The National Register. — London, England, 1815-07-23 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. On Thursday night this Theatre closed for the season; and rifer' the Opera of theWooduam, Mr. Fawcett read to the ati ce: CC (he following address : • 4 I, ;pt ES A ENT!. tMCI4.—I am deputed by the Pr o. rr`etnts of this Theatre to return their most heartfelt thanks for tite kind and generous patronage they have received during this season; and after Laving respectfully bade you ft,c~rzll till the 1 - 1111 of September, the day of the Theatre re opeiting. and presented the Pet formers` siocerest ackpow• dge:ents . for your ever indulgent and fostering support, it heroines my duty ter revet t to the dramatic events 'which have distinguished the season now concluding. The Proprietors, though they are thankful for the approbation which has genet ally attended the dramatic novelties pro (hued, do not hesitate to ascribe the success of the season to the unprecedented attraction of that highly-gifted daughter of Melpomene, who in her range of vaiied and arduous cha• lacters, has been adjudged by the public, worthy of succeed. ing her great predecessor, whose recent loss to the Stage was try many thought irreparable. The name of Miss O'Neill need hardly be added. Her admirable talents (aided. and snppoited by a Dramatic Company which has the honour-to stand favourable in y•ur estimation have proved so produc tive, that although the receipts on the nights Miss O'Neill did rn t perfollll, have been considerably lessened, vet the . Avlinle season has been suflViently advantageous to enable the Proprietots to satisfy their annual heavy demands, the weight cf which seemed likely to overwhelm th(m. In every boon the Plow ietors have hitherto solicited or re• ceived frcin the liberality of the public, they have not been infinenced 1)% avarice—no ! their objects have been to be enabjed to furoisl, aereFtable entertainments for their en lightenedrpatrous, and also to discharge those pecuniaty obli gations which the visitation . of misfortunes has brought upon them. They beg to put in their claim for a share of tint feeling so dear to every respectable breast, the pride and comfort of able to pay every man his own. These imperions circumstances can only he met by your accordingto them a boon, a,s trifling to the individual as it is important to the welfare of the Stage in general. It Nrill be a fresh stimult.t e ns. p th eir exertions for your accommodation and entertainment, to which end their whole thoughts, time, and attention, will be incessantly occupied. It is, Ladies and tlentlemen, only to grant, on the first price of admission to that eligible situation the Pit, the small addi!ion of sixpence.'. Upon Mr. Fawcetes announcement of the requisition fm. an additim.al pi ice of admis::ion to the Pit, the hisses were t ra and universal. Several voices calied up-n Mr. Faw “•tt ; but he retired from the stagt., and Mr. Evans addressed 11:e audience from the boxes, as well as we conld c o llect, in substance as follows: " LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—In rising to submit to ur consideration a few temarks on the address which has just been delivered, I beg leave to state briefly the motives which induced nie, the other evening, to appear this busi ness. I assure ou that 1 was not influenced by the re motest desire of cbtrodiog myself upon public attention. I should have been Clad, indeed, if some other individual had undo rt.,!;en the task ; but as no one presented himself, owing probably to the circumstance that the pubic were taken by Sul wise, I thought it my duty to object to the proposal. For, however humbly I may estimate myself, my feelings would reetuach me if I pet miitted any sense of my humility to restrain me from resisting any imposition upon that pub lic, of whom I am a member. " With the same views I now take leave to address this audience. Towards the Proprietors and Managers of this Theatre I have no personal objection whatever; but a regard for the interest of the public, and a determination to pre serve my own consistency, render it necessary for me to re peat the opinion which I lately urged at the other Theatre, and to declare, that that opinion has been in no degree al tered or affected by any thing which I have since heard. The conduct of the Managers of Drury-lane Theatre, in suf fering the endeavour of the orchestra to stifle my voice, was most unfair and reprehensible. It is creditable to the Ma nagers of this Theatre that no such interruption is attempted on the present occasion, and as the people can wish for no thing more than justice, that their wish will be gratified— that if my arguments should prove correct, the claim which I prefer on the.part of the public will not be slighted, either through the volatility of pride or the arrogance of power. have heard that some persons were sent into Drury-lane Theatre with free admissions, in order to carry the point for the Proprietors; and this I assert was a most unwarrantable proceeding. I.ri ancient times the business of Theatres was not so conducted. On the contrary, among the old Romans, inspectors were appointed, to ascertain whether any persons were hired to applaud, in order that if such hirelings were. discovered. they. should be consigned to punishment and dis grace—so anxious were that great people•to prevent undue influence or .ranfair practices in dramatic concerns —Would that a similar jealousy prevailed in this great country ! " Ladies and Gentlemen—The Proprietors request your consent to the addition of 6d. to the Pit, which would be a tax upon those who are, perhaps, the greatest amateurs, and generally considered the best connoisseurs of the drama, which would he a tax indeed upon the middle orders of the people, who, God knows, under existing circumstances, can ill afford it. And what are the pretences assigned for this advance ? In 1809, the Proprietors of this Theatre had to plead the loss of a'Theatre destroyed, and the expence of a Theatre erected. For this loss and expence they were amply remunerated by An advance - upon the boxes, which advance was arranged•by a party of persons who profsscd to act for the people with the principal Manager of this Theatre, upon the understanding that no further advance would be acquired. Mr. Clifford with a few others acted for the people, Mr. Rem hie for this Theatre; and would that I could repel the re. presentations which have been ever since afloat, that on that occasion the public interest was compromised. The Mana gers, however, had in that instance, in addition to what I have already stated, to plead the depreciation of our cur rency, and the enhancement of prices: but now, thanks to the late glorious events, the depreciation of our currency can no longer be stated,' and the fall of prices must naturally be expected from the approaching peace; but, in truth, what advance of prices can our Managers at present seriously al lege. Miss O'Neill, to whose extraordinary merit lam most ready to subscribe, is stated in the Managers Address to have enabled the Proprietors fully to meet their annual expences. Mr. Kean. at the other Theatre, has been equally successful.. Yet the salary of Miss O'Neill for an entire week, is equal only to half the sum formerly paid to Mrs. Siddons for a sin gle night, and the salary of Mr. Kean bears the same propor tion to the sum not long since paid to Mr. Kemble at this Theatre. Mrs. Jordan, too, who was also expensively paid-, is no longer connected with either of the Theatres.—.. Whence then the apology for this extra demand If the Theatres had full houses, it cannot he pretended that they would not be secure of ample remuneration at even DRd MA TI C REGISTER. COVENT.GA EDEN THEATRE. I;LY 23. n that pub- address this ;ers of this tut a regard Lion to pre.. ,r me to re- ^r Theatre, degree al- ince heard. ttre, suf- voice, was to the Ma- s attempted rich for no- gratified— laim which Ited, either ' power. .1 Drury-lane to point for varrantable heatres was Id Romans, fly persons elings were. rut and dis- rent undue s —Would try quest your would be a ateurs, and the drama, rders of the fiances, can ied for this ratre had to pence of a were amply ch advance- to act for eatre, upon )e required. , Mr. Rem- pel the re. hat on that The Mana- ra to what I 47t