DOI Heft:
March 16, 1878
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17732#0112
March 16, 1878.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
109
THE ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND.
IR, attitude is every-
thing.' '—Dr. Johnson-.
ff^^T^sxi ' ' '. -. :> Leo Bkltannicus
loquitur—
To ramp, or not to
ramp, that is the
question!
These posture-mas-
ters plague me.
Not a pose
From sprawl to
spring they would
not put me
through,
As though I were a
mere heraldic
beast.
There's one would
have me Couchant,
langued, and
fanged,
Hiant and hauriant;
while another
And furthest tip of my all-threatening tail.
It likes me not! Am I a sign-board sham,
Or stuffed-out simulacrum,—scarecrow set
To frighten Europe's choughs and daws and pies,
"With a few sticks and straw, and some old clothes ?
Nay, then, best paint me blue or red at once,
Give me a stiff pump-handle tail, and claws
Like nails at tenpence—curl up close my mane
In Gorgon knots, and write up underneath,
Good entertainment here for man and horse,
And ship and sailor. Come one, and come all! "
That I may bluster if I cannot bully,
And give the measure of my force by fuss,
And empty attitudinising ! No!
Leo Briiannicus is not a beast
Who needs to roar in proof of Lion-blood :
Warrant thereof is in his deeds of old ;
Strong in which warranty, and well assured,
His muzzle resting on his mighty arms,
Couchant and calm he lies, and for reproof
Of fume and fret, looks from his steady eyes,
And growls from his deep weasand, "Watch, and
wait! "
licking and lotus'g.
That Passant-Gardant better fits my port.
A third would have me Rampant as in act
Of leonine Bombastes Furio&o,
Belligerent to end of my least whisker,
swears
So the Sultan has exchanged congratulations with
the Czar. One would think that Russia had only been
licking Turkey as the great Bear licks her cub.
Tee Block of Legal Business.—The Wig Block.
OUR REPRESENTATIVE MAN.
At the Queen's for the New Tragedian—A Morning Performance in
Black—The Olympic—The Opera Comique—Remarks generally.
Sir,—A new tragedian has appeared. He has appeared twice, in
Othello. I was there on the first occasion. His name as announced
is Neville Moritz, but I believe it to be Moritz Neville ; and the
more it's Neville and the less it's Moritz the better, as far as I
can judge at present. I should call the Hungarian gentleman a
"finished actor ; " we may see something more of him, perhaps, but,
for my part, I think he is finished, at all events as far as Othello
goes, and that, in his hands, is not very far. Mr. Vezin, as Iago,
literally walked round Mr. Moritz, as is invariably the case when
the Othello is indifferent. Mr. Vizin rattled off some of his speeches
at such a pace as to be almost unintelligible. It seemed as if he
wanted to get home to dinner before playing again in the evening ;
but the effect of it was to mar what would otherwise have been a
most admirable performance. He must, however, be accredited
with a kindly and charitable feeling for the audience, as no doubt
the thought occurred to him, "if J want to get home and dine, how
much more must they ! " The JEmilia of Miss Genevieve Ward
was good, if not great. Mr. E. Brooke's Michael Cassio was a
most creditable performance ; it is so easy to overdo Cassio.
The Ne'er-Do-Weel at the Olympic has been sent back to the
usually-do-weel-wright to be mended. There '11 be several new
spokes put into it, I suppose, and the tire-ing part of it removed.
Mr. Hann's first scene in this piece, admirably painted, represented
a ruined mill, with a broken wheel, evidently the Ne'er-Do- Wheel,
that wouldn't go. Mr. Gilbert wrote this piece for Mr, Sothekn,
and, though capitally played by Mr. Neville, yet it struck me
that Mr. Sothern's peculiar style and metallic tone, would have
been more in accordance with the general action of the piece, which
seemed to me to be less serious than eccentric. However, it is
taken back to be altered, much as an Eton Boy has to rewrite his
copy of verses after his Tutor's correction. I do not understand
Mr. Neville's apology for Mr. Gilbert, as if he were pleading
"first fault" for a young and painstaking scholar. No one can be
more enthusiastic on the subject of originality in the Drama than
myself; I regret that any necessity should have ever compelled
Dramatic Authors to translate and adapt, and I heartily welcome
all original English plays.
