Punch (9.1845)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

87

THE LAST FARCE AT DRURY LANE.

here was nothing dur-
ing the past sea-
son that emanated
from the genius
that rules the des-
tinies of Drury
Lane, certainly no-
thing half so comic
as the late report
laid before the
General Assembly
of Proprietors.

Could the Poet
Buns stoop to
prose, we should
be inclined to be-
lieve that the do-
cument was the

Doubtless, the Captain was "anxious to prove" his-
case ; but arithmetic is not to be conquered, even by
Captains. As a proprietor he ought to have known that
Mr. Macready entirely furnished the theatre, and then
came the Poet Bunn and took possession. Everything
was made to Bunn's hands ; even the property lyre,
whereto he sings his ravishing strains. Captain
Spencer, had he not been a proprietor, would, of course,
have known this ; but the Captain spoke from what we
will indulgently suppose extreme simplicity. Captains
are so unsophisticated.

Having, in our small way, laboured for free trade in
work ol his tre- tjie ^raniaj we congratulate the town upon this Report,
mendous brain. It i thatj despite of itsel^ anows the value of the reform that
has many of his literary characteristics. There is a freedom of style about it, I )iag permitte(i Shakspeare to travel to Islington. We
a sort of touch-and-go manner, elevated too with a strong feeling of the ! are convince(i that in due season a better sort of drama
romantic, that now and then reminds us of the Poet's happiest vein. We keenly I wiU origirjate at the minor theatres; better actors will
regret that it was not thrown into verse, set to music by the Poet's own th(?n appear_and when they do come, how heartily will
musician, Balfe, and then duly executed by the operatic company. It would
have been much more consolatory to the feelings of the proprietors—(who are
once a year solemnly called together to be told there is not a sixpence to be
shared among them)—and quite as intelligible. The report, to begin with, is
brimful of loyalty :—

Then wherefore regret the removal of the legitimate
drama if it were so unprofitable ? Or has the experience
of Captain Spencer as a proprietor made him, like
Jaffier, "pleased with ruin"?

" This, however, he was anxious to prove—that there had been more
money received from Ma. Bonn and music in two years than had been
paid by Me. Maceiady during the same duration of time. For instance,
he found that the committee had received in two years from Bonn and
music, 8,000/.; from Macbeasy and legitimate drama, 3,425/.; leaving
a balance in favour of ' Bonn and music ' of 4,575/."

" It is gratifying to the Committee to be able to state, that, amidst the week oj the national
drama, Her Most Gracious Majesty continues her patronage and support to the theatre, by her visits,
both in state and in private."

Certainly it is impossible to overrate the condescension of the Queen, who
visits Drury Lane " amidst the wreck of the national drama ! " We have often
felt our sympathies touched by the daring of the Deal boatmen, who visit a ship
"amidst the wreck." But this is as nothing to the courage and humanity of
Her Majesty, who goes to assist at operas written by an imported Frenchman,
amidst the wreck of English tragedy, comedy, and farce. Besides, did not the
Poet Bunn himself do all within his mighty energies to bring about the aforesaid
wreck ? It is a little bold in the offender who maliciously scuttles a ship, to
bellow when the craft is going to the bottom.

" It is matter for consolation, that since the Legislature of the countrv has thought proper to
extend, by their late act of Parliament, the powers of the Lord Chamberlain, and remove the drama
from the two national theatn-s to Sadler's Wells, the Yorkshire Stingo, the Eagle Tavern, and a host
of minor establishments to the number of thirty, that Ma. Bonn has been enabled to furnish an
entertainment worthy of the Koyal patronage and the public at large."

As the Poet himself says—for we are almost certain it is he—" it is matter
for consolation" (though we know not to whom) that though the drama is
wrecked, Bunn can yet furnish an entertainment to set before a Queen. Part
of the crew have taken to the jolly-boat, and rowed to Sadler's Wells; but
Bunn, like Robinson Crusoe, has saved enough from the ship to keep himself
in excellent case. Nevertheless, Bunn, in that confusion of ideas that will
sometimes bewilder the clearest wits, does somewhat fail in his pattern respect
for the Queen ; for he must recollect that it was Her Majesty's La Reine
le veut that made the law that "removed the drama" to Sadler's Wells. But
high poets, like high mountains, have, now and then, their tops in mist.

"An act of the greatest injustice has thereby been inflicted upon the national theatres, and
most certainly demands compensation at the hands of those who legislate for the drama, and who are
bold enough to contend that they are upholding it by legalising the representation of Shakspeare
at pot-houses and public gardens."

No doubt. And the same spirit that grants compensation to Drury Lane
against the Eagle Tavern, should also award it to Astley's against Drury
Lane. Who were the first robbers 3 Who stole the horses from the ring, and
the Hons and tigers from the menagerie ? Answer, gentlemen of the General
Committee.

The Poet Bunn thus modestly winds up :—

"The Committee trust that they have acted judiciously in retaining their lessee, and hope he is too
'cell satisfied with the terms of the agreement to seek to disturb it."

We can answer for the Poet,—yes.

The Report being read, the conversation took a very lively turn. One Captain
Spencer (" the Captain's a bold man ") painted the Poet Bunn in the prettiest
colours, and then tried his hand at a little black on Mr. Macready. This
bold officer spoke as follows :— *

"With respect to the performance of what was denominated the legitimate drama, he was prepared
to show that the most disastrous consequences had arisen from the management of Ma. Macready."

Punch welcome them !

THE PERFIDIOUS ENGLISH IN PARIS.

Our correspondent informs us, that several Englishmen
have been apprehended in Paris. Not content with the
calamity worked by John Bull at Toulon, they had hired
spacious cellars, and were very busily engaged getting up an
earthquake for the destruction of the whole capital. The
horror was to have come off on the first of next April. A
grocer who discovered the plot has been rewarded with the
legion of honour !

THE POLITICAL TOMBOLA.

Most of our readers have no doubt seen a toy made of
plaster of Paris, and called a Tombola. It consists of a little
figure, which only requires to be pushed gently on one side,
when it will go rolling about from right to left, from Tory to
Whig ; so that it will be quite impossible to say which side
it will permanently remain upon.

We have seen figures of the Queen, Prince Albert,
and a Chinese Mandarin, taken as models for these toys ;
but we are surprised that the Premier, whose political
movements point him out as the very thing for it, should
never yet have figured as. a Tombola. Now that Punch ha&

thrown out the hint, the Premier may make up his mind to
find himself promoted to the heads of all the Italian image-
boys. It is true that there would be very little imagery m
anything so purely matter-of-fact as Peel's oscillation from
side to side on the field of politics.