The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-10 00:00:00

CLOSING OF THE LYCEUM.

Thiktheatre was filled to overflowing on Friday, with an
audiencW4n high good humour, to witness the last perform-
ance during the present season, it being also for the benefit
of Mr. and Mrs. Keeley. Martin Chuzzlewit, condensed into
two acts, was chosen for the occasion, and Mr. Keeley as
Sairey Gamp, and Mrs. Keeley as the boy Bailey, were hailed
with great applause. Mr. Distin and his four sons (the
Sax-horn players) performed the celebrated quintette from
Robert le Diable, and were honoured with an encore. After
the farce of A Model of a Wife, Mrs. Keeley delivered very
effectively the following address :
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—The last night of the season
having arrived, it devolves upon me, as directress of this
theatre, to address a few words to its patrons. The task is to
me most pleasing, not less from the bright retrospection of
past success, than the cheering anticipation of soon meeting
you again.
"Until last year there was a cloud hung so unfortnnately
over this house, that at last the world looked upon the Ly-
ceum as Betsy Prig did upon Mrs. Harris—' They didn't
believe there was no such theatre.'
"By careful and fortunate management, however, the
establishment, from a fiction, has, I am proud to say, become
a great fact,' and in imitation of our larger neighbours, we
have held League meetings here nightly, which have ma-
terially assisted our Treasury. But ours was a league only
against dullness and blue devils; various were the forms in
which we assailed them, nor were we scrupulous as to the
allies we called to our assistance. First,we assailed them with
the Forty Thieves, but finding, after a series of attacks, that
even they relaxed in their vigour, we called upon the magic
aid of Aladdin's Lamp and Ring, and as fresh occasion called
for new assistance, we summoned from the prolific brains of
our unwearied authors Valentine and his Savage Brother.
With these we have occupied our dramatic field of battle,
flanked with twenty new pieces of various calibre; but all of
which went off with great effect. We have maintained our
ground victoriously.
" Gentlemen of the Pit,—You will be happy to hear that
the revenue exhibits a most cheering balance. I have, how-
ever, several new taxes to impose, but they are only upon
your kindness and constant attendance. I continue to receive
the most friendly assurances from the authors who have
already written fur the Lyceum. On them will the pen and
ink'em tax fall most heavily ; but they will not object to it,
even if it extends beyond -Three Years. They inform me
that the late Budget, in removing the duty from Staves,
will enable them to furnish me with Songs on the most ad-
vantageous terms.
" Gentlemen of the Gallery —I have directed estimates to
be made of various alterations connected with your part of
the house. The gallery will be far more commodious, and
better adapted both for seeing and hearing than the honour-
able benchers who fill it have hitherto found it.
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—Such improvements will be im-
mediately commenced in every part of the house as will, I
trust, tend materially to your future comfort. It will be
thoroughly cleaned and redecorated, and the introduction of
a new chandelier will render what has hitherto been a most
enlightened audience, still more so. Within an hour after your
quitting this house, scaffolds will be erected for the execution
(don't be alarmed)—the execution of my orders to that effect.
But I fear I am trespassing on your patience.
"On the part of my frequent partner, Mr. Keeley, and
myself, I bag to express most sincere thanks for your un-
ceasing patronage. You have been the means of shedding
happiness for twelve months over many, many families. Pray
be assured that your favour, so liberally extended to us in
public, has been sincerely felt and acknowledged in our own
homes."
This address was received with loud plaudits, and a shower
of bouquets were thrown.upon the stage.
Mr. Keeley, as Mrs. Sairey Gamp, immediately afterward
made the following announcement :
" Ladle: and Gentlemen all—l don't know what that