DOI issue:
January to June, 1844
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16519#0092
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
95
A WORD OR TWO ON THE PLAYHOUSES.
Punch does not now often visit the playhouses ; though, by the
■way, he very shortly intends to do so. For no self-recreation, let it
be understood, does he again propose to show himself in the theatre,
ut solely tor the sake or the world at large, sorely abused as it is . ^ , -f , , j v ■ , t- t)
,,,*', n -i si / , ~ -r, .. in no comedv, we wait with almost delirious expectation for the ver
nv nan fl^rnrc Jinn ntfpn h\r wnroo pvififc I he n7icH/-»m r,f Kav !•>_ 7 A_
however, we rejoice at the offer made by Mr. Webster. The Hay-
market is stocked with original stuff for years to come. For though
many of the offered dramas may not do as whole five-act comedies,
they may, with judicious cutting and twisting, serve as farces and
interludes. We doubt not that some dramatic tinker may be found,
who, at a mere red-herring and potato salary, will be able to make
the required metamorphosis. For ourselves, though Punch has seni
by baa actors, and otten by worse critics, the wisdom ot Parlia- • .,, T. , , \, i „ „ ^__„„__
' . , - n i , i i i,i j , , , j ..j. , ,p, . diet of the committee. It cannot, however, be known tor some
ment having all but destroyed the drama, has declared it free Tins . „, ■ i • r\ L it j j * » i- „ ,
. , r v v • ii- ii ■ i- i. j i- weeks. The reason is plain. One hundred and fourteen comedies !
is the humanity ot a barbarian, who, having; well-nigh starved Ins r„, , r .., ■ .• , , i •.
.... , ■ ,• , ' . ' . , 5 .. ,.6 j ■ • ,; The committee cannot, with -justice to themselves and the writers,
victim to death, gives him, whilst m articulo mortis, his unconditional „ , ,, J ,. , .... ■ -nil
,., , rp, -j j?t> v xi * i- -ii 20 through more than two comedies at a sitting : this, then, will take
liberty. Ihe wisdom ot Parliament ! Agaggling goose will ofttimes 5 , AT , , .. 0 , j n • „•* *
, • -i ■ i . ,.oo o 6 fifty-seven days. Now, deducting Sundays, and allowing, say twenty
bring the said wisdom to our recollection—an ass, braying to the , J . . , ^ .• '.. b . e j
■ i,, , , ' ^ ° days for sickness—inevitable nausea on the part ot the readers—we
winds, will now and then awaken the same thoughts. I, . , l ,i v x i v. r tit -v
, ., .. „ . r, , ib ,. TT ~ know not how we can expect the verdict much before May. \es.
In the mean time, Coven t-Garden is now made a sort of House of , . , ... r .,, , ,, T ,/
n___mn„a „„ j „ u '„„ „f „ ,, ("iii T • the prize comedy will come out with the hawthorns. In the mean-
Commons, and a house of call tor fiddlers. JDrury-Lane is . r -m u i i r i- r
J time, we think Mr. websteh would only show a proper feeling tor
"Most musical, most melancholy;" the anxiety of the town, were he to inform it, from time to time, of
that is, we have opera there one night, and Charles Kean's tragedy the health and sPirits of the readinff committee. Indeed, why not
another. publish a bulletin in the daily play-bills?
The Princess's Theatre is made a sort of theatre of ease to the
Italian Opera-House, where prime donne, tenori, and others, are trans-
lated for the million. What, however, it professes to do it does well,
and flourishes on its good intentions.
The Adelphi is still in the Strand, but it is wo*the Adelphi of by-
gone years. For, though neither its literature nor its actors were
likely to lift its audiences into the sixth heaven of gentility, there
was purpose in its dramas, and robust drollery in the acting. Now,
if the pieces are not jewels of th» first water, they are assuredly
things of the readiest paste. As for acting, there is certainly one low
comedian, who, with the aid of the gallery, does all he can to spoil a
humourist. The worst of it is, he generally succeeds.
