The National Register. — London, England, 1818-10-19 00:00:00

OCT 19 TILE DRAMA. DIIURY JANE •I'IIEATRE. Novelty seems to be the order of the day—and if we are not gratified by old thces, the present Management scents determined to supply their deficiency by a succes eion of variety. On Monday, The Provo4o! Husband, One of the best comedies in the old range of the drama, was produced for the purpose, of introducing Mr. D. Fisher in the diameter of Lord Townley, and Mrs. West in that of My Lady. The comic humour is exquisite ; the characters true to nature , and the pathetic scenes touching and affecting,. [le dandies of the present day have almost superseded the polished air and deportment of well-bred gentlemen—though we mav still boast of many in the higher circles who preserve the characteristic of true dignity. Few actors, indeed, can succeed in giving due effect to Lord Town ley—therefore, in stating our opinien that Mr. Fisher was not eat:needy successfitl, may, perhaps, not derogate touch from his general merits. The comedy itself is not so attractive as it deserves Of Mrs. West, we are gratified to say she acquitted herself with ton s: lerable ability—her milk scenes were marked by ease nail polished gaiety—and although allured by the plea sures of fashionable life, she gave hopes of future rei . ei elation ; and in the reconciliation scene, she com pletely toak possession of the feelings of the audience. On toe whole, she displayed much versatility of talent, and was frequently interrupted by testimonies of ap probation. Mrs. Orger, in Lady Grace, looked cap tivating ; and Mrs. Alsop rendered the part of Jenny very amusing. 11 - e dnesslay.—Cumberland's comedy of The Fashion ablr Lover was revived this evening. It is one of those piece; which may produce some interest in the closet on account of the. benevolent sentimente and sensible ob servations upon life and character which occasion ally occur : but there are very few revivals that re plenish eve treasury ;—and, this instance, it requires talents sof the highcst order to render it even tolerable. We do not wish to discourage the Manager in his selection, but certainly the comedy " went off" very languid. Mr. H. Johnstone spoke the Scotch dialect with great fluency in Colic M'Lcod. Mrs. West, in Augusta Aubrey, was interesing ; and Mrs. Orger exerted herself to overcome the odious and repulsive . aspect of Miss Bridgcmore. Dibdin's farce of'Mq Spouse and I followed ; in which a Mr. Yarnold made his first bew te.a London audience in the character of .Vcd. Wregret he had not a fuller house to witness his debut, as he certainly pessesses talent, which, though nut of the first order, may, by practice in a metropolitan theatre, produce " good jruit." Hy met with a fa vourable reception, and was deservedly encored in one of the songs. The tragedy of Macbeth was performed on Thursday night. Mr. Kean wag, of coureo, the hero of the scene, but there was a new heroine. Mrs. West, who had already acquired no small degree of reputation in claracters of a very diflisrent cast, appeared for the first time as Ludo Macbeth. The consequence was such as night have been ea-Hy anticipated An actress, whose ellief distinction was ft:asinine tenderness, ail:irded very imperfect sketch .of the aspiring wonatn whom ambition had unsexed. We do Dot, however, insinuate that the attempt was altogether a failure. It contained Some good peints, and displayed, upon the whole, so Latch intellect, that it may be said to have lost the neeessary impression rather from physical than mental disability. It is to be considered in extenuation of any defkiency with which it might be fairly charged, that among the host of aspirants to the same part since the time of Mrs. Siddons, not one can be said tu have suc ceeded. It will be collected from what we have ready stated, that in working up her husband's mind to merder—in reproaching him for his visitations of conseience—and in wresting the daggers from hint with indignation, to visit the scene of death herse:f—the recolketion of that awful energy of lvilich the stage is now deprived, prevented her from taking a strong hold of the feelings ; her best scenes were, probably, that of the banquet, and that in which she displayed the borreis of a guilty sleep. Mr. H. Kemble was the ellue&S, and acquitted himself respectably. COVENT-GA UDEN. Miss O'Neil has resumed her professional duties at this theatre. On Monday evening she made her first appearance this season, in her favorite character of Belvir!era, and the applause of a crowded house paid a just trilu to her unrivalled talents. Mrs Siddons io this character, as in her general style of acting, ps sessol a mind which " tower'd above her se::.: " she per son Pied nature, not with its ortlinaq attiihutes, but arrayed in all the loftier energies of commanding irls sions Miss O' Neil's delineation, on .the other hand, is simidieity ornamenting thc witchery of youth and loveliness. Mrs. Siddons displayed a majestic tiirtitode of mind, swaying a despviie seertre over the tributary feelings—Miss O'Neil is mild without insipidity ; gentle, yet dignified ; full of overlloxv Mg tenderness, •y et full of taptivating modesty. Ihe ardour of her last lsi; , s in her btrewell interview with .Thi/e'cr, was etputlly fervent with the impassioned yet chaste em brace with which, in Isabella, she greets her llirtm; THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Where the impulse of conjugal tenderness predominates in every llhre of her heart, and glows in evert• le.iture of her face. Iler look of horror on hearing the fatal bell which proJahned the fate of her husband's friend, and her last hysteric s where exhausted Nature ap peared to sink-.