Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

To THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE NORFOLK THEATRE.

It is rumoured in town, that Mr. Payne has offered to rent the Theatre of you for ten years, at three dollars per share more, than you at present get for it from Mr. Green and that Mr. Payne is likely to succeed in his application.

Before you accede to this proposition and remove Mr. Green and his Company from this stage entirely, the following suggestions may not be unworthy of your candid and generous consideration.

For fourteen years past Mr. Green has been attached to the Virginia Company of Comedians, and has always been acknowledged as an actor of the first character.

For the last four years, he has been Manager of this Theatre, and I am sure you need not be reminded, that under his direction the talents and reputation of the Company have far exceeded any that were ever introduced here in the days of Mr. or Mrs. West; and that on every season he has made some new and valuable acquisition; at all times disregarding the price if he could add to the instruction, and amusement, of a liberal public.

Lately, he has united with him in the management Mr. Placide, a gentleman of the first genius and talents in his profession, an ornament to the Stage, monitor to the Company, and a man, who by every regard you have for Dramatic Science, you ought to encourage, and keep among you.

Mr. Green, has brought the talent of the Virginia Company to a comparison with the best in the United States; he has furnished the Theatre with new and elegant Scenery and decorations never before seen here, our Orchestra of the first musical acquirements. And in short, the Virginia Theatre under the management and direction of Mr. Green, has acquired an entire new character, for excellence of acting, elegance of Scenery, &c. and for every other improvement that the public could wish or expect.

He has, and yet continues, to exhibit to the people of Norfolk, performers of the first celebrity in the country, and on all occasions he has made the will and diversion of a generous public, the guide of his professional conduct.

Will you then with these known facts before you, be the means of ousting an old and faithful servant, against whom no shadow of complaint exists of forcing from you, the first Comic performer in the country, at a time when the stage has acquired new lustre from his genius and character; and of many old favorites of the present company, too, with whom you are all pleased, and who you all esteem?

And all for the paltry consideration of 3 dollars per share making in all but 75 dollars, and to no one of you (and of those, very few) an increased profit on your stock of more than 12 dollars a year.

The present managers rent the Theatre at 500 dollars per year and are willing to take it for ten years at the same price, make improvements upon it, and give good and sufficient security for the payment of the rent.

This rent has heretofore been thought enough for a house, impaired as it is, having not an inch of ground but what it covers; and when you know that the thorough fare through the lot of Mrs. West is about to be shut, by which the managers will incur heavy expense for a back yard, out of some of the land adjoining, (which cannot be dispensed with) and recollect the tax of 200 dollars they pay to the Corporation, you surely will not remove, or add to the rent of an old and punctual tenant (now in possession and against whom you have no complaint merely because competition is excited, offering the thing rent of 3 dollars a share more. However much you may wish to strike at the offer of Mr. Payne, and to keep his shining and aspiring talents in Norfolk every consideration of justice, generosity and gratitude is due to the present Managers of the Theatre, to whom you ought to give the preference without aggravating the rent.

Besides, it may not be amiss to enquire how long under the new tenant it will take to repair the house, procure new scenery, dresses and decorations; to engage a whole Company of performers and musicians, to play in Norfolk only, for two or three months, when they engage elsewhere to go the circuit of three or four different Theatres, and be employed almost all the year. When then, may we expect this Theatre to open again?

The publick and interest of the drama, respectfully hint that you will consider well before you abandon then entirely of their old friends for light and trivial causes.

SHAKSPEAR