ACTORS’ BENEFITS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5253, 24 January 1878, Page 3

ACTORS’ BENEFITS.

A writer in the Queenslander says ■lf, as in by-gone days, benefits are not thrust upon actors, a surrey of a year’s play-bills will amply testify to the numerous calls made by individual actors upon the public, and it is noticeable how readily and cheerfully actors and actresses come forward with gratuitous assistance to their brethren. But, save in the cases of benefits to acknowledged “ Stars,” or benefits the arrangements of which are taken in hand by aristocratic committees, the afternoon performances given as benefits do not bring a great deal of money to the needy coffers. If there remain a credit balance at all, there is, indeed, in those “’ard times,” as Mr. Eccles remarked, much to be thankful for. Tire author of “ The Prompter's Box” makes his hero, W. de Lacy Fitzaltamont, tragedian, lecturer,"and comic singer-, sarcastically complain that his last benefit brought him £1 175., and tlrat some of his patrons forgot to pay for their tickets, which still further diminished the total. But there is a story of a French actor —and the late Mr. Murray quoted the ta!e in one of his addresses at the Adelphi Theatre many years ago —who protested against having a benefit, it being compulsory in olden times by the letters of agreement, for actors to take one, the manager being careful to take for his share the actual expenses of the performance, and if the receipts amounted to less, to deduct from the actor’s salary the deficient sum. So when the date for the Frenchman’s benefit was approaching—he was playing iu the provinces —in vain he expended all his civility imploring the manager not to give him one. “ Oh, sair, be so good, s’il vous plait,”—“ Si vous nonsense and humbug,” replied the austere manager ; “ I cannot break through my rule, which says that every member of my company shall have a benefit.” It was no use arguing, the manager was inexorable and despotic, and the actor had, with the best possible grace, to submit. The eventful evening passed, and the Frenchman’s spirits appeared, after the accounts had been balanced, to be brighter than usual. A friend enquired of him as to what pecuniary success his benefit had brought him. “Oh, magnifique,” camo the reply from the joyful actor, “superb, bountiful, benefit dis year—l only lose five pounds !”