The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-05 00:00:00

HAY3L IRKET THEATRE.

Mr. Buckstone, whose popularity deservedly in-
creases every year, took his annual benefit last night,
and revived George Colman the younger's little-
known comedy, " Who Wants a Guinea ?" This
piece was first produced at Covent Garden Theatre,
April 18, 1805, with a very strong caste, which in-
cluded Lewis, Simmons, Munden, Emery, Fawcett,
two Kembles, Mrs. Gibbs, and Mrs. Mhttocks. The
comedy is stagey and old-fashioned in construction,
the characters are wooden, and Solomon Gundy—
originally represented by Fawcett, but now per-
formed by Mr.Buckstonevvith rich, unctuous humour
—is only a Mrs. Malaprop in knee breeches. It will
be repeated to-night and to-morrow night, but no
devotion to the 'antiquarian drama can give it a
long existence. Tho " Wild Goose" is a treasure
compared with it.

In the course of the evening Mr. Buckstone came
in front of the curtain, and spoke as follows :
"Ladies and Gentlemen—l would have avoided troubling
you with an address this evening, as it is not the last night
of our season, but having been persuaded that a few,words
from me on the occasion of my benefit were expected, and
that their omission would cause some disappointment, in-
deed some falling off in the receipts —of course you under-
stand that to mean the money taken at the doors—l have
listened to the voice of the charmer, and proceed to say
something, or nothing, as you may please to interpret the
matter of my address. Last year, ladies and gentlemen, at
the close of the season, I visited with my popular company
the good city of Manchester, where at the Theatre Royal
there we appeared for more than six weeks, with a success
that, to say the least of it, was truly wonderful; and al-
though there was a groat counter attraction at the Free
Trade Hall, presided over by Mr. John Bright, M.P., with
processions by day and torch light processions by night, in
the cause of reform, the Haymarket company held its own,
and represented the comedies so often played here with
greater success than it had ever known during its many
previous visits to that city. (Loud applause.) You may
now naturally inquire why we do not repeat the visit this
autumn. To this question I could give several reasons why
wo do not, but shall simply reply that we all feel inclined
to stay at home; therefore I have made np my mind to
prolong the season until July in next year, when the theatre
must be closed for several weeks for repairs and decora-
tions. Of course, some good-natured creature will say,
"not before it is wanted." In addition to this reason I think
I have sufficient novelty in store to continue open to the
period I have named. (Applause.) On Monday next Miss
Amy Sedgwick will return for a limited period, and appear
in a new play; early in September Mrs. Scott-Siddons
will resume her performances for a few weeks, and pro-
bably produce ' Romeo and Juliet.' In October, Mr.
Sothern will return from Paris--(loud cheers)—where I
hope my Lord Dundreary's success will be as great as
when he first stammered and tried to sneeze in this theatre,
and that we shall again see his lordship on his return to
this house, which I may call his home. During his next
engagement several novelties will be forthcoming, and I
may announce a drama by Mr. Falconer, and a comedy by
Dr. Westland Marston. Since 1 last bad the honour of
addressing you, we have given you many new pieces;
among those that were most successful I may name' A
Lesson for Life,' and A Wild Goose,' which play, though
objected to by some of the well-wishers to the theatre,
was performed for 51 nights, and with great applause. I
confess it was somewhat melodramatic in its construction
—yet it was not so much out of place here as some people
were pleased to think, because, by the records of the Hay-
market Theatre, I find that oven in its high and palmy'
state similar performances were frequently given. To
prove this, I need only name Raymond and Agues; or
The Bleeding Nun of Lindenberg' and The Tale of Mys-
tery,' while Obi; or, Three-fingered Jack,' was first pro-
duced on the old boards of the old Haymarket, Mr. Chas.
Kemble originally sustaining the character of Three-
fingered Jack. It has become the fashion of certain dra-
matic writers and others to call out for more theatres—
possibly in the hope that certain rejected plays lying on
hand may at last be accepted by new and inexperienced
managers. It is well known, and felt by those interested,
that for many competitive causes some of the theatres now
in existence, to use a homely saying, can scarcely make
both ends meet, and, therefore, to parody honest Launcelot
Gobbo's speech to Jessica when she was made a Christian,
I may say, ' Truly wo were managers enow, e'en as
many as could well live ono by another. This making
of managers will lower the receipts, for if we all grow
to be managers wo shall not shortly have a rasher on
the coals for want of money.' (Laughter and cheers.)
It has also been proposed that we should not commence
our principal piece until half-past eight or nine
o'clock, as fashionable folk dine so late. Now, in these
railway days many persons come from the surrounding
suburbs who are anxious to be in time to return home by
the trains, and consequently that portion of our public
would never be able to see the whole of the principal
piece. The commencing a performance so late, and dining
so late, reminds me of a story I heard when in America
concerning a young Yankee who left his down-east vil-
lage to visit:Washington. On his return ho astonished his
neighbours by telling them how very late people dined
there, as at home twelve or one o'clock was the regular
hour. 'What time,' he was asked, 'do the storekeepers
dine at 'Washington ?'—' Not until two, sometimes three.'
'y ! how late !' was the remark. And the well-to-do
folk ?'—' Oh, they don't eine till four or five.' My ! how
late !" And the members of Congress ?'—' Wall, I guess
they don't dine till six !"And the senators ?'—' Oh, not
till eight or nine." My ! how late !" And the President
what time does he dine ?'—' Oh, ho don't dine till next
day.' (Laughter.) Now, ladies and gentlemen, if wo were
not to commence our principal piece until the late hour
proposed, that portion of our performance would not bo
over till next day—besides, it is very well known that
when people wish to come to the theatre they regulate
their dinner hour accordingly. (Applause) I am now,
ladies and gentlemen, in the 15th year of my lesseeship of
this theatre, and by the end of the present season, which I
contemplate will not occur until the beginning of next
July, I shall have completed 16 years of management, and
'I hope you will not be sorry to hear that life, health, and
success Permitting, I shall remain in my present position
some few years, longer. (Enthusiastic applause.) The
company, ladies and gentlemen, will continue nearly the
same as it has been for many seasons, simply because I
know that I cannot improve it. The changes that been made are confined mostly to the ladies, but youhave will
not hear this with sorrow when I toll you these changes
have been caused through matrimonial reasons—for the
Haymarket Theatre is celebrated as a great place for its
young ladies to be married from. Now, there's an induce-
ment for some of you young ladies present to enter imme-
diately into an engagement with me. (Loud laughter.) And
now, ladies and gentlemen, in name of myself and the com-
pany, I thank you heartily for your many years of patron-
age, and in the language of the showman at the fair, say,
Mr. Buckstone thanks you for your attendance to-night,
and begs to inform you that we shall begin again to-mor-
row evening.' "
The delivery of this address, it is almost needless
to say, Was loudly applauded by a crowded and
friendly audience, and Mr. Buckstone, as usual,
was smothered in bouquets.