"Out of fifty plays that Mr. Gilbert has produced," says
Neville in his apology (I am not quoting the exact words), " only
ten per cent, are adaptations."
That is to say, the real genuine sugar with less sand than at the
other shops. Well, but how about Mr. Byron ? With one excep-
tion, or perhaps two, and those the libretti of Operas, all his, and
they must amount to twice fifty, and more than that, have been, if
I am not mistaken, original. This apology was a mistake. What
will be the revised title of the Ne'er-Do- Weel ? Why, by kind
permission of Mr. Charles Reade. obtained in a left-handed
manner ofjcourse, it may perhaps be " Neville too late to mend."
A propos of Mr. Gilbert, though, let him be content, pro tern., with
the result of his Sorcerer. The quintette, and the old-fashioned duett
with minuet step, are the two best numbers in Mr. Arthur Sulli-
van's share of the work. Mr. George Gross^iith as Wellington
Wells is the Sorcereste3t Sorcerer that ever I did see or hear. His
incantation scene, his clear and intelligible patter song, and his
squatter's-run, are things which alone would repay a second visit
to the Opera Comique. And then his descent into Pandemonium,
fanning himself, putting on his gloves, and brushing his hat, as a
consistent partner in a respectable and old-established firm of
Family Sorcerers would do, of course, up to tbe^very last.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to Miss Everabd for her
demure Pew-Opener: like Mr. Grossjiith, she enters thoroughly
into the eccentric seriousness of the Author's erotetque idea.
The idea of placing a real live burlesque Vicar on the stage is a
bold one. But I saw two Clergymen in the stalls who thoroughly
enjoyed the joke, especially when his Reverence said, that, as a
penance, he would spend the remainder of his days in the congenial
gloom of a Colonial Bishopric.
But carry this further, how would a Ballet of Bishops be received ?
or a Pastoral symphony danced by Pew-Openers to the accompani-
ment of Pan-Anglicans playing on Pipes? Very soon, however, we
shall have a real Vicar at the Court, The Vicar of Wakefield, anew
version by Mr. Wills, author of Charles the First and England, in
the Daze, who has also adapted Pilgrim's Progress for the Poly-
technic, where it is to be given as a " Lenten Entertainment," with
dissolving views, ghost effects, and a lecture.
Bravo, Divine Wills ! Let me write the light part to finish up
with, for this will be "kept dark," of course, under the influence
of the magic lantern's gentle beams, and I think I can do something
thoroughly Polytechnical to be called The Diving Belle ! with a
splendid Zh'^er-tissement. But I forgot, this won't do for Lent, it
most be kept for Christmas.
A propos of Bells, I've not yet seen the Cloches de Corneville at
the Folly. I saw Milher in it at the Folies Dramatiques, and
Mr. Shiel Barry, evidently selected because of his capital Bell-
ringer in Fatherland at the Queen's, ought to be, barring the
brogue, quite up to the original. Again d propos of The Bells-
era this appears Louis the Eleventh will have been produced at the
Lyceum, and that Mr. Irving may score another success, i3 the
sincere wish of— Your Representative.
Dog-Boasting and its Results.
We beg Archdeacon Denison's pardon. He is not Rector of South
Brent, but Vicar of East Brent. But it was in his parish, it seems,
that the boys roasted the dog the other day, and were so in-
adequately punished by the Magistrates.
It is just for such cases of unmitigated and cowardly brutality
that one regrets the old punishment of flogging at the cart's-tail.
The publicity of it made it especially appropriate to cases where the
punishment ought to inflict bodily suffering in a form as impressive
and conspicuous as the crime is un-Christian and unmanly.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
109
THE ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND.
