The Press. — London, England, 1853-11-12 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL GREEN-ROOM. The following circular was issued from Downing-street last week :—" The performers engaged for the various r,;ics of Cabinet Ministers for the ensuing season will be good enough to assemble in the greenroom, I►owning•street, on Tuesday, the ►+th inst., at two p.m. precisely.—./. Itsiiell, State Manager." ON Text:DAY afternoon the artists who received this intimation attended with laudable punctuality, the only exception being in the case of the gentleman at present engaged, somewhat out of his line, for domestic drama, who arrived late. The object of the meeting was the distribu tion of some of the principal parts which the performers in question have undertaken to sustain in the Westminster Plays for the approach ing season. We regret to state that the company did not appear in the highest spirits ; and Mrs. Aberdeen, the old lady par excellence of the political stage, was going about maundering drearily about some engagement at an East-end theatre, of which she had just heard, and which for some reason caused the poor old soul great annoyance. She was heard to mutter that her friend the manager of a Northern circuit had been cruelly used. Mr. lterissu. briefly addressed the company, and said that the day of opening was not yet fixed, but it would probably be earlier than was contemplated ; but he advised that every one should at once begin to study, in order to come well prepared, as audiences had become very critical of bite, and disinclined to accept excuses. Mr. PALM KasTox asked what it was intended to open ith ? Mr. ItussEt.i. maid that an " occasional " piece, founded on an Oriental spectacle, would probably be the earliest novelty, us there had been a great many demands for it. But Mr. Palmerston would have no part in this: the principal characters would be sustained by himself, Mr. Clarendon, and Mrs. Aberdeen. Mr. Pm.mt:rtoroN said that if it were damned ho should be happy to come forward and apologise: they knew what he could do in this line. Mr. Russxu. said that bygones had better be bygones. Another farce, called The Jeer Gies Stoekinys ; or, The Fleet in Greece, had not been any great hit. But to business. Supposing the Oriental affair went off well, they need not be in any great hurry with the next piece. But they had so solemnly pledged themselves to the produc tion of The Constitution, with New Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations, that he feared there was no escape. Ile admitted that the revival was ill-timed, but there was no alternative. It would never do to let an opposition management produce the piece. Therefore it had been determined to make this the trump card of the season. The piece had been in a great measure rewritten, the part of Finality had been cut out, and an excellent part of a Schoolmaster put in. Mr. 1 / AI.M ERSTON : Clarendon plays the Schoolmaster, I suppose? Mr. ltuston.t.: Why so, sir? Mr. PALMERSTON : Because ho is so fond of Birch. Mr. llussm.t. (sarcastically) : If you were half as funny on the stage its on; you would be almost a good actor. Besides this, there were other alterations. Mr. Nlolesworth had been very anxious to intro duce a feature which had succeeded at Madame Vestris' theatre and elsewhere. Mr. MOLVIWORTII : Yes ;—that a voice, pretending to be that of the Public, should speak from a Box. Mr. BURRELL: But there were reasons against this. The respect able part of the audience disliked such things as quackery ; and, at any rate, they would not risk it at present.. But there would be some capital claptraps about electioneering abuses, and a live baby would be introduced and kissed, as an illustration of canvassing. Mr. PALMERSTON : Mrs. Aberdeen to carry it, of course, in her favourite character of Old Nurse. But who's to be baby? Mr. Remit:Lt. : Argyll is the noisiest young ono we have among us. To be sure ho doesn't exactly hide his talents in a napkin. Well, then, we hope this will be a grand go, and carry us to the cud of the season. Mr. GLAtuvross But supposing—l only say supposing ; for I don't know anything of the piece as it now stands—the eheral de bataille breaks down, what do you mean to back it up with? You know, Mr. Russell, you tried a piece on the same subject, and it was a disgraceful failure. Now, I tell you fairly that. I cannot do, another season. what I did last year. 1 can't afford it ; and I have duties which cannot be given up. Mr. Wool) : Wo must all put our shoulders to the wheel. Mr. GLADSTONE : We were all putting all our shoulders to the wheels for the last mouth of the season, and the result was the row we had, SATURDAY, at our own doors, with the cabs. If the great piece does not go, I should say, shut up. Mr. Russtu.: T did not mean to say anything about it ; but