The Olympic is to the Adelphi what the tap is to a tavern. The
pieces smack of the spittoon ; but they are often things of real life :
the more especially when a live horse and real cab from St. Clement's
stand are introduced upon the scene.
And such are London play-houses in the year 1844 ! One of them,
however, is about to disappear : for it is confidently reported that
the Duke of Bedford intends to pull down Covent Garden, and to
enlarge the market on the site of the playhouse. However, with the
liberality that distinguishes the house of Russell, his Grace, it is said,,
intends to offer to several of the late performers, at that establish-
ment, stands in the enlarged market, rent-free. IJence, if she will,.
Mrs. Nisbett may sell peaches ripe as her comedy—luscious as her
laugh. John Cooper (by virtue of his tragedy old men) has
already claimed a stand for Spanish onions. Two or three drama-
tists—their names, by the way, have not transpired—are spoken of
as the future vendors of cabbage.
tIDBr.K AND SIIAKSPhAKE.
The Lyceum has recently been opened as a sort of dramatic rat-
trap. There was a flourish of trumpets, and a most hospitable invi-
tation to gentlemen of dramatic genius to bring their plays. " Gen-
tlemen authors," thus spoke the courteous management, "please to'
walk in, and be murdered." It was moreover announced, in terms
of the most cold-blooded satisfaction, that "two comedies and a
farce" had been already "accepted." The blood of three writers
CITY INTELLIGENCE,
Since the commencement of the Mayoralty of Magnay, the Man-
sion House has been one continued round of splendid hospitality,
was not enough : no, the management called for more. The trea- A joint on one day, cold.the two next, and assisted with boiled rice
surer, however—(what a perplexing person, by the way, is the play- 1 or pancakes on the fourth, has been the basis of the festive arrange-
house treasurer !)—made a simple remonstrance of empty pockets, ments for the last two months. It is true that the Lord Mayor,,
and the playhouse closed. And now, as we have been privately j being fond of seclusion, only extends his hospitality to a small circle,,
informed, do the Lyceum cats meet at midnight on the stage, and ; which may be described as a circle is generally described in all the
arithmetical treatises, O.
Some curiosity was excited by a turkey being seen to arrive by a
carrier's cart at the Mansion House, and it was expected that the
unusual event would have been celebrated by the temporary enlarge-
ment of the Mansion House dinner parties to the extent of two or
three of the citizens. His Lordship, however, did not depart from
his usual domestic habits ; and, on the second day, he presided at a
family hash, after which he liberally settled the contingent remainder
on the household servants, and intends, we believe, presenting the
drum-sticks to the band of the Ancient Lumber Troop.
vainly ask of one another when Mr. Macready may be expected
back from America to take the concern. Now and then, too, a ghastly
advertisement appears in the Times, and, looking almost ashamed to
tell its story, informs the world that " The Lyceum is to be let ! "
The Haymarket is flourishing on Shakspeare duly rosined, and
French dishes. Mr. Webster has shown that the country abounds
with writers of comedies. Rattling a purse of five hundred sove-
reigns, he has caused the investment of many shillings in pens, ink,
and paper, and the result is—one hundred and fourteen five-act comedies,
all written to illustrate modern life and manners ! We fear, how-
ever, that many of the writers will have been cruelly misled by
newspaper paragraphs. It was stated that Mr. Farren was to be
upon the committee of judgment : whereupon, of course, a very fine
old man, a sort of prize Sir Anthony Absolute (having fed upon the
rest of the characters), is, we doubt not, in at least a hundred and
seven of the plays. Again, Madame Ye stris and Mrs. Glover
were to have voices in the selection of the one comedy. "With this
belief strong in the bosom of the writer, can we doubt that he had
a natural eye to another Little Devil, another Mrs. Subtle ? Any way.
Cliarity on the " Rail."
Mr. C. Russell stated in the House (February 5), that "several of the
Railway Companies were carrying passengers, in the third-class trains, at
a decided loss." Who would have believed there was such sympathy for
the poor ? But the public should know its benefactors ! If Mr. Russell
will publish the Companies' names, and prove the fact of the " decided
loss," Punch will confess that " Truth is stranger than Fiction."
