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

music.

After the conclusion of "A Regular Fix," which
followed the " opera," and in which Mr. Sothern
represented toperfection the impudent and eccentric
Mr. Hugh de Brass, the following address was
spoken by Mr. Buckstone :
" Ladies and Gentleman,—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 really having nothing very particular
to say, 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..
tions in the theatre—chairs in the dress circle—an
enlargement of the stalls, with two entrances to
thebn, and other changes would be made, all of
which have been carried out, and 1 trust for the
comlort of my many visitors; and although the ven-
tilation is not so perfect as I could wish, Lai ill hope
to remedy that defect; yet if any of you were to
become lessees of a theatre you would soon 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
12sseeship I have gone through two seasons, each of
them of five years' duration, making a coesiderebie
deduction from a man's lifetime. Last year I was
compelled to close to repair, beautify, and alter ;
this year I can advance ❑o such exquisite reason,
but, ac Sir Andrew Aguecheek says, I have no
exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason geed
enough," and when we consider the many out-
door amusements dating the hot weather—the
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 iives, and wish for an occasional
holiday, 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
!ha theatres on the coming in of hot weather that
does not i❑ any way apply to the Haymarket—
that is to say, deserted houses—a phrase used lately
in one of the morning papers. We never have de
serted houses here, thanks to your appreciation of
our exertions ; we are now awl. then certainly not so
well furnished with faces as at other times, but we
are never empty. You will always find a comfort-
able attendacce here, frequently full, and more Ire.
quently crowded to overflowing, and which has
been the fact for many weeks past, as thousands
among our patrons can prove; therefore a deserted
house, 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 Menchester ou
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 Aunt
Sally, or perhaps a merry-go-round, I hardly know
which. With respect to the future, I shell reopen
on the 12th of September next with :he comic opera
you have witnessed this evening, bat with the addi-
tion of a new farce, written by the immortal author
of " Box end Cux," and " Lend Me Five Shillings,'
to be called "Oa the Sly." A brilliant Italian
actress, speaking English to perfection, will after-
wards make her first appearance in England,
in a new drama, while my Lord Dun-
dreary (Mr. So. hero) 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 not
yet given up all hope of inducing Brother Timm 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
Bra ddon, the accomplished and wonderfully popu-
lar author of " Lady Audley'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 some 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)—bat, as I have yet a long unexpired term
of this theatre, and held under one of the best of
landladies that ever owned so important a property
as the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, and whose sym-
pathies and good wishes 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 Lunapkin, Scrub, Sir
Andrew Auguecheek, Marplot, and other old
characters, and also in as many new parts as I cats
get. And now, ladies, iu the name of the company,
I thank vou 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
.n every part.