The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-23 00:00:00

LONDON,

ADELPHI THEATRE
MADAME CELESTE'S BENEFIT.
Crowded houses have for many a year been the
order of the night at the Adelphi Theatre, but last
evening the dimensions of the building proved far
too restricted for the eager throng who pressed to
pay the homage of admiration and respect to the
charming manageress on the occasion of her benefit
and last appearance for the season. The pieces
chosen for the occasion were the recently produced
drama of The Queen's Secret, Flying Colours, and
the second act of the immortal Green Bushes. To
notice in detail the admirable performance of Celeste
in her several parts would be but "gilding the re-
fined gold," suffice it to say that she never looked or
acted better. The enthusiasm with which she was
greeted was what might be expected from the visitors
of a theatre with which her connexion has long been
so intimate and brilliant, and where her absence will
be keenly felt during her visit to the shores of the
New World. We feel convinced that there is not
an individual who participated in the furore of
last night but entertains a genuine sentiment
of anxious hope for her safety and success in her
distant trip, or would hail her return with an equal
fervour to the boards she so incomparably adorns.
The gifted beneficiare surpassed herself on the oc-
casion ; she seemed resolved to more than merit the
plaudits that were so liberally and rapturously be-
stowed on every point in her varied performances.
The entertainments were admirably selected to elicit
her powers. There was the deep pathos of the
" Brother of the King of France," condemned to
eternal misery, to forfeit all that renders life dear, on
account of his high birth—his only offence—to have
even his very features for ever sealed to his fellow-
men, by the hideous " iron mask," which was never
more to be removed. There was also the intense
comicality of her efforts as Helen de Montereau—to
assume the part of the dashing captain, Sans Souci,
while the gallant officer was masquerading as the
fugitive boarder of the convent. It is almost
unnecessary to say that the audience were kept
in an incessant scream while "crossing the frontier,"
and that each and every one of their retainers came off
with " flying colours" on the occasion. The second
act of The Green Bushes, in which Celeste had ac-
quired an European reputation by her graceful acting
of the ardent-loving, but unhappily jealous and re-
vengeful Indian girl, concluded the entertainments.
It would be a mockery to speak of that which is fami-
liar to every playgoer who has ever visited the Bri-
tish metropolis. There is, however, a rich treat for
our Transatlantic brethren, for what must be the de-
light of a person capable of appreciating the perfec-
tion of melodrame. Xerxes offered a reward for the
invention of a new pleasure to gratify his " jaded"
tastes. The Americans will certainly have the ad-
vantage of the mighty monarch, for they can have a
rich enjoyment utterly unknown before at a very
moderate price. It is but justice to say that the
talented lady was; most ably seconded ; that
Webster, Paul Bedford, Honey, Miss Woolgar, and
Kathleen Fitzwilliam, spared no exertions to do
honour to their departing friend. The most interest-
ing part of the evening was, however, the farewell
address of Madame Celeste, which was delivered with
the deepest feeling in the following words :
" Ladies and Gentlemen—my good, kind, and indul-
gent patrons, it is with feelings of gratitude beyond
my powers of expression that I appear before you, to
bid you, for a time, adieu. To this country—so gene-
rous in its sympathies for the stranger, wherever born
—I owe my present proud position; for you gave a
value by your golden opinions to that little talent my
warm-hearted American friends discovered and encou-
raged. My direction of this theatre, through the
liberality of the manager and the affectionate zeal of a
talented company, has been a labour of love; and if you
approve—as the crowded houses nightly evidence—l
feel lam repaid beyond my deserts. No occasion ought
I to omit, especially such a one as this, with their flat-
tering eulogiums, newly locked in my memory, to thank
the press collectively and individually; without them
the actors' calling would cease to be an art. Nothing,
ladies and gentlemen, would take me from you but a
duty of gratitude I hold sacred to those in the New
World, who first took me by the hand, and I should not
think I had done that duty if I did not visit them again
and take a long and lasting leave.
" Ladies and gentlemen, my heart is too full to say
more than, with all my heart I thank you—with all my
heart I bid you adieu—et Dieu vous binisse."
At the conclusion wreaths of laurels and roses, and
rich bouquets, were showered upon the fair lady, who
could scarcely restrain her emotions at bidding a long
farewell to the familiar faces with which she was
surrounded. A still more pleasing compliment was
paid to the fair artiste after the departure of the au-
dience, when Paul Bedford, in the name of the com-
pany, who had for eight years been under her ma-
nagement, and conduced to the unceasing triumphs of
the Adelphi during that period, presented a very valu-
able bracelet as a testimonial of the high sense enter-
tained not only of her judgment and efficiency, but of
her kindliness and amiability of disposition.