THE THEATRES.
THOSE LWO little laughing places in the Strand, whose wide-open entrances, gaily lighted, invite the passengers to come in and be merry, lured us inside their doors this week, by the customary pretence of something new; and, as usual, the novelties proved to be as old as the stage,—the devices for making fun being as familiar to playgoers as the tricks and buffets of a pantomime. The Lyceum bills promised a comedy in two acts, called The Governor's Wife, which had been announced as in preparation a fortnight before. It turned out to be a farce, in which Keeley plays a mock gover. nor of the Sancho Panza species, and Mrs. Keeley an ex-teacher of a Smithfield school, where manners and grammar are " extras " rarely re- quired,—she is mistaken for the intended wife of a real governor. The Adelphi bills set forth a farce under the relishing title Dramatic Cookery, or how to Dish up a Farce; and gave instead, a scene for one, so senselessly absurd that even Wright, dressed in white and coining down a chimney looking unconscious of a blacked face, did not avert a volley of hisses; though even those who hissed the piece could not help laughing at the buffoon. The Lyceum farce—which, besides its comic couple, included a pair of sentimental self-sacrificing lovers, a choleric sea-captain, exploding like a cracker, and a dignified dispenser of fortune and happiness--was loudly applauded; that is, Mr. and Mrs. Keeley were. And as hisses are no more regarded by managers than " protests " by legislators, the recep- tion of the Adelphi stuff did not prevent the issuing of a flight of broad sheets announcing "another hit" in Brobdignag capitals.
A foreigner was wondering the other day how English theatres are kept open, without either drama or actors. To him, who regarded acting as an art, and the drama as the highest species of literature it seemed in- explicable; and it was difficult to make him understand ;hat people not altogether irrational would go and pay to sit for hours in a hot theatre and be amused with what their understandings despised. He could not con- ceive what desperate efforts we overworked islanders are capable of making to enjoy a laugh and forget realities for a while. A writer in Blackwood quotes from the burlesque of Cinderella and one of Planche's burlettas in rhyme, and wonders what Cocknies can find to admire in such absurd medleys of slang, doggrel, and word-play: but then, he (lucky wight!) is one of the shrewd fellows who get five guineas a day and travelling expenses for spending a few weeks in London sight-seeing; and a man who leaves his claret and champagne, and the society of engineers much more than civil, may well find the hackneyed smartness of wit- worn playwrights nnstimulating. Audiences now-a-days are living illustrations of the "pursuit of pleasure under difficulties "; and in- stead of sneering at their tolerance of trash, one should admire their pa- tience and perseverance, and applaud their determination to be amused. They literally " assist " at the representation, as the French have it. In- deed, since the performances afford so little scope for criticism, we must think of scrutinizing the audiences. Theatrical reports should run thus : "The efforts of the audience to enjoy the entertainment were most praise- worthy. The boxes appeared passive at first, and inclined to be fastidious; but they warmed to their work, and not only applauded frequently, but even laughed audibly and with seemingly spontaneous hilarity. The pit behaved very well; clapping vigorously and with discriminating judgment, and giving free play to their lungs. But the gallery was beyond all praise: shouts of merriment burst forth at every joke, however stale; and that `no- meaning which puzzles more than wit' was received with clattering of feet and cries of ' brayvo '; evincing a due appreciation of the author's talent. So brilliant a reception as was bestowed by the 'gods' on this occasion has never been experienced by so bad an entertainment: the dul- ness of the piece excited their fancy, and, inspired by copious draughts of porter, pleasantries of the most familiar kind were exchanged incessantly, and echoed by peals of laughter that shook the whole house."
Previous page
