The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-18 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

- Notwithstanding the furious heat of the weather, which
is such as almost to warrant the supposition that the sun
has gone mad, Mr. Buckstone's benefit on Saturday evening
attracted a very numerous audience, by whom that admir-
able comedian was received with tumultuous applause. The
performances consisted of Mr. Tom Taylor's capital comedy
of " The Contested Election," the farce of " How to make
Home Happy," and a very pretty and fanciful ballet by
Mr. Leclercq, entitled "Hallowe'en." On the conclusion
of the farce, Mr. Buckstone presented himself before the
curtain, amid as exciting a scene of popular enthusiasm as
has ever been witnessed within the walls of a London
theatre. The pit " rose at him like one man," to use the
famous expression of a great actor, volleys of applause
issued from the stalls and boxes, and the gallery were wild
with delight. When order was at length restored, which
was not until after the lapse of several minutes, Mr. Buck-
stone delivered the following address :
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as an address to the audience
on the occasicn of my annual benefit seems now to be a
matter of course, and is expected by my friends and the
public, it is with great pleasure that I again present myself
to say a few words, if only to thank you for past favours,
report progress, and give fair hopes for the future.
" When I last had the pleasure of addressing you it was
12 months ago, and at the close of a season of five years.
The theatre required repairs, which, having been completed,
we reopened on the 6th of September, and have continued
open ever since. But do not imagine, ladies and gentlemen,
that after this night your manager intends taking any repose.
He but bids you farewell till Monday next; the only rest he
can take will be to-morrow, Sunday, though a manager can
scarcely look for any rest, for when he has achieved a suc-
cess he knows the time will come when his novelty will
be worn out, and he must be thinking of something
new. Never ending, still beginning,' is the managerial
motto, and I really believe that the office of Prime Minis-
ter, as regards work, is nothing to that of the manager of a
London theatre • at least I can only fancy so, because I
know you will believe me when I assure you that I never was
Prime Minister, although in this life none of us can tell
what may happen. (Laughter.)
" Perhaps it may interest you to hear something of
what a manager has to do, or is expected to do. The hun-
dreds of letters he receives, to which replies are wanted
immediately, if not sooner; the multiplicity of manuscripts
sent to him, a speedy perusal of which is often demanded ;
the frequent interviews solicited at all hours from the
poor actor from the provinces, who should always claim
attention, to the elegant lady of the brougham, who
tells you she wants to be an actress, and, though
she never was on the stage in her ife, knows all
about it. (Laughter.) In vain the manager attempts
to read some of the manuscripts sent to him ; be-
fore he can get through an act he receives two or three im-
patient letters from the author, which, if neglected, for a time,
the manager receives another, beginning with the epithet
'scoundrel.' (Loud laughter.)
" Than, ladies and gentlemen, there are the innumerable
applications for orders and private boxes, when the 'appli-
cants appear to suppose that the manager must be chained
down in some room in his theatre, from morning till night,
for no other purpose than to comply with such requests.
Then there are letters requiring information on subjects of
which he knows nothing—letters for his autograph—
(laughter)—letters of complaint, and continual calls upon
his time, when, if he happens to be an actor, he is supposed
never to need a moment for study or rehearsal. Nay,
even while acting, he is expected to attend to
everybody. Often at the stage door here some
one has said, I want to see Mr. Buckstone." You can't
see him now, sir.' Why ? 'He's on the stage.' Oh,
nonsense, go and tell him I want him.' (Loud laughter.)
Without referring to his regular duties and actual business,
these interruptions ere not one half of what a manager has
to go through. Do you think, then, that his position is an
enviable one ? Certainly. there are times, though few and
far between, when he receives some rewards for his anxieties
and worries. My reward, believe me, I always find in
your ready attendance and kind expressions of regard that
ever greet me, and cheer me, on these occasions. (Cheers.)
" Since last September, ladies and gentlemen, we have
produced several new comedies ; amongst the most success-
ful I may name ' The World and the Stage,' Everybody's
Friend,' and our last novelty, The Contested Election.'
We have also given you a Christmas pantomime and an
Easter extravaganza, with numerous performances of
our standard comedies ; while I am sure you will be
glad to hear that I have no complaint to make of want of
patronage ; on the contrary, the balance on the right side of
the ledger has been large, and consequently satisfactory.
(Loud cheers.) The engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Mathews, and of Miss Amy Sedgwick, aided by the com-
plete and excellent company always to be found here, in all
the departments, has obtained a success which I shall use
every exertion to sustain. Of what I intend to do, perhaps
it is best not to say anything, as the policy of all great po-
tentates now-a-days, and amongst whom must be ranked
the manager of a theatre, consists in never letting anybody
know what they intend to do. (Laughter.) That some-
thing must be done and will be done I am well aware, but
what that something may be, prudence and policy forbid
me to state.

" As regards my brother managers, and their aspirations,
successes, or differences, it is again policy not to interfere.
I can only say that I wish well to all—preferring, at the
same time, to keep my best wishes for myself ; professing no
particular bias towards this party or towards that, but tak-
ing for my guidance the very general and very popular cry
now to be heard in this country of strict neutrality !'
(Laughter.)
" Perhaps, ladies and gentlemen, I ought to tell you
that we shall continue to represent The Contested Elec-
tion' every night, and I hope for some time to come, Sun-
days excepted. Why I say Sundays excepted' arises from
the strange ignorance of many people respecting the actor
and his habits. In arguing the propriety of opening the
Crystal Palace, the Museum, and the National Gallery on
a Sunday, it has been asserted that if it were allowed we
should next have the theatres open on a Sunday ; and a
worthy candidate the bther day, when addressing the elec-
tors of Marylebone, in answer to a question on the sub-
ject, stated that he would never vote for the opening of
any of any of these places on a Sunday, nor would he con-
sent to the opening of theatres on that day. Ladies and
gentlemen, there is no fear that theatres will ever be
open on a Sunday in this country, for the simple reason
that no English actor would on that day consent to follow
his profession. (Loud cheers.) The English actor is too
fond of his Sunday, enjoys his rest, and is quite as grateful
for it as any member of The Serious Family' can be.
Neither in the provinces nor in Landon would the actors be
found to give up their Sundays ; they are too respectable
and too independent—at least I know those of the Hay-
market are.

" Now, ladies and gentlemen, as I think I have said all I
intended to say, I shall conclude with thanking you for
the steady patronage that you always accord to this
favourite theatre; for let the weather be hot or cold,
let there be war or peace, at all times, and in all
seasons, we are pretty sure of meeting with a fair
muster of friends here. Therefore I only bid you farewell
until Monday evening, six •and-thirty hours, which will be
the duration of our armistice ; while in that time, if I can
arrange a piece,' I will do so--(laughter)—and which when
placed before you I hope will be found to be a good one.
At all events, on Monday we shall resume our operations,
and hope they will not be considered offensive. Whether
they may continue for another five years it is impossible to
say ; but should I retain health and strength, and your
support, it is not unlikely that such will be the fact.
" Ladies and gentlemen, for six-and-thirty hours, good
bye."
- -

This address, delivered with all the irresistible drollery
of tone and gesture eharacteristic of Mr. Buckstone's de-
clamation, was received with the most heart yapplause, and
at its conclusion the manager retired amid a shower of
bouquets.