Punch or The London charivari (4.1843)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

255

THE GRATUITOUS EXHIBITIONS OF LONDON

CHAPTER VII.—THE OUTSIDE OF DRURY LANE THEATRE.
his exhibition at
the present mo-
ment possesses
great attractions,
for as the in sides
of the respective
patent theatres
have for some
time ceased to en-
tice the multi-
tude, we may fair-
ly presume that
the outsides have
risen in favour
proportionately.
This is probably
the case,althongh


multiplicity of or-
ders perpetually
going in, and corresponding paucity of money, have all but converted
the drama into an exhibition as gratuitous as any of those we have
endeavoured to describe. The managers have, perhaps, found it to
be peculiarly so.
Without allowing the eye to be drawn away from the higher
objects of art, by the temporary depots for the sale of empty money-
boxes and fictitious jewellery set in brass upon the steps of the chief
entrance of Drury Lane Theatre, (and which are symbolical, according
to some, of the treasury and wardrobe of the theatre ; and according
to others, of the pockets and pretensions of the authors and actors,)
we call the attention of the spectator to the architectural objects of
interest pertaining to the exterior.
The best position for viewing the facade of Drury Lane Theatre is
standing with your back against the opposite side of the way, in the
vicinity of a vast padlock which overhangs the pavement, and
betokens the abode of some cunning worker in metals, who must
have undertaken a vast contract to supply the giants with domestic
articles, in common with the fabricators of the huge tea-kettle in
Tottenham Court-road, the by-no-means-to-be-despised stick of sealing
wax in Fleet-street, the Brobdignagian boots and shoes in various
places, and the noble dustpan in High Holborn, before alluded to.
Looking, then, from this position, the first thing that arrests the
attention, and we may perhaps add the only one, is the statue of
Shakspere over the portico, which is placed there as allegorical of
the drama. His back is turned towards the theatre, in revenge for
the theatre having, for so long a time, turned its back upon him ;
and he is pointing with an air of contempt to a blank scroll, typical of
syncretic literature and the modern drama. Beyond this slight sneer,
he looks, generally, remarkably black ; principally in consequence of
no one in particular ever having cared to revive him properly, or
bring him out in his pristine glory from the accumulated crust of
years that has now coated him. Should any steps be taken towards
beautifying him, it is supposed, in accordance with the prevalent
taste of the present day, that he will be clothed in gay colours and
tinsel, which, although they may in a measure destroy the classic
beauty of the statue, will nevertheless go a great way in attracting
public attention towards it.
Proceeding now in a northerly direction, and turning to the right
in the direction of Russell-street, an imposing view is gained of the
portico which runs from the stage entrance to the pit door. Near
this spot, against the wall, is preserved (or was until very lately) a
curious document illustrative of manners and customs, relative to the
conduct of coachmen and carriages about the middle of the nineteenth
century. From this point a fine coup d'ceil is obtained of the street-
door of the " Albion " opposite ; and when it is open, and the weather
clear, the eye of the spectator can penetrate right up the passage
and into the coffee-room.
Keeping on, under the portico, the visitor arrives at the Royal en-
trance, which, from its importance, deserves especial notice ; for it is
a gratifying and glorious tiling to find the Court so energetic in its
?ndeavours to sustain our drama, by attending the performances with
such constancy, and seldom deigning to countenance the alien exhi-
bitions of gold-thirsty foreigners. Our beloved young Sovereign can,

happily for our stage, appreciate the golden words and sentiments of
Shakspere far beyond the musical vagaries of Tweedledetti or
Tweedledini : or the meretricious antics of a few capering Plirynes.
A fine representation of the royal arms in aJto-rtliero is placed over
the centre door; and night after night do its portals admit the best
and highest in the land, to the gratification of all who feel an interest
in the welfare of our highest style of literature—to the admiration
of the spectators and the heartfelt joy of the audience, performers,
and manager. Indeed, it. is this unvarying patronage from Royalty
that has placed the English Drama upon the proud eminence on
which it at present stands. Beyond this spot a few steps conduct
the visitor to the stage-door — an unassuming entrance, guarded by
one of the class of stage doorkeepers, who are proverbially men of
gentle dispositions, courteous demeanour, and winning address. This
is the point from which the various performers can be best seen for
nothing, as well as the assistants. The thunder is now going for some
porter to the public-house opposite, in company with the rain, who
is rather dry, and a few friends of the other elements are waiting for
them, when the rehearsal is finished. The liberality of the manage-
ment provides a playbill, hung up at the side of the door, for the
study and amusement of those who are loitering about for their
acquaintances ; and by committing this to memory, the expense of
somewhat singu- buying one may be saved, should the penny be an object, in visiting
lar ; because the the interior.
In connexion with those portions of the theatre which may be
seen gratuitously, we may mention, en passant, the Box Office. The
public are admitted, during the season, between the hours of ten and
four. There are some statues worth
notice, including another of him that
" wrote not for an age, but for all time,"
(except the present,) over the round-
about fireplace in the centre, as well
as a curious model of the inside of the
theatre. As a work of art, this is most
excellent; and it is chiefly useful upon
going to take places before any extra-
attractive performance, in showing
what capital seats you might have
had,—only you came too late. As a
faithful representation of the theatre
it is commendable ; and especially
so, at this precise time, from being
destitute of audience. , , . ,.
A broken window, adjoining the
gallery entrance, and looking into Vinegar Yard, may be pointed
out as an interesting relic of antiquity. It has never been mended
in the memory of the oldest purveyor of play-bills and ham-sand-
wiches, but has remained in the same state throughout the various
dynasties that have ruled the theatre since it was first erected. It
will possibly never be repaired, but allowed to keep as it is,—a proof
that the window to which it belongs is fitted up with glass, and not
with wood, or sheet-iron, as its present encrusted state would lead
many to imagine. An reste, age will add increased interest to its
fragments, and as no manager will ever be found to expend three-and-
sixpence where there is no positive necessity for so doing, in future
times this broken pane will be looked upon with the same feelings of
veneration as the dilapidated Acropolis, the Pompeian fragments at
Portici, or the shored-up and boarded-in ruins of the street—we never
knew its name—which runs from Long Acre to H igh Street, St. Giles's,
under an arching, and by the side of two establishments which are
now being levelled to the ground by the ruthless spirit of improve-
ment : the warehouse from which the eye of Grimstone unceasingly
watched the thoroughfare, wherein people sneezed by sympathy as
they passed, and the all-sort shop at the corner, which had a perpetual
Watteau for sale icithin ever since we can call its existence to mind.


A SIMPLE QUESTION.
Mr. Punch,—I have been sometime from England—shut away from all
newspapers. Will you, therefore, inform me if the Lord Brougham who
a night or two since gave a party to the Duke of Cumberland, is the same
Lord Brougham who, in the House of Lords, some sessions back, stigma-
tised the same Duke as being "illustrious " only "by courtesy 1 "
Your's A Traveller.

Laurie and Lunacy.
We have sometimes beard of " the blind leading the blind," and it is a
very curious fact that Sir Peter Laurie is one of the Governors of Bed-
lam. There is a terrace in the neighbourhood which boasts of his arms
over the top of the centre house; but his mind is evidently with the insti-
tution we have alluded to.