Matilda Charlotte Vining was born into a theatrical family in Liverpool on the 6th of November 1831, and was baptised on the 28th of November growing up in the city. She travelled the country as a child actor, making her stage debut in 1841 at age ten, and over time developed a talent for comedy. An older cousin was Fanny Vining, also an actress, who emigrated to America. In 1854, Matilda married John Wood, an English actor with whom she would have one daughter, Florence Wood, later also an actress, and the couple moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where they became involved in American Theatre. Her first role in the United States was that of Gertrude in 'A Loan of a Lover' on the 11th of September 1854. The Woods played Boston for three seasons, and for the first three months of their third season, appeared at the Wallack's Theatre in New York City. New York was already the centre of American theatre, and Mrs. John Wood came to outshine her husband. A contemporary historian of the theatre explained - " Mrs. John Wood was a very pretty woman, possessing a fine figure and an attractive face. Her style was excellent in everything she attempted. She read well, had a melodious voice, was affecting in pathetic scenes and lively in those of a cheerful character, was a graceful dancer, and, although her voice was not very strong, it was melodious and well cultivated. She possessed the artistic talent which satisfied every demand that could be made by the most rigid stickler for a high degree of merit in a theatrical artist." They both played Wallack's again in the summer of 1857 before moving to San Francisco, California. There they played Maguire's Opera House on the 18th of January 1858 and Mrs. John Wood gained renown for her roles in 'Hiawatha' or, 'Ardent Spirits and Laughing Water' and 'Love's Disguises'. While in San Francisco, in mid-1859 she parted ways with her husband, daughter, and mother. Matilda Wood remained in San Francisco for a season, then in 1859 took a job in Sacramento managing the Forrest Theatre, followed by a managing position at San Francisco's American Theatre. Later that year, she returned to New York, where she joined Dion Boucicault's troupe performing at the Winter Garden in September. John Wood moved to British Columbia where he died in 1863.
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Before 1917
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When Matilda and Boucicault clashed, she decided to tour New York independently for three seasons. On the 2nd of April 1861, ten days before the outbreak of the American Civil war Mrs. John Wood performed 'Dixie' for a concluding scene featuring a Zouave Batallion march in a production of the burlesque 'Pocahontas' in New Orleans. The song was well-received and encored seven times contributing to the popularity of the song as a Civil War anthem for the Confederacy.
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As Philippa Chester in 'The Wandering Heir' (1873)
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Mrs. Wood met Laura Keene in the summer of 1860 while playing at Keene's playhouse, which was renamed the Olympic Theatre in 1863. Matilda opened it with her own company on the 8th of October 1863 and was both manager and performer there with the Olympic changing its name to Mrs. John Wood's Olympic Theatre. The Olympic's comedic productions made the company a success, and Matlida, petite and charming, enjoyed popular and critical acclaim. She stayed there three seasons, during which she concentrated on burlesques and comedies. However, she decided to return to England and on the 30th of June 1866, she departed aged 34, and settled in London. After appearing in numerous stage roles at London's best theatres, she accepted a management position at the St. James's Theatre in 1869, where she remained until mid-1872 when she returned to the United States for the 1872–73 season, before returning to England in 1881. She next co-managed the New Royal Court Theatre from 1888 to 1891, where she also performed in several productions. Retiring to the Isle of Thanet, off Kent, after her final stage appearance in 'The Prodigal Son' at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1905, she died in 1915, at age 83 in Birchington-on Sea, Kent.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/06/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians_28.html
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