New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-18
Winter Garden.

The Performance tonight at this thea'or is for tho
benei, Of Miss Mary Provost, II Indy who has been
playing for tie past few weeks with considerable
success, 20 far ne mccess may be estimated by the
applause bestowed by audiences. "star" engage
monts in New.York usually Involve greater or less
number Of benefits, and always terminate with one
toward which special attention ii invoked from the
public and from journalists, Tie announcems NJ Of
Mhs PrJvos.s farewell benefit would therefore Oecs-
sion 10 particular remark excepting for the peculiar
grounds upon which il il clnimed, and for the fact
lhnt II Is made the vehicle FOR species OF fnttcry
which Is not logims,ey expressed, and which i by
no means WARMED. We explain the case without
the slightest disposition TO iuure the pFosle,s OF tie
lady in question, but simply TO diseounieAance the
unfhir system by which public opinion upon tic
atrca subjects 10 Manufactured, from time 10 time,
for the advantage Of actors Of qnesi0nIb'o meli;
Mrs Provost publishes letter figned by some Eve
hundred gentlemen, proleriug hera "com lime uiry
benefit" in acknowledgment Of " tie advantage cou-
ferred on tie drama By Der rel resenia'ioas,' AMI Of
certain ItsLic attributes by her dispk yed. II is
nounced that Mss Provost acccpts the benefit, and
kindly consents TO appear ns Lady Gay Spanlcr on
the OCCASION" This is entirely wrong. 1ios. OF
tue public who interested in theatrical matters
know very we'll that, under the circumstances oil her
present engagement, Miss Proyosi's performances
bayo had eyerse effect, il any wAatcycI 10 lh-t
Of comforting advantage OIL tie drama. LSon lad
her qualities as an actress been luminous, tho
repeiton Of few well.wOrn characters and the
Introduction Of some inferior French sonsaton PLAY
could not have done much toward any suddon .X-
altaton of theatrical urt. Ar it Is, however the
recent engagements at tho Winter G4rdeu have
been barely toleriblc. Miss Proyost would have
done more wisely TO trust to the chances Of regular
benefit in tie ordinary way, without thus compelling
critical scrutiny OF her position. An nriat who
really possesses the power to confer advantages
uton the drama will not have to was to be told OF
il through letter signed by five hundred private
gentlemen. As regard, tho kindly conseuing to
appear on the oecason mus. observe that actors
do not kindly consent to appear beioro the public
now a.days. The public,kndiy con'en's % allow
them to appear. II thoy are found worthy Of dis.
tincton il Also consents TO duly honor them, but no.
under any other conditions.
Complimentary benefits either mean great deal,
or they mean nothing at all. The instances ago very
rare when they can justly be bestowed. They have
80 often been abused within the last year that the
public could not be blamed for distressing lem, even
when applied to proper purpose. They Hooded
the community last Summer at the rate Of three o.
four mouih-as often in fact, as ambitious and ua-
successful stars" could be found to offer their
names for them. Tho public was naturally surfaited
and sichenec, and rs tho public has, after Nil, a
reserve of common sense u fall back upon, 1t AT
last aw ohe to sense Of being led by the nose.
Eyo'.y bad actor or incapable manager who failed to
WIN praise or profit voted himself complimentary
benefit, until the thing became the Created bore OF
he season. The affair announced FOR tonight ID o.
precisely tho same character abbott hisa Proves. has
has had a certain kind OF success, which separates
her preseu, ca,o in ona respect trpr ,hoss o. -,