IR, attitude is every-
thing.' '—Dr. Johnson-.
ff^^T^sxi ' ' '. -. :> Leo Bkltannicus
loquitur—
To ramp, or not to
ramp, that is the
question!
These posture-mas-
ters plague me.
Not a pose
From sprawl to
spring they would
not put me
through,
As though I were a
mere heraldic
beast.
There's one would
have me Couchant,
langued, and
fanged,
Hiant and hauriant;
while another
And furthest tip of my all-threatening tail.
It likes me not! Am I a sign-board sham,
Or stuffed-out simulacrum,—scarecrow set
To frighten Europe's choughs and daws and pies,
"With a few sticks and straw, and some old clothes ?
Nay, then, best paint me blue or red at once,
Give me a stiff pump-handle tail, and claws
Like nails at tenpence—curl up close my mane
In Gorgon knots, and write up underneath,
Good entertainment here for man and horse,
And ship and sailor. Come one, and come all! "
That I may bluster if I cannot bully,
And give the measure of my force by fuss,
And empty attitudinising ! No!
Leo Briiannicus is not a beast
Who needs to roar in proof of Lion-blood :
Warrant thereof is in his deeds of old ;
Strong in which warranty, and well assured,
His muzzle resting on his mighty arms,
Couchant and calm he lies, and for reproof
Of fume and fret, looks from his steady eyes,
And growls from his deep weasand, "Watch, and
wait! "
licking and lotus'g.
That Passant-Gardant better fits my port.
A third would have me Rampant as in act
Of leonine Bombastes Furio&o,
Belligerent to end of my least whisker,
swears
So the Sultan has exchanged congratulations with
the Czar. One would think that Russia had only been
licking Turkey as the great Bear licks her cub.
Tee Block of Legal Business.—The Wig Block.
OUR REPRESENTATIVE MAN.
At the Queen's for the New Tragedian—A Morning Performance in
Black—The Olympic—The Opera Comique—Remarks generally.
Sir,—A new tragedian has appeared. He has appeared twice, in
Othello. I was there on the first occasion. His name as announced
is Neville Moritz, but I believe it to be Moritz Neville ; and the
more it's Neville and the less it's Moritz the better, as far as I
can judge at present. I should call the Hungarian gentleman a
"finished actor ; " we may see something more of him, perhaps, but,
for my part, I think he is finished, at all events as far as Othello
goes, and that, in his hands, is not very far. Mr. Vezin, as Iago,
literally walked round Mr. Moritz, as is invariably the case when
the Othello is indifferent. Mr. Vizin rattled off some of his speeches
at such a pace as to be almost unintelligible. It seemed as if he
wanted to get home to dinner before playing again in the evening ;
but the effect of it was to mar what would otherwise have been a
most admirable performance. He must, however, be accredited
with a kindly and charitable feeling for the audience, as no doubt
the thought occurred to him, "if J want to get home and dine, how
much more must they ! " The JEmilia of Miss Genevieve Ward
was good, if not great. Mr. E. Brooke's Michael Cassio was a
most creditable performance ; it is so easy to overdo Cassio.
The Ne'er-Do-Weel at the Olympic has been sent back to the
usually-do-weel-wright to be mended. There '11 be several new
spokes put into it, I suppose, and the tire-ing part of it removed.
Mr. Hann's first scene in this piece, admirably painted, represented
a ruined mill, with a broken wheel, evidently the Ne'er-Do- Wheel,
that wouldn't go. Mr. Gilbert wrote this piece for Mr, Sothekn,
and, though capitally played by Mr. Neville, yet it struck me
that Mr. Sothern's peculiar style and metallic tone, would have
been more in accordance with the general action of the piece, which
seemed to me to be less serious than eccentric. However, it is
taken back to be altered, much as an Eton Boy has to rewrite his
copy of verses after his Tutor's correction. I do not understand
Mr. Neville's apology for Mr. Gilbert, as if he were pleading
"first fault" for a young and painstaking scholar. No one can be
more enthusiastic on the subject of originality in the Drama than
myself; I regret that any necessity should have ever compelled
Dramatic Authors to translate and adapt, and I heartily welcome
all original English plays.