95
A WORD OR TWO ON THE PLAYHOUSES.
Punch does not now often visit the playhouses ; though, by the
■way, he very shortly intends to do so. For no self-recreation, let it
be understood, does he again propose to show himself in the theatre,
ut solely tor the sake or the world at large, sorely abused as it is . ^ , -f , , j v ■ , t- t)
,,,*', n -i si / , ~ -r, .. in no comedv, we wait with almost delirious expectation for the ver
nv nan fl^rnrc Jinn ntfpn h\r wnroo pvififc I he n7icH/-»m r,f Kav !•>_ 7 A_
however, we rejoice at the offer made by Mr. Webster. The Hay-
market is stocked with original stuff for years to come. For though
many of the offered dramas may not do as whole five-act comedies,
they may, with judicious cutting and twisting, serve as farces and
interludes. We doubt not that some dramatic tinker may be found,
who, at a mere red-herring and potato salary, will be able to make
the required metamorphosis. For ourselves, though Punch has seni
by baa actors, and otten by worse critics, the wisdom ot Parlia- • .,, T. , , \, i „ „ ^__„„__
' . , - n i , i i i,i j , , , j ..j. , ,p, . diet of the committee. It cannot, however, be known tor some
ment having all but destroyed the drama, has declared it free Tins . „, ■ i • r\ L it j j * » i- „ ,
. , r v v • ii- ii ■ i- i. j i- weeks. The reason is plain. One hundred and fourteen comedies !
is the humanity ot a barbarian, who, having; well-nigh starved Ins r„, , r .., ■ .• , , i •.
.... , ■ ,• , ' . ' . , 5 .. ,.6 j ■ • ,; The committee cannot, with -justice to themselves and the writers,
victim to death, gives him, whilst m articulo mortis, his unconditional „ , ,, J ,. , .... ■ -nil
,., , rp, -j j?t> v xi * i- -ii 20 through more than two comedies at a sitting : this, then, will take
liberty. Ihe wisdom ot Parliament ! Agaggling goose will ofttimes 5 , AT , , .. 0 , j n • „•* *
, • -i ■ i . ,.oo o 6 fifty-seven days. Now, deducting Sundays, and allowing, say twenty
bring the said wisdom to our recollection—an ass, braying to the , J . . , ^ .• '.. b . e j
■ i,, , , ' ^ ° days for sickness—inevitable nausea on the part ot the readers—we
winds, will now and then awaken the same thoughts. I, . , l ,i v x i v. r tit -v
, ., .. „ . r, , ib ,. TT ~ know not how we can expect the verdict much before May. \es.
In the mean time, Coven t-Garden is now made a sort of House of , . , ... r .,, , ,, T ,/
n___mn„a „„ j „ u '„„ „f „ ,, ("iii T • the prize comedy will come out with the hawthorns. In the mean-
Commons, and a house of call tor fiddlers. JDrury-Lane is . r -m u i i r i- r
J time, we think Mr. websteh would only show a proper feeling tor
"Most musical, most melancholy;" the anxiety of the town, were he to inform it, from time to time, of
that is, we have opera there one night, and Charles Kean's tragedy the health and sPirits of the readinff committee. Indeed, why not
another. publish a bulletin in the daily play-bills?
The Princess's Theatre is made a sort of theatre of ease to the
Italian Opera-House, where prime donne, tenori, and others, are trans-
lated for the million. What, however, it professes to do it does well,
and flourishes on its good intentions.
The Adelphi is still in the Strand, but it is wo*the Adelphi of by-
gone years. For, though neither its literature nor its actors were
likely to lift its audiences into the sixth heaven of gentility, there
was purpose in its dramas, and robust drollery in the acting. Now,
if the pieces are not jewels of th» first water, they are assuredly
things of the readiest paste. As for acting, there is certainly one low
comedian, who, with the aid of the gallery, does all he can to spoil a
humourist. The worst of it is, he generally succeeds.
The Olympic is to the Adelphi what the tap is to a tavern. The
pieces smack of the spittoon ; but they are often things of real life :
the more especially when a live horse and real cab from St. Clement's
stand are introduced upon the scene.