I'll tell yon a secret. The piece shall go. I mean to produce it for my own benefit, and to speak an address, reminding the town of the number of years I have worked before them, of the great sensation I made with my tragi-comedy, Reform, and of the splendid way I hare at times supported the character of a Papist and of a Jew; and I shall ask a generous British audience to let the sunshine of their smiles fall upon the last effirrt of a devoted veteran, and kindle around his sinking head the incandescent halo of their irradiating beneficence. You know the business. (Applause.) Mr. GRAHAM : I expected that dodge. It's very good—very good indeed. And what ant I to have ? I wish you'd let Palmy and me change parts. Do you mind, Palmerston? Mr. PALMERstoN : No. But it's hardly worth your while, Graham. There is only your favourite old bit;of going to the Post-office and getting somebody else's letters and opening them. I should be glad to give my part up. I want to play foreign characters. Mr. Itemsm. : No, no ; you are too noisy in those. Yon are very well placed as you are. Well, now, it seems that there is a deficiency in female interest in our principal pieces. This will not do. The women have saved us too often to be forgotten. We must have some thing fin• them. Graham has been turning his cruise aboard ship to account, and has sent in a little piece which I think will be generally liked : it is called The Cat, and is a sort of sequel to that thing of Fitzroy's, Aggravated Amman*. This is entirely for the women, and is safe. But there is another thing, about which I ant not so sure, a notion of Molesworth's, called Woman's Vote. Ile wants it worked into The Constitution. I fear it will not do; but we shall see. We shall put you up, Gladstone, in the New Way to Pay Old Debts, in April. Mr. GLA DSTONE I don't believe it brought much money this year. Mr. Bussxm : No, it did not do much for the Treasury, but it was a good deal talked about—City men came, if only to abuse it—and I think the juggling business, and where you got into the stocks, was all very clever. Wo shall do that, with The Camp at Chobham, which Sidney Herbert must support, and we must revive The British Fleet for Graham. As for Cranworth—(yreat laughter)--you may laugh, but he makes up capitally, and his wig is immense. Cranny, don't you be put down a crack. Bothell is writing something for you : he says, in his goodnatured way, that he fears it is above your capabilities, but you shall be tried again, though you did break down in The Convict, and give Palmy the trouble of understudying the part. I don't know, ladies and gentlemen, that I have much morn to say. Mrs. ABERDEEN : I have. In this part of Twaddle, in the Oriental piece, lam made to say, " You are a bear, sir, and not fit for ladies society. I can't abear a. bear; which I can't." Now, I shall not say that o please the author, or anybody. Mr. RUSBELL : But why not, Abby dear? I don't see anything in that. It's all single meaning; no Dublin thunder, as Power used to sw. Mrs. ABERDEEN : I have my own reasons, sir, and the lines must be cut out. I think you might respect the sorrows of an elderly female. ( Weeps.) Mr. RVSSELL : 0, I'm sure we would not annoy you, my dear. Come, come ! There—out they go. What shall we put in for a change? Pain, you're quick at botching a hole; suggest something. Mr. PALMERSTON: Lees look. 0, say, say, "Sir, get out ! I'd as soon talk to old Nick." Mrs. ABERDEEN: That, sir, is even more objectionable; and you arc an unfeeling monster, that's what you are. Mr. CLARENDON : I have it. Say, "Be off, sir, or I'll send the housemaid after you with her Turk's-head broom." _ _ Mrs. ABERDEEN (in a rage): You're all in a conspiracy to insult a poor lone old woman—and—there—there—( tears up part)—there goes your piece for my share in it ! (Throws it at them.) Mr. licssEm. (soothingly): Don't—don't—there's a good old soul ! Why, you arc always saying that any sort of peace is dear to you ; how can you be so violent? There, the lines shall be left out, and you shall have nothing to say, which is just what people will like. There, now go home quietly, that's at good creature. Mrs. ABERDEEN ( going out sorrowfully, and it la Mr. Rohm.): I wish my friend .Mr. Nicholas was here. Ile would not see me put upon. Mr. RussELl.: Everybody called for Thursday, at two. Mr. GLADSTONE : But Argyll and I arc going to Windsor for the day. Let us oft Mr. Ill:mama. : Then you'll come up from Windsor. There are plenty of trains. I'll fine you if you don't. (Aside.) I say—don't set a bad example to the dull ones, because you happen to be a quick study. If you knew what a funk lam in about thent you wouldn't. As it is, we are in no end of a mess; but don't let us make matters worse. (Aloud.) Once more, everybody called for Thursday, at two. THE PRESS. .r.~"^" V