of intense, temporary experiences, captured here in the "bundle of old letters" and the vivid, fading memories of a life spent in the service of the play.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The author sets her stage by explaining her motive for writing: to preserve the memories of a life that has been both a public performance and a private journey. She describes her early, hungry days in London, where the theater was a makeshift family for young, aspiring actors.

Life in the wings The narrative turns to the daily grind of the professional actor, detailing the small humiliations of low pay, the unpredictability of props, and the laughter shared in cramped dressing rooms. She introduces the reader to a gallery of peers, from legends like Ellen Terry to anonymous, eccentric supporting players.

The partnership of art The focus narrows to the creative and domestic union with her husband, H. V. Esmond. She outlines the process of their collaborative life, showing how his plays, their acting, and their home life at "Apple Porch" became a singular, continuous project.

Beyond the footlights The author steps outside the theater to recount her involvement in the Suffrage movement and her travels during the war. These experiences test her resilience, revealing the personal cost of holding unpopular opinions and the stark contrast between the beauty of nature and the violence of global conflict.

The final curtain The closing chapters function as a tribute to her husband’s spirit and his artistic integrity. She catalogs his habits, his genius for storytelling, and the enduring influence he had on everyone he met, leaving the reader with a final, contemplative look at the nature of a life well-lived.

The People

Eva Moore is the observant, witty narrator who balances the ambition of a professional actress with the domestic heart of a mother and wife. She is defined by her resilience and her ability to find humor in both the absurdities of the stage and the tragedies of real life. H. V. Esmond, her husband, is the central figure of the memoir—a man described as a "Great Lover" of life, possessed of a boundless sense of wonder and a profound understanding of human nature. He remains an eternal child at heart, whether he is inventing imaginary birds to delight his friends or writing plays that strip the human soul bare. Together, they form a unit defined by mutual respect and a shared commitment to the "sincerity" of their craft.

In Its Own Voice

“I remained firm; here was my chance waiting for me in the greatest city in the world, and I was determined to take it.”

The author recalls the resolve she felt as a young woman choosing the precarious life of an actress over the comforts of home.

“If only everyone would forget the unkind things they hear, and only treasure and repeat the kind ones—well, the world would be a happier place for everyone.”

Reflecting on a collection of old letters, she reveals the philosophy that guided her through the public controversies of her later life.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is an inquiry into the nature of sincerity. The author argues that both on and off the stage, the most meaningful human interactions—and the most resonant performances—are those driven by genuine feeling rather than calculation. It explores the tension between the "part" one plays for the world and the "self" that persists behind the scenes. Ultimately, it is a meditation on memory; it asks how one can possibly hold onto the ephemeral joy of a moment or the essence of a person once the play has ended, and it finds the answer in the act of storytelling itself.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the intimate, behind-the-scenes atmosphere of classic theatrical memoirs will find much to admire here. It is a warm, unhurried book that feels like an evening spent in the company of a gracious, observant friend. Because it was written in 1923, it carries the specific, slightly formal cadence of its era, yet the author’s voice is remarkably modern, characterized by a sharp, self-deprecating wit and a total absence of ego.

The book is an excellent choice for those interested in the social history of the early 20th-century stage, particularly the struggles of women in the arts and the rise of the Suffrage movement. However, it is not without its challenges; modern readers may find the frequent, untranslated references to long-forgotten plays and obscure actors occasionally dense. The author assumes a level of familiarity with the theatrical landscape of the time that may require some patience to navigate. Yet, these minor hurdles are easily cleared by the universal appeal of her prose. It is a book that stays with you for its profound kindness, its clear-eyed depiction of a creative marriage, and its gentle, persistent reminder that even the shortest, most public life is made of deep, private gold.