Punch (8.1845)

180

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO DRURY-LANE.

Mr. Bunn has been running about in a state of frantic excitement
among his company and his scene-shifters, announcing the important fact
of Her Majesty's being about to go in state to Drury-Lane, which the
manager, who is a poet and consequently deals in fancy, describes in his
puffs preliminary as " the only national theatre." We had some idea, till
Mr. Bunn told us otherwise, that the Haymarket might at least put in
some claim to the title of national. What the manager of Drury-Lane

has done to deserve a monopoly of that distinction for his establishment
we are at a loss to conceive. Is Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor a
national opera ! or does the engagement of Duprez and Madame Garcia
tend to the nationality of the theatre ! As far as we can see, the two
Johns—Cooper and Harlet—are the only representatives of the
national British dramatic interests at Drury-Lane under the present
management.

THE CRIMINAL DRAMA.

We understand that, in consequence of the growing taste of the public
for witnessing the examination and trial of notorious criminals, it is in
contemplation to apply to the Lord Chamberlain for a regular theatrical
license for the Old Bailey and some of the principal police courts in the
metropolis. The application will be backed by some members of the
aristocracy, already distinguished for their patronage of the style of
entertainment that will be presented to them. The following is suggested
as a prospectus to be circulated among the admirers of the class of per-
formance alluded to :—

THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY,
Admirers of Atrocity, & Connoisseurs of Criminal Matters,

Are respectfully informed that it is intended to open the
GREAT NATIONAL CRIMINAL THEATRE ROYAL,

Oft SBatlci?,
Under the License of the Lord Chamberlain.

The performances will consist of a series of the most exciting and
interesting trials ; the principal characters in which will be sustained
by the

Most Celebrated Murderers,

supported by a powerful phalanx

OF DISTINGUISHED BARRISTERS,

aided by a numerous corps of jailors and turnkeys, with an unrivalled
band of auxiliaries.

In the course of the year the

courts might be considered as minors in relation to the large establish-
ment.

A pleasant observer says, truly, that "the duties of a police magistrate
are as various as those of a clown in a pantomime," * and we have
no doubt that a series of police-court pantomimes—clowns by Messrs.
Jardine and Hall, for example—would be extremely popular. We have
ourselves seen burlesques at Bow Street that would rival the broadest
that ever was produced at a regular theatre ; and as this class of enter-
tainment seems to be in fashion just now, we do not see why some of the
magistrates, who are unrivalled performers, should not make that profit-
able which is at present merely ridiculous.

* " Sketches of Life and Character, taken at Bow Street," by Gborgjs HoDDlio

LAMENT FOR NEWCASTLE.

'Tis the last of the Tories

Left, stranded, alone ;
All his quondam companions

Converted or gone !
Not one of the right sort,

One True-Blue is nigh,
To cry, " Down with Sir Robkbt I "

Or, " Never say die ! "

They have left thee, thou old one,

Too blind e'en for them,
Low Radical notions
All single to stem.
They increase Maynooth grants

British. Judges cut Orangemen dead j

And hear, without passion,

will have the honour of appearing in turn ; so that there will be a constant
succession of first-rate judicial talent, to give effect to the summings up
and to the passing of the sentences. In order to vary the nature of the
entertainment,

the honourable mr. justice maule,

the celebrated judicial buffo, will go through a round of his celebrated
performances, and will appear in a rapid succession of laughable novelties.
He will, early in an ensuing session, give his popular comio recitation,
called " How to get a Divorce," which was received with so much applause
at the recent assizes.

The prices of admission will be announced in future bills, but persons
taking places for a whole session will be considered as subscribers, and
entitled to admission at all the trials. Stalls will be constructed in such a
position as to enable the occupant to take snuff from the prisoners' box,
a treat which was so much in request at Bow Street. Tickets may be
had on application to the sheriffs, but it is respectfully intimated that
places cannot be kept beyond the examination of the first witness. For
further particulars see the Criminal Calendar for the day.

Such might be the nature of a programme for the Old Bailey, the great

n^nal rl 0.7™ f " • l / 6 7 i * 7 > 'T^MT B r tk.£ It No.T«7 F e« Street, in the ParUb of St. Bride'.. In the City of London.-8A.CMA,

national theatre for criminal performers of the first class, while the police Ajsh, is, ims.

The cry for cheap bread.

Sir Robert they follow,

Where he leads the way,
To Conservative notions

Fast dropping away.
The old Tory's defunct,

With reluctance you own,—
u Though you did," my Lord Duke,

" What you liked with your own."

oh I how SHOCKING!
In the " Vestiges of the Natural History of Creccton" Ugliness it,
described as a consequence of Misery. What frights we shall all be
through the operation of the Income Tax 1

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