The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-20 00:00:00

Haymarket Theatre.

Last evening closed the brilliant season of the
" little Theatre in the Haymarket," the occasion
being most appropriately the benefit of the talented
author, actor, and lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
The performances commenced with " Three Weeks
after Marriage ;" then was repeated, for the fortieth
time, " Brother Sam," and then the new operetta,
" The Miller's Daughter," together with the annual
address of Mr. Buckstone, which was as follows :
" Ladies and gentlemen,—As I appear beforo you this
evening to say a few words at parting, according to custom,
I do not think I can commence better than by attempting
to parody some part of the message lately delivered to the
Imperial Parliament at its dissolution. Therefore, ladies
and gentlemen, allow me to thank you heartily for the zeal
and assiduity with which you have attended here nightly
during the season now being brought to a close. I also beg
to convey to you my warm acknowledgments for the libe-
ral supplies which you have voluntarily given towards the
permanent upholding of this dramatic government, and to
assure you that my attention will continue to be directed
to the production of such novelties as may be calculated
to place on a sound footing the commercial prosperity
of this establishment ; but before I release you from
further attendance hero for a time, I shall proceed
to make a few remarks on the position of this honour-
able house, and allow you to have a peep into our futurity.
It is an unusual fact in theatrical history, that this
theatre has known but two managers for nearly thirty
years, and those managers have been Mr. 'Webster and
myself. Mr. -Webster held the reins hero for sixteen
years, while I, his successor, have been driving the same
trade for thirteen, and may in all probability, life and
health permitting, even exceed Mr. Webster's term.
Some detractors have said that the long career of pros-
perity which this theatre has enjoyed is but a proof of
the excellence of the property ; I maintain it to be the
excellence of the management; perhaps a combination of
both qualities may bring us to the right conclusion. Still,
ladies and gentlemen, amanager'slife is one of groat fluctua-
tion, and 'like the ship in constant motion, sometimes high
and sometimes low.' We often hear of good houses and bad
houses, but if we can believe an account I once met with in
an old magazine, where it is stated that oven in the high
1 and palmy days of the drama, that is to say, in the days of
Garrick, that one night, although he and Mrs. Cibber per-
formed in the same play, the entire cash receipts amounted
to only £3 15s. 6d. What would some of our London ma-
nagers of the present day say to a return like that ? If we
are not so high and palmy, we area little more substan-
tial in our figures. Of course, in a few days, ladies and
gentlemen, you will most of you be off and away—over the
sea, or to the coasts of our island, and which at this time
of the year we all know is the thing to do—but I trust,
wherever you may wander, you will return by the end of '
September, as we 'shall reopen hero on Monday, the 25th
of that month, when 1 hope to see as many of you here as
can get back to London, more particularly as Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Mathews will then reappear on these time-hon-
oured boards, where they always have been so warmly
welcomed. A new comedy, by Mr. Leicester Buckingham,
is in preparation for them and for the company ; Mr.
Oxenford will also have a comedy ready, and other novel-
ties will be produced, while at Christmas, ladies and gen-
tlemen, Mr. Sothern will again make his bow. Brother
Sam' will again be in the ascendant, as his bril-
liant career this season has only been suspended
by engagements entered into some time since by Mr.
Sothern and myself. A Christmas piece will be produced,
and written by one whose name will be a sufficient
guarantee that we shall be spared the customary slang of
burlesques, and be quite independent of nigger breakdowns.
As the llaymarket is known to be the home of English
comedy, or, in other words, the English comedy theatre, I
have frequently been asked why we do not oftener produce
the legitimate drama. My answer to that question is—l
have often produced it ; for during my occupation I have
played "The School for Scandal' and the 'ltivals'•about 200
times. 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'As You Like It,'
and Twelfth Night,' about 150 times. ' The Beaux Stra-
tagem,' She Stoops to Conquer,' "rho Busy Body,' The
Road to Ruin,' and many other standard plays, as often ;
but it is very clear we cannot always be acting only the
standard comedies, as the vitality of a management must
always depend on the production of novelty ; besides, ' My
Lord Dundreary,' and his `Brother Sam' have occupied
those boards for about three years, while the public, as you
well know, has thronged to those performances ; and
though I am at all times delighted to give the legitimate
drama whenever I can, you must recollect—
" The drama's laws the drama's patrons give,
And those who live to please must please to live.'
Before I bid you adieu, ladies and gentlemen, I think it but
right-to announce to you that, although 1 continue to be
the only responsible lessee of this theatre, Mr. Walter
Montgomery will occupy it for four or five weeks, and be
my warming-pan—presenting to you many carefully-se-
lected performers, and to whom I wish every success. And
now, ladies and gentlemen, in the name of my excellent
company, and which lam proud to call The Haymarket
company,' and in my own name, I thank you for another
brilliant season, and until the 25th of September next, re-
spectfully bid you farewell."
The audience was one of the largest of the season,
and the hearty and enthusiastic manner in which
the above address was received testified in the
strongest manner the high regard in which Mr.
Buckstone is held by his numberless friends and
patrons.