-.-ALL were delusions so operative in their magic, that sober judgment yielded, thr the evening, to their potent C Kemble's Affier was in his best style ; and Mr. Young's Pies re, excel lent. Tues.:My—A wnv comic opera was produced this evening, under the title of Tile Barber of Senille: it is, with the exception of two or three characters well introduced, a counterpart of 11 Barbieri, di .Siviglia, which was so attractive last season at the King's Thea tre. The best songs, some of the minor pieces, with the fluul.:s of the Original, were preserved : and, although we should have considered the purely Italian composition of liosini as the last which could, with any probability of success, be adapted to En! , :lish words; yet, in this instance. such difficulty has been most fully surmounted. The other music is judiciuusly se lected from Paesiello, or composed by Bishop. We have rarely received such a musical treat at an Ew*lish theatre ; and the audience seemed to participate in the same pleasure, and to feel the superior refinement of the composition.—Mrs. Dickens, after an iOsence of two years, during which time she has acquired consi. derabie reputation on the Continent, presented herself in the character of lias•ina. This lady has few, if any, competitors as an English singer : her style and man ners (greatly improved by her study and practice abroad) are bold and determined; her action peculiarly graceful ; her taste correct—her cadences always judicious—her execution neat and articulate—and her expression ad mirably dramatic and characteristic: her voice has ac quired additional sweetness. She was rather tremulous in her first song, from that beautiful air of Paoiello, which is the ground-work of our " For tenderness forad ;" but she soon recovered her self-possession.— In one song, accompanied by herself on the piano forte, she evinced infinite skill and science and was deservedly encored.—The piece was repeated on Wednesday the applause of a gratified audience was as universal as it was merited.—ln Fielding's Miser, which followed, Mr. W. Farrell performed the part of Lvego/d, so ably represented by Emery, with the same truth and excel lence which he has displayed in all his previous per sonitkations. Beaumarchais' Barber of Sev lie was first introduced on the English stage, by the late G. Colman, Esq. about 10 years ago, under the title of The Spani.ch Barber, at the .1 laymarket Theatre. At that time, John Painter was the Coant Alinaviva; Parsons, Ballolo; Edwin, Figaro; and Mrs. Bannister ( then Miss Harper), the liosina. Upon its revival, some years after, the present Countess of Derby was the heroine of the Drama. The new Stib-Committee of Drury Lane consists of Mr. Moore, Col'mel Douglas, Mr. Wilson, Alderman Cox (the banker), and A,r. 7.rottmonger. Mr. Rubins was proposed by Lord Yarmouth, and had one vote. — It is said that the election of the above Sub-Committee is to be submitted to a general meeting of the Proprie tor 4. _ Mr. Foote of the Haymarket Theatre, and little Clara Fisher, are now giving recitations and select scenes from Sletkspeare, with success, at the Assembly Rooms at Salisbury. The half price lobby loungers, a Correspondent ob serves, are become a very great nuisance in the theatres. Many of them are low fellows, of bad manners and no breeding. They are noisy and clamorous, and gene rally act like cowards, by finving their way into boxes, though crowded, particularly where there are unpro tceted females. Several shop boys and Jew Dandies, Tuesday night, before half price, rushed into Covent Garden Theatre, and behaved in the must audacious manner, and it was found necessary to have constables to preserve order. After sweeping the shop in the morning, they conceive that they have a right to " kick up a dust" in the evening. On Saturday, the American Indians, who have been performing fur sonic time in the Theatre here, were, at the request of the Royal Company of Archers, allowed by Mr. Murray to shoot with them at the Company's Batts. The distances at which the Indians are accus tomed to shoot, arc so.muell shorter than the distance practised by the Royal Company, that no just comparison could be firmed of th. , merits of the shooterA. The party afterwartts went to the field, where the Royal Company shot at rovers, much to the astonishment of the Indians, who had no idea of the distance which proper bows :and arrows can command. The accoutre ments of the Indians are extremely coarse and awkward, and only calculated for short distances, where they are used with great precision and eabet. The Company presented their visitors with some arrows and bow strings, which highly pleased them. At taking leave, their chief returned thanks, by the interpreter, fiir the civilities shewn to them, in a speech of some length, in which he expressed the surprise of himself and his warriors at finding brother archers ill Edinburgh, so fiuttiiiar with the use of the bow, and in particular. their surmise at the distance and aaeuracy of the field shooting.