DOI Heft:
July to December, 1852
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16610#0265
PUNCH. OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI 257
THEATRE ROYAL, WESTMINSTER.
BY OUR SLASHING CRITIC.
HE entertainments this week
have been of a slight and
desultory character, the ma-
nagement being, we presume,
glad to "put up" anything
they could get, while the great
novelty, The Budget, was being
rendered more fit for the boards
than on its ill-advised produc-
tion. We looked in for a short
time at the second performance
of this affair on Friday last,
but could see no great im-
provement, except that the
part of the ex-steward, Wood,
came " up " a little. His ad-
advice to Benny not to be
ashamed of bungling his ac-
counts, as he, Wood, had often
sent in an account wrongly
cast up three times running,
told upon the House ; and the
smartness of Dandy lorn, a
light character, by no means
new to tbe stage, but always
welcome, imparted a motion
to the business. We also
thought we listened to some
sentiments for which the
author of the Lady of Lyons is
responsible: and the applause
they received was by no means
meant for the successful
plagiarist who is understood to have concocted the Budget.
On Monday a succession of short:extravaganzas occupit d the evening.
A. brief but well conceived piece de circonstance, called The British
Fleet, was successfully produced, and has drawn a great deal of money,
as it deserved to do. The idea is a happy one, the sentiments excel-
lent, and we may add, thoroughly English. It is full of fire ; and we
have no hesitation in saying that it can triumphantly compete with any
French, work of similar construction. Although not a " Whig piece,"
the author has not dispensed with the old conventional powder, and
has judiciously prepared the way for keeping the audience in a tre-
mendous roar. Mr. Stafford played the principal character with
much spirit.
The same evening an actor named Carter, nearly new to the stage,
made his appearance in the disagreeable character of Cavil, in A
Nation's Tears. We have seen many instances of outrageous violence
on the part of an audience, but we never remember so dead a set being
made against any actor as was directed against this unfortunate Mr.
Carter. He had scarcely uttered a sentence, when yells and groans
were discharged at him in volleys, and every time he attempted to be
heard, they were re-doubled. He gesticulated furiously, but in vain ;
and it was only on a portion of the audience insisting, either that the
performances should be heard, or that the curtain should fall, that he
was allowed to proceed. The words he had to utter were certainly a
mixture of nonsense and bad taste, nor is his bard, unpleasant manner
calculated to win upon a fastidious assembly—but we cannot approve
ot: these extreme demonstrations, as an indifferent actor will always
find his level in due time.
The long talked-of W. B., or Bid you ever Send your Frail to Berby ?
has been in rehearsal all the week, but in one of the green-rooms, not
upon the stage, the principal actor, it is said, being afraid of the
"traps," and having a nervous antipathy to face the lights, when he
can avoid it. A great mystery has been made about the affair, but
lobby-loungers say that the plot is pretty clear, and that some letters
which are read will produce a startling effect. There is a good
parody—"My name's Mr. Morgan, I don't live at Chester," and
one of the scenes is the interior of a London club; an Irish
Major is seated on a sofa, and is engaged in some mysterious
correspondence, when somebody crosses the room, and is mistaken
by the Irishman for the Editor of a London paper, who, he
fancies—(after the fashion of bis countryman, Mick, the valet to
Charles O'Malley)—wants to fill his journal with details con-
cerning the important Major. The Irishman's wrath blazes out, be
makes a ludicrous speech on a dinner-table, and bawls out to his
audience that they are " rabble " and that "he despises them from the
bottom of his heart" Great fun is said to come out of the whole affair,
but these attempts at secret .rehearsals, which, of course, are no secret
at all, say little for the tact of the parties concerned. The exclusion of
the press, always the best friend to real merit, bespeaks a timidity
which augurs ill for W. B.
On Thursday we had the old comedy of the West Indian, supported
rather ably. Mr. Wilson was very jovial in the character of Mr.
Molasses, who insists on reviewing the forces of the whole of the islands
and swears that they are the most powerful and valiant fellows extant,
and Mr. Paklngton was good in Sugarloaf, who is always wailing,
and sees nothing in sunshine but a reminder that shade must follow.
