WHEN an actor, a manager, or any one else connected
or unconnected with the theatres, sets about getting up a benefit, his first object is to gain the good word of the journals. A puff—whether slily manufactured by a Penny-a-line man, or emanating from a day-tall critic, or even, it may be, from the good-nature of the editor—is more read, and tells better than any advertisement ; and this the ben&lciaire well knows. Such a notice is generally secured by a present of tickets in proportion to the value of the entertainment. We might defend our noticing this trick of the craft, on the ground that it constitutes no part of our own practice ; but a Sunday contemporary of last week has rendered any delicacy unnecessary, by frankly avowing that he would not criticise an entertainment because he had received but a single admission.* The puff preliminary announces, in the most persuasive terms, and with an air of the most charming disinterestedness, that the attractions on Signor Squall-and-stare-o-'s night will be so superlatively great, that no one who values his own pleasure or the Signor's merit can possibly avoid crowding to enjoy them. The Signor in return presents the editor with a box for his friends. It will now and then happen that boxes are in extraordinary request—that the pit fills with unexpected rapidity : and in these cases the orders may look to be treated rather scurvily, and the party, after delighting their fancies with visions of PASTA, MALIBRAN, or SONTAG, sometimes find, on their arrival at the door, that the bit of paper which was to usher them to the living presence of these divinities is dishonoured. At M. LAURENT'S benefit last year, several cases of this nature are said to have occurred. The theatre, from some accidental cause, was crowded to an overflow with purchased admissions ; and such visitors being much more welcome than the others, M. LAURENT'S orders were refused by the doorkeepers. A few of the disappointed parties grumbled aloud ; many of them grumbled in secret ; but after the laudation bestowed on M. LAURENT, it was rather a delicate affair to turn round on a sudden and attack him. Men in power are everywhere moved in the same way. Wo to the wight that offends the least of them !—if he be compelled to restrain his wrath for a time, he will not restrain it for ever.
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M. LAURENT has come again before the public as a Wficiaire, and the anger that had been [slumbering for a twelvemonth now bursts forth to overwhelm him. We do not approve of his conduct last sea- son, or of those who acted in his name: we think it was unjust, and what is less excusable, that it was imprudent. If some of our con- temporaries, who now challenge his right to a benefit, would frankly acknowledge the cause of their objection, we should have no more to say : " Call it by the right name, and peep as long as you will." But when they support it by arguments that are inapplicable, we must dissent from their conclusions. M. LAURENT, it is said, has no riolit to a benefit, because he is no longer lessee of the theatre ; but what right had he to a benefit last year, when M. LAPORTE had already taken one ?—There is a singular confusion of ideas, and an immensity of twaddle, on the subject of benefits. The claim of the Wieficiaire is not a claim on the public, but on the lessee. If the latter deem it the more convenient way, there can be no possible reason why he should not pay his butcher and baker by a benefit. The point in which the public are interested, is to have good pieces well performed : if they can secure that, it matters not a jot into whose pocket the pro- fits if the night go. Indeed, so far from advising any one to stay away from a benefit, we should rather advise him to press forward, for the plain reason that your bi'mylciaire always offers more entertainment than your lessee does. And with respect to the quality of the two performances—we pretend to some small skill in theatrical matters, mid we declare on our critical conscience, that with all our rules mid the nicest analysis we should be incapable of telling the difference hetween Soarrao's trilling when exerted for LAPORTE and when for LAURENT, unless by reference to the bill.
The Times has a method with its theatrical admissions, which suits well with the proud dignity of the Leading Journal : it purchases the whole,—scorning to be obliged even in the least matters. No manager can shut it oat.
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