The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-11 00:00:00

THE THEATRICAL MONOPOLY.

At the Westminster Police Court yerfforday,
Kr. Alfred Henry Fowler, the nominal proprietor of the
Repot Maxie Hall, Regent-etreet, Westminster, appeared
to • seminal@ charging him with performiag • stage play at
the said pia* the same not being duly housed foe theaki-
ad peeformsaam by the Lord Chamberlain.
Tine prosecatioa was at the hatitutioa of the Immo of
Her Majany's, Drury-lane, the Lyceum, the Haymarket,
lady's, the Adelphi, sad the Olympic Theater, who were
repreessaMr. Roberta, sole:nor. Mr. Dower, soli.
titer. • oa behalf of the &luau&
Mr. is opening the can, stated that this
was • prosecution under the 6th sad 7th Victoria.
sap 68, see. 2, which imposed • penalty of 901.
per day far every peeformuce. The allegation is
this mu was that the deludes& did, as the day
the 97th of Febrauy, Freeform, or cause to
eared,
a burlesque =Wed Maseppa. He would
witnesses who would prove the performuce, sad then
should sib fee his worship's judgmeat with such • reason-
able peachy es he should think St. There bad been a gnat
deal said about theatrical monopoly, and the proprietors of
music-hails bad raised it, but thn was • pout eat of parka-
meat. It It was harsh die legislature bad made it, and let
the leture alter it if it pleased. It was cot for him to
my whia It was so as not, but he appeared to prosecute
wader the statute. His cheats were the lessees of the me.
impolite* theatres. They bed largo sums to pay for their
1110410111; they bad to pay heavy fees to the Lord Chem-
bevlain for each play, and °moldered that their right. were
being encroached upon by pawn who bad so inch fens to
pay. He did cot ennead to say that them was any them
wool esoaopoly, but if there was, let it be altered by all
assns. He had held out the olive breach to Mr. Draper,
sad advised him to plead guilty, as only a nominal penalty
would be asked for ; but the latter had 'iodised, and Mped
to @noosed. He should proceed at once to prove that a play
was performed, sad lir. Fowler would, if be could, prove
that he had • license from the Lead Chamberlain so to do.
Hoary Field, 51, Oamberbuid-street, Pimlico, who add
be was a general private bomber," " the original private
inquirer of 20 years' expense°, in the police," but sot " the
eelebrated Mr. C. Y. Field," gave as aocouat of the per-
ilermaseas ; sad Mr. Charles Beach, an author, living at 11,
Cembidaadotrest, with Field, proved acoompaziyiag Field,
sad mid hie deseriptioa was aanusta.
Mr. William Bodhas Dune, of Na. 40, Weymouth-
attest, III111ADO: of plays to the Lord Chamberlain. said he
bad baud the endow@ of thaw last two wikomes, sad
from their statements he certainly called this • stage play.
There appeared to be the plot of Mazeppa, and whether
mime or burlesque, there was, he mineidared, en difference
is point of law. It costelned the hogredients of the plot ;
be had no hesitation io laying that it was a stage perform.
anon The lady purported to be the Princess Maks, the
daughter of the Governor of Poland.
Cromexamined—lt is customary to call • performance
with more than two people a play. Two o'Clock in tee
Morning is a dramatics performance, but it might be
performed in • drawing - room without misery.
In the ow of a comic duet like "The Cousins, or
the Maio Lamoa," it would be different, se there ts no
dramatic plot and no dramatic Blasi= ; there would be no
change of scene required either. Them are the teen ; but
' it is difficult to sat up a eteadard to go by, as the circum-
stances in some instances might materially alter the case.
I should not call • comic duet • play, although it might
be iaterspersed with spoken words ; but of coune, on
seeing it I should judge of it by its own main. Moan
not amidst • change of air oftetituted • play ; bat Box
and Cox I °udder a stage play, although there requires
no change of scene. There are, however, several pieces
which could be performed without risk in • place of public
resort, which would be considered play. if performed in a
licensed house. it change of dress would sot necesearily
sonetitate a dramatic illusion, because many a public
14ager changed a hat or coat, or some other modification of
dress takes place, hat as I have before stated, it is almost
impaesible to lay down a rule.
By Mr. Belie -Mr. and Mrs. German Reed's performance
is allowed by their theatrical license, and that is the only
performance of the sort Boomed. Mr. Wording is not now
Homed, bat he was some years ego. I remember Charles
Mathews', senior, "At Home," bat it was ie a licensed
theatre. I have seen the documents at our office. The
license fee is about four picots • year, end two guineas for
every sew pion. It would be difficult for the Regent to
get • license, as the Lord Chamberlain had determined not
to grant them to places when men assembled to smoke and
drink, as at music-balls. A gnat number had applied, and
been refused on that account only.
Mr. Belie said that the sole questios before him was, if
this were • dramatic entertainment, and attar the *video,'
which was not disputed, there was not the smallest doubt
that it was. Mr. Roberts had not pressed for a heavy
penalty, and he should merely inflict • nominal floe, in order
to express his opinion that it was contrary to the statute.
The defendant was then convicted in the penalty of Ia and
meta.

Tam OXFORD AND CANTZUBI7RY HALL COMPANY I
(Liadted).—Tbe following is the first half yearly report of 1
the directory of Ole company :—" The directors liars much I
pleurure in sulasiting to the shareholders this, their first
WI-yearly report, together with • Matement of aeons* 1
made up to February 84, and which have beau carefully
examined arid approved by the auditors. On reference to
the Waste sheet it will be seer that there have been 6,610';
thane homed, epos whisk 19,3901. have bleu paid ; 3/. per I
abase only having hem celled. It will also be seen that of j
the 80,000/. agreed upon for the parchue of the leans, fur- ;
situ», Saturn, stock, &0., there female, • balance of
57,900 L still to be paid. The profit and lam account
will show that after baking fete aseaderetio• the gross
rearipte tar admissions. he., the profit made es wan of re-
freshmen, wines off the exposer of the half.year, and
waling ea elieweece ter sundry accounts uspaid. that there
I remain • balsam of 4,0641.95. 9d. set meat for roprn-
I ties. From this balsam the directors recommewd that •
I &ridged at the zone of 10 per met. per mama, with einem'
1 el 2a. psr slam sharld be paid to the shareholders (fres of
blame-tax), leaving • sewn I. be marled ferward. Your
damn= ham 81101.11 gratification in showing so mareedul
1 sum* sad they arediallsealy twlime thatowith a amiliswies
it sitsvial samesernmit sad ecasceny of exposilitere, the
wag half-yrewly statemeat will show Irma a mesh Leger
mama* of peelit."