Altogether the performance was a legitimate one, though from the
thinness and coldness of the House, it is not probable that we shall
hear much more of the West Indian.
We hear that the Christmas Pantomime is to be called Harlequin
House-lax, or the Semitic Juggler and the Decidedly Disenchanted Island.
AQUATIC INTELLIGENCE.
Lord Maidstone's prophecy seems really to have been realised, for
if the letters of "Our Own Correspondents " maybe accepted as letters
of credit, there has been a continual deluge throughout the country,
almost ever since the Earl of Derry came from it. " Water, water,
everywhere ! " has been generally the cry. The barometer for months
has been standing at "much wet;" and while the rains have been
falling, the rivers have of course been rising, and the " meeting of the
waters " has been commonly attended with most inconvenient results.
In the lower districts especially, the tidings have been seriously high,
and many an act of bankruptcy has been in consequence committed.
Not the oldest playgoer ever remembers such a run of " overflowing
houses." Nine in ten have seemed invaded by the hydropathic system ;
for sheets have been watered after being aired, and almost every
room has had a bath in it. Nervous folks have even slept with life
preservers on; for, instead of waking in one's own bed, it has been no
uncommon thing to find oneself in that of the adjacent river. In short,
people have been living quite amphibious existences, and many have
found reason to wish themselves in France, where the water, it is well
known, is invariably I'eau.
We have no wish to speak lightly of this really heavy wet; but it
cannot be denied that things are going on most swimmingly.
the advantage of an inundation.
" A. Splendid Coin."
The Herald, in a fit of ecscacy, quotes the words of the Times—"The
Chancellor of the Exchequer was received with enthusiastic and
protracted cheering." Upon this the Herald beautifully observes—
" Take your change, Me. Gladstone and Lobd John, out of that! It is a splendid
coin, fresh from the mint of national intelligence and patriotism."
Take your change out of that! Out of what ? Out of Disraeli ?
Well, certainly no man ever showed himself more capable of change.
Never was such " a splendid coin " made up of so much unblushing
copper.
Vol. 23.
9
THEATRE ROYAL, WESTMINSTER.
BY OUR SLASHING CRITIC.
HE entertainments this week
have been of a slight and
desultory character, the ma-
nagement being, we presume,
glad to "put up" anything
they could get, while the great
novelty, The Budget, was being
rendered more fit for the boards
than on its ill-advised produc-
tion. We looked in for a short
time at the second performance
of this affair on Friday last,
but could see no great im-
provement, except that the
part of the ex-steward, Wood,
came " up " a little. His ad-
advice to Benny not to be
ashamed of bungling his ac-
counts, as he, Wood, had often
sent in an account wrongly
cast up three times running,
told upon the House ; and the
smartness of Dandy lorn, a
light character, by no means
new to tbe stage, but always
welcome, imparted a motion
to the business. We also
thought we listened to some
sentiments for which the
author of the Lady of Lyons is
responsible: and the applause
they received was by no means
meant for the successful
plagiarist who is understood to have concocted the Budget.
On Monday a succession of short:extravaganzas occupit d the evening.
A. brief but well conceived piece de circonstance, called The British
Fleet, was successfully produced, and has drawn a great deal of money,
as it deserved to do. The idea is a happy one, the sentiments excel-
lent, and we may add, thoroughly English. It is full of fire ; and we
have no hesitation in saying that it can triumphantly compete with any
French, work of similar construction. Although not a " Whig piece,"
the author has not dispensed with the old conventional powder, and
has judiciously prepared the way for keeping the audience in a tre-
mendous roar. Mr. Stafford played the principal character with
much spirit.
The same evening an actor named Carter, nearly new to the stage,
made his appearance in the disagreeable character of Cavil, in A
Nation's Tears. We have seen many instances of outrageous violence
on the part of an audience, but we never remember so dead a set being
made against any actor as was directed against this unfortunate Mr.