"Out of fifty plays that Mr. Gilbert has produced," says
Neville in his apology (I am not quoting the exact words), " only
ten per cent, are adaptations."
That is to say, the real genuine sugar with less sand than at the
other shops. Well, but how about Mr. Byron ? With one excep-
tion, or perhaps two, and those the libretti of Operas, all his, and
they must amount to twice fifty, and more than that, have been, if
I am not mistaken, original. This apology was a mistake. What
will be the revised title of the Ne'er-Do- Weel ? Why, by kind
permission of Mr. Charles Reade. obtained in a left-handed
manner ofjcourse, it may perhaps be " Neville too late to mend."
A propos of Mr. Gilbert, though, let him be content, pro tern., with
the result of his Sorcerer. The quintette, and the old-fashioned duett
with minuet step, are the two best numbers in Mr. Arthur Sulli-
van's share of the work. Mr. George Gross^iith as Wellington
Wells is the Sorcereste3t Sorcerer that ever I did see or hear. His
incantation scene, his clear and intelligible patter song, and his
squatter's-run, are things which alone would repay a second visit
to the Opera Comique. And then his descent into Pandemonium,
fanning himself, putting on his gloves, and brushing his hat, as a
consistent partner in a respectable and old-established firm of
Family Sorcerers would do, of course, up to tbe^very last.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to Miss Everabd for her
demure Pew-Opener: like Mr. Grossjiith, she enters thoroughly
into the eccentric seriousness of the Author's erotetque idea.
The idea of placing a real live burlesque Vicar on the stage is a
bold one. But I saw two Clergymen in the stalls who thoroughly
enjoyed the joke, especially when his Reverence said, that, as a
penance, he would spend the remainder of his days in the congenial
gloom of a Colonial Bishopric.
But carry this further, how would a Ballet of Bishops be received ?
or a Pastoral symphony danced by Pew-Openers to the accompani-
ment of Pan-Anglicans playing on Pipes? Very soon, however, we
shall have a real Vicar at the Court, The Vicar of Wakefield, anew
version by Mr. Wills, author of Charles the First and England, in
the Daze, who has also adapted Pilgrim's Progress for the Poly-
technic, where it is to be given as a " Lenten Entertainment," with
dissolving views, ghost effects, and a lecture.
Bravo, Divine Wills ! Let me write the light part to finish up
with, for this will be "kept dark," of course, under the influence
of the magic lantern's gentle beams, and I think I can do something
thoroughly Polytechnical to be called The Diving Belle ! with a
splendid Zh'^er-tissement. But I forgot, this won't do for Lent, it
most be kept for Christmas.
A propos of Bells, I've not yet seen the Cloches de Corneville at
the Folly. I saw Milher in it at the Folies Dramatiques, and
Mr. Shiel Barry, evidently selected because of his capital Bell-
ringer in Fatherland at the Queen's, ought to be, barring the
brogue, quite up to the original. Again d propos of The Bells-
era this appears Louis the Eleventh will have been produced at the
Lyceum, and that Mr. Irving may score another success, i3 the
sincere wish of— Your Representative.
Dog-Boasting and its Results.
We beg Archdeacon Denison's pardon. He is not Rector of South
Brent, but Vicar of East Brent. But it was in his parish, it seems,
that the boys roasted the dog the other day, and were so in-
adequately punished by the Magistrates.
It is just for such cases of unmitigated and cowardly brutality
that one regrets the old punishment of flogging at the cart's-tail.
The publicity of it made it especially appropriate to cases where the
punishment ought to inflict bodily suffering in a form as impressive
and conspicuous as the crime is un-Christian and unmanly.