—liclintur.;h Ccuiraul, `3:43 DRURY LANE TIIE.ITUE. Friday, in pursuance of a circular sent iw the Se cretary, inviting the eivilitors of the establishment to meet the Sub-Committee, a numerous attend:om. took place in the saloon of the theatre The only Members of the Sub-Committee present were, Mr. Alderman Cox and Mr. Ironmonger. Mr. Alderman Cox having been unanimously called to the Chair, stated to the Meeting, that the sole objet t which the Sub-Committee had in view was the pm:. perity of the Theatre, and as a proof of the sincerity of their intentions, they had determined personally and at their individual hazard to make a tender in liquida tion of the debts of the concern, which they trusted would prove satisfactory. Ile, therefipre, on !heir part submitted to the Meeting the fidlowing proposition ; that estimating the total amount of the debt ut 3.1.,0001, of which one half was to be paid, the Sub-Committee were ready in the first instance to liquidate by prompt payment ss. in the pound, amounting to 8.:1001. and to render themselves personally responsible fix the pay ment of the remaining 8,5001. at the end of the present season. Mr. Ironmonger observed, that in this offer the five persons who composed the Sub-Committee could have no selfish end to answer, but that, on the contrary,they individually subjected themselves to a great and certain expenditure, attended with consiberable risk, while in their official situations they were not bound to sacrifice a single shilling. After some discussion, in which it was clearly under. stood, that unless the creditors universally' agreed to the proposal, the object for which the Meeting was called would be nugatory, the Members of the Sub-Committee withdrew, and a Committee of the principal creditors was appointed to take the proposal into consideration, and report thereon. THEATRICAL CORREWONDENCE. The following curious correspondence, which actually took place in the year i 718, may serve to illustrate the theatrical management of that period :—A man of the name of Stone, who was frequently employeA by Gar. rick to get recruits tin- the low parts of the drama, had hired a f.llow to pertinan the Ahop of Mywhester, in Hem?, VIII. but on the night of performance sent a note to Garrick iu these word., " SlE,—Thv Ihshop of Winch,ntsr is getting drunk at the Bear, And sweats, d—n his eyes, if he will iday to-night, " I. aid louts W. STONE." To which Garrick int ineiliately wrote this answer Stone, the Biihoo may go to the deed: I du nut know a greats tast•al except yourself. D. G." Souse time afterward, Stone wrote as follows : SIR—Mr. Lacey tufrierl me oat of the lobby yencrday ; I only Red for my two guineas fur the last bishop, and he swore I should not hare a l'arthing. I cannot live upon air. I have a few cupids you may have cheap, as they belong to a poor journeyman shoemaker who I drink stitch now and then.—l am, &c. W. STONE." A NSW ER :—" Stole, you are the hest fellow in the world; bring the cupids to the theatre 0-morrow ; it they are under six, and well made, you stall have a guinea apiece for them. you can get me two good nsurder:rs, I will pay you handsoludy, particularly the spouting Mlow, who keeps the apple-stall on 'foster-hill: the cut in his face is just the thing. Pick ❑re up an <lld:rman, or two for Richard, if you can, and I hare no o'ujeetion to treat with you for a comely Mayor," D. G." DESTRUCTION OF THE LIMERICK THEATRE.—Last night the Theatre Royal in Cornwallis-street was to. tally consumed by rire, which broke out between I 1 and F 3 o'clock, and though the attendance of the fire engines W:l9 immediate, and the supply of water consi derable, yet the flames spread so rapidly, that the progress of them could not be got under until the interior of tne budding was destroyed. The theatre had 'seen since Wednesday under g oing some necessary repairs, preparatory to the introduction of Miss Ste phens and Mr. Horn, who, with the entire strength of Crow-street, were to make their appearance in it next Monday se'nniLL•t This theatre was built in 1770,. and then cost 90u1.—(Limerick Chronicle, Oct. 1.) The residence of the Princess of Wales in Italy, is on the sea chore, near Pesaro, and between SO and 40 miles from Ancona. Her Royal Highness having no English and very few foreign visitors, bus patronized the building ofa new Theatre at Pesaro, at which she passes her evenings, as often as it can be kept ope.i ; but the population of the place is so small, that the amliences do not supine• the perrormers, tiny as tiny are, and the company could not exist without the Princess's subscription. The Theatre is supposed to have been • built chiefly at her expellee. She has a sta;e box there, to which she is attended with s:mie form by her suite. The Princess has not yet luuud a purchaser for her scat at Como. Baron Bergamo, who is steward of the lionsehoM, drives a eurric.e and pair, in the English style, attended b}• a groom It is snpposed, that the Princess will not return to England till sonic years _ _ . The diamonds and the ether jewels worn by the. Princess I )e. la Tour and Taxis, at the late ball, in A.x. la-Chapelle, were then estimated, by a jeweller, itt the sun: of two mi Dions of tianes, ‘vltieli is equal to upwards or 80,0001. She is each admiral by the King of Pro::. !ia, on account of her superior talents for conversatten, her ,graceful f o tee, awl, her ?cranial charms.