Carter. He had scarcely uttered a sentence, when yells and groans
were discharged at him in volleys, and every time he attempted to be
heard, they were re-doubled. He gesticulated furiously, but in vain ;
and it was only on a portion of the audience insisting, either that the
performances should be heard, or that the curtain should fall, that he
was allowed to proceed. The words he had to utter were certainly a
mixture of nonsense and bad taste, nor is his bard, unpleasant manner
calculated to win upon a fastidious assembly—but we cannot approve
ot: these extreme demonstrations, as an indifferent actor will always
find his level in due time.
The long talked-of W. B., or Bid you ever Send your Frail to Berby ?
has been in rehearsal all the week, but in one of the green-rooms, not
upon the stage, the principal actor, it is said, being afraid of the
"traps," and having a nervous antipathy to face the lights, when he
can avoid it. A great mystery has been made about the affair, but
lobby-loungers say that the plot is pretty clear, and that some letters
which are read will produce a startling effect. There is a good
parody—"My name's Mr. Morgan, I don't live at Chester," and
one of the scenes is the interior of a London club; an Irish
Major is seated on a sofa, and is engaged in some mysterious
correspondence, when somebody crosses the room, and is mistaken
by the Irishman for the Editor of a London paper, who, he
fancies—(after the fashion of bis countryman, Mick, the valet to
Charles O'Malley)—wants to fill his journal with details con-
cerning the important Major. The Irishman's wrath blazes out, be
makes a ludicrous speech on a dinner-table, and bawls out to his
audience that they are " rabble " and that "he despises them from the
bottom of his heart" Great fun is said to come out of the whole affair,
but these attempts at secret .rehearsals, which, of course, are no secret
at all, say little for the tact of the parties concerned. The exclusion of
the press, always the best friend to real merit, bespeaks a timidity
which augurs ill for W. B.
On Thursday we had the old comedy of the West Indian, supported
rather ably. Mr. Wilson was very jovial in the character of Mr.
Molasses, who insists on reviewing the forces of the whole of the islands
and swears that they are the most powerful and valiant fellows extant,
and Mr. Paklngton was good in Sugarloaf, who is always wailing,
and sees nothing in sunshine but a reminder that shade must follow.
Altogether the performance was a legitimate one, though from the
thinness and coldness of the House, it is not probable that we shall
hear much more of the West Indian.
We hear that the Christmas Pantomime is to be called Harlequin
House-lax, or the Semitic Juggler and the Decidedly Disenchanted Island.
AQUATIC INTELLIGENCE.
Lord Maidstone's prophecy seems really to have been realised, for
if the letters of "Our Own Correspondents " maybe accepted as letters
of credit, there has been a continual deluge throughout the country,
almost ever since the Earl of Derry came from it. " Water, water,
everywhere ! " has been generally the cry. The barometer for months
has been standing at "much wet;" and while the rains have been
falling, the rivers have of course been rising, and the " meeting of the
waters " has been commonly attended with most inconvenient results.
In the lower districts especially, the tidings have been seriously high,
and many an act of bankruptcy has been in consequence committed.
Not the oldest playgoer ever remembers such a run of " overflowing
houses." Nine in ten have seemed invaded by the hydropathic system ;
for sheets have been watered after being aired, and almost every
room has had a bath in it. Nervous folks have even slept with life
preservers on; for, instead of waking in one's own bed, it has been no
uncommon thing to find oneself in that of the adjacent river. In short,
people have been living quite amphibious existences, and many have
found reason to wish themselves in France, where the water, it is well
known, is invariably I'eau.
We have no wish to speak lightly of this really heavy wet; but it
cannot be denied that things are going on most swimmingly.
the advantage of an inundation.
" A. Splendid Coin."
The Herald, in a fit of ecscacy, quotes the words of the Times—"The
Chancellor of the Exchequer was received with enthusiastic and
protracted cheering." Upon this the Herald beautifully observes—
" Take your change, Me. Gladstone and Lobd John, out of that! It is a splendid
coin, fresh from the mint of national intelligence and patriotism."
Take your change out of that! Out of what ? Out of Disraeli ?
Well, certainly no man ever showed himself more capable of change.
Never was such " a splendid coin " made up of so much unblushing
copper.
Vol. 23.
9