The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-07 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

The season terminated last night with the benefit
of Mr. Buckstcn?, who revived for the occasion the
old-fashioned "opera' of the' Castle of Audalusia,"
a work that has lain on the shelf for 30 years, but
is still remembered by elderly playgoers. Tylpen.s.
Buckstono and Compton made the comic parts us
amusing as possible, though generally the vocal
force was insuffluient for the due exeoution of the
music.

After the conclusion of "A Regular Fix," which
followed the "opera," and in which Mr. Sothern
represented toperfection the impudent and tccentric
Mr. Hugh de Bras 9, the following address was
spoken by Mr. Buckstone

"Ladies and Gentlemen,—As I have promised in
my programme of this night's performances to ad-
dress a few words to you, according to custom on
these occasions, I must do my best to fulfil that
promise; but, as I find myself, in my advertised
position, of realty having nothing very particular
to stay, I can only refer to the past, and
speak a little respecting the future to make
up the required b nefit address. When I
closed last July, I announced that certain alters.
00119 in the theatre—chairs in the dress circle—an
enlargement of the stalls, with two entrances to
them, and other changes would be made, all of
which have been carried out, and I trust for the
comfort of my many visitors; and although the ven-
tilation is not so perfect as I could wish, lathl hope
to remedy that defect; yet if any of you were to
become lessees of a theatre you would anon discover
that a manager does not like to see his house too
much ventilated, I have been asked my reasons
for closing while such great success still attends
this theatre, especially when it is known that in my
lesseeship I have gone through two seasons, each of
them of five years' duration, making a considerable
deduction from a man's lifetime. Lest year I was
compelled to close to repair, beautify, and alter;
this year I can advance no such exquisite reason,
but, as Sir Andrew Agnecheek says, I have no
exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason good
enough," and when we consider the many out-
door amusements during the hot weather---tile
many new railways now taking the public in the
summer evenings into the country, together with a
certain indolence natural to those who'have worked
very hard all their lives, ana wish for an occasional
noliday, however brief, you cannot wonder that we
want a short respite from our labours, although
there is one reason that has been given for closing
he theatres on the coming in of hot weather that
does not in any way apply to the Haymarket—
that is to say, deserted houses—a phrase ueed lately
in one of the morning papers. We never have de-
serted houses here, thanks to your appreciation of
our exertions; we are mew and the❑ certainly not so
well furnished with faces as at other times, but we
are never empty. You will always fiad a comfort-
able attendance here, frequently full, and more free
quently crowded to oveefiensiug, and which has
been the fact for many weeks past, as thousands
among our patrons can prove; therefore a deserted
!souse, caused by the hot weather, is not among our
reasons for shutting up shop. But as regards this
desired holiday, the company here will have but
one of four days, as they appear at Manchester on
Monday next, and afterwards at Bradford and
Leeds, and other places during our nine weeks' va
cation. As for myself, I intend to take about three
weeks' relaxation—though it will not be all holi-
day for me—because at the next Dramatic College
fete, at the Crystal Palace, you will- find me very
energetic and very hot, superintending an,Anut
Sally, or perhaps a merry-go.round, I hardly know,
which. With respect to the future, I shall reopen
en the 12th of September next with the comic opera
you have witnessed this evening, bat with the addi-
tion of a new farce, written by the immortal author
of "Box and Cox," and " Lend Me Five Shillings,'
to be called "On the Sly." A brilliant Italia❑
actress, speaking English to perfection, will after-
wards mike her first appearance in England,
in a new drama, while my Lord Dun-
dreary (Mr. Sothern) will again come be-
fore you at Christmas, and during his en-
gagement a sensation comedy will be produced,
written by Mr Watts Phillips; and we have cot
yet given up ail hope of inducing Brother Tam to
come from America, and appear during the next
London season. You will also be glad to hear
that I am promised the first dramatic work of Miss
Breddon, the accomplished and wonderfully popu-
lar author of " Lady Audtey's Secret ;" with such
materiel I think you will acknowledge that I have
secured a continuance of that success which has
never yet deserted the Haymarket Theatre. A little
while ago, ladies and gentlemen, I had come idea of
retiring from public life, thinking I had been quite
long enough before you, and dreading to be looked
upon as the ' feeble veteran lingering on the stage'
;---(that is not the exact quotation, bat it is near
enough)—bet, as I have yet a iong unexpired term
of this theatre, and held under one of the best of
landladies that over wined so important a property
as the Theatre lojeti, Haymarket, and whose sym-
pathies and good wisnes I am never without, and
not yet feeling any symptoms of feebleness, and at
all times meeting with every encouragement from
you, I intend, health and life permitting, to go on
to the end of my term, and perhaps longer than
that; therefore, I still hope to appear occasionally
before you as Bob Acres, Tony Lumpkie, Scrub, Sir
Andrew Auguecheek, Alarplot, and other old
characters, end also in as many new parts as I can
get. And now, ladies, in the name of the company,
I thank you for all your favours, individually I
thank you for this brilliant termination to a most
successful season, and until September next respect-
fully bid you farewell."
At the end of the above a shower of bouquets
was flung by the audience, who crowded the house
in every part.

Exeter Hall.—The National Choral Society.

Mr. G. W. Martin last evening brought his fourth
season to a highly successful conclusion by the per-
formance of the magnificent oratorio " Judas Mee-
t:al:eau." The vocalisis were Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr.
Santley, Madame Parepa, and Miss Palmer, and
certainly never has the brilliant composition been
more efficiently given. The first encore was the
great chorus, "Oh, Father!" and this was suc-
ceeded by another one, by Mr. Santley, for his
splendid rendering of the recitation and air, "Arm,
arm, ye brave." We sum up our praise in one word
by saying it was unsurpassable. Madame Parepa
accured;a similar honour for," From mighty kings,'
and Mr. Sims Reeves as usual electrified the im-
mense audience by his singing •' Sound an alarm."
We doubt whether such loud, enthusiastic, and uni-
versal applause over on any former occasion followed
the wonderful musical eiforti—certainly it has never
been exceeded. To refrain from complying with the
general demand for its repetition would have been
useless, so, without the slightest hesitation, the
great English tenor again gratified the delighted
audience, and, if it be possible, with increased effect.
The whole performance was a great success, and we
therefore take our leave of the National Choral
Society for the present with our most ardent wishes
for its future prosperity:

Advices from Berne state that the Federal Go-
vernment of Switzerland is employing every effort to obtain
the prompt ratification of the treaty of commerce with
France, which was signed on the 30th ult. This formality
is effected by the Legislative Chambers, but the Federal
Council not being yet prepared to present the treaty itself,
with the explanatory report, has determined to inform the
Chamber of the conclusion of the treaty, and to ask that
assembly to appoint a committee beforehand, in order to be
ready to commence the business as soon as the doluments
shall arrive. The affair will therefore probably be brought
folfaci (twin the present Need=