And such are London play-houses in the year 1844 ! One of them,
however, is about to disappear : for it is confidently reported that
the Duke of Bedford intends to pull down Covent Garden, and to
enlarge the market on the site of the playhouse. However, with the
liberality that distinguishes the house of Russell, his Grace, it is said,,
intends to offer to several of the late performers, at that establish-
ment, stands in the enlarged market, rent-free. IJence, if she will,.
Mrs. Nisbett may sell peaches ripe as her comedy—luscious as her
laugh. John Cooper (by virtue of his tragedy old men) has
already claimed a stand for Spanish onions. Two or three drama-
tists—their names, by the way, have not transpired—are spoken of
as the future vendors of cabbage.
tIDBr.K AND SIIAKSPhAKE.
The Lyceum has recently been opened as a sort of dramatic rat-
trap. There was a flourish of trumpets, and a most hospitable invi-
tation to gentlemen of dramatic genius to bring their plays. " Gen-
tlemen authors," thus spoke the courteous management, "please to'
walk in, and be murdered." It was moreover announced, in terms
of the most cold-blooded satisfaction, that "two comedies and a
farce" had been already "accepted." The blood of three writers
CITY INTELLIGENCE,
Since the commencement of the Mayoralty of Magnay, the Man-
sion House has been one continued round of splendid hospitality,
was not enough : no, the management called for more. The trea- A joint on one day, cold.the two next, and assisted with boiled rice
surer, however—(what a perplexing person, by the way, is the play- 1 or pancakes on the fourth, has been the basis of the festive arrange-
house treasurer !)—made a simple remonstrance of empty pockets, ments for the last two months. It is true that the Lord Mayor,,
and the playhouse closed. And now, as we have been privately j being fond of seclusion, only extends his hospitality to a small circle,,
informed, do the Lyceum cats meet at midnight on the stage, and ; which may be described as a circle is generally described in all the
arithmetical treatises, O.
Some curiosity was excited by a turkey being seen to arrive by a
carrier's cart at the Mansion House, and it was expected that the
unusual event would have been celebrated by the temporary enlarge-
ment of the Mansion House dinner parties to the extent of two or
three of the citizens. His Lordship, however, did not depart from
his usual domestic habits ; and, on the second day, he presided at a
family hash, after which he liberally settled the contingent remainder
on the household servants, and intends, we believe, presenting the
drum-sticks to the band of the Ancient Lumber Troop.
vainly ask of one another when Mr. Macready may be expected
back from America to take the concern. Now and then, too, a ghastly
advertisement appears in the Times, and, looking almost ashamed to
tell its story, informs the world that " The Lyceum is to be let ! "
The Haymarket is flourishing on Shakspeare duly rosined, and
French dishes. Mr. Webster has shown that the country abounds
with writers of comedies. Rattling a purse of five hundred sove-
reigns, he has caused the investment of many shillings in pens, ink,
and paper, and the result is—one hundred and fourteen five-act comedies,
all written to illustrate modern life and manners ! We fear, how-
ever, that many of the writers will have been cruelly misled by
newspaper paragraphs. It was stated that Mr. Farren was to be
upon the committee of judgment : whereupon, of course, a very fine
old man, a sort of prize Sir Anthony Absolute (having fed upon the
rest of the characters), is, we doubt not, in at least a hundred and
seven of the plays. Again, Madame Ye stris and Mrs. Glover
were to have voices in the selection of the one comedy. "With this
belief strong in the bosom of the writer, can we doubt that he had
a natural eye to another Little Devil, another Mrs. Subtle ? Any way.
Cliarity on the " Rail."
Mr. C. Russell stated in the House (February 5), that "several of the
Railway Companies were carrying passengers, in the third-class trains, at
a decided loss." Who would have believed there was such sympathy for
the poor ? But the public should know its benefactors ! If Mr. Russell
will publish the Companies' names, and prove the fact of the " decided
loss," Punch will confess that " Truth is stranger than Fiction."