The National Register. — London, England, 1814-12-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. DRAMATIC REGISTER. ROS clouded. The Sultan immediately invokes the King qr the Genii, whose attendants seize Nora, whom lie only recog nizes at the moment she sinks with them into the eat th. A. voice then informs him that the Ninth Statue is in his power: he returns to the subterraneous palace, and finds Nora on the pedestal. The King oft/he Genii then appears a sec►'nd time, surrounded with ministering spirits, and tells him that 11 per fect woman is more precious than gold and diamonds. The piece concludes with the nuptials of the lovers. In such a canvass, splendour of scenery is more requifit* than delineation of character, or excellence of dialogue.— That the latter should be plain, provided it do not sink into 'absurdity, is. therefore, all that can be expected, and all that will be found in " The Ninth Statue.'' The introduction of the Irishman was probably meant to enliven the piece, an in tention which, notwithstanding johnstone's execl!ence, has not been completely realised. The heaviness of the first ac•t is, however, considerably relieved by the bustle of the se cond. The music with which it is intersperitd is pleasing, and the overture tasteful. Both, with the exception of two Irish melodies, arc of Mr. Horn's compost ion. But the chief merits of this piece consist in its scenery. On this nis expence seems to have been spared ; and in point of novelty, grandeur, and effect, it equals, if it does 'not surpass, the richest wonders that any Theatre has yet displaed. The "Ninth Statue" was received with boundless applause, and maintains its popularity. On Wednesday last the Opera of The• Bride, gave us a fresh opportunity of observing the improvements which have taken place in Mr. Brahath's style of singing and acting. Ills voice possesses all its original haTmonv, flexi bility, and power. It is, if ary thing, clearer than ever, and his taste has decidedly improved, or, at least, has burst through the shackles of popular ;. , rejudice, and begun to serf its own superiority to compliance with the wi,lies of the multitude, he had pith , rto.quite oyet powered the sim plicity of his songs under a crowd of ornaments which were executed with so much delicacy, elegance, and skill, as to seduce the ear into half adprob.o ion of what the judgment rep , oved. When the impropriety of this practice was re presented to him, we understand, he fairly acknowledged. it, but urged, whilst he lamented, the bad taste of the public. which lavished all its applause on these brilliant faults, whilst the most beautiful melodies were heard without any expres ei:or of satisfaction when sung in their native simplicity. This reasoning, which was but too long well founded, is now nolonger so, and the delight with which Mr. liraham's chastened execution was listened to ou Wednesday last, will, we trust, encourage bin to perrevere in the exquisite style which he then adoptec Feeling breathed through all his notes, and purer harmony never stole upon the car of mat:. Yet, though his execution was simpler, the powers of his voice were not cher ked, they only were better applied, and never produced more efTect. as the rapturous applause which be received amply testified. Ilut it was not merely as r singer that lie claimed aporohation. He has now thrown oft all his for mer frigidity ()faction. His dialogue is no: animated, but occasionally, and where it necessary, emphatically so. His gestures are appropriate, Lod his cou•oennore is become the mirror that 3 effect: the affections of ! , e s ti within. At the moment when he revealed himself 0; his oere lions and exclaimed, " Yes, villain, I :on Coror cl it w i t % such a burst of energy.; ,• and cloouence of 1.. ,k 004 g-vo re as would not have surer ‘ed to , i r •)ne of on. tlist tral.;ie perk formers. lle really elec. , 'chit the • •U tri this passage, as well as in many other. of the drjs . is t xr.....ence was • crowned with rewarding plaudits. DRURY-LANE. On Tuesday last a new afterpiece, called The Ninth Statue, .sor Me Irishman in Bagdad, was produced at this theatre, and itas since continued .to enjoy the favour of the public. It is taken from the story of Prince Leyn Alasnam and the King a the Genii, in the Arabian Night's Entertainments, and has received from the liberality of managers, the talents of the painter and the skill .of the machinist, all that can give a .momentary reality to the wildest wonders of Asiatic enchant ment. The story is undoubtedly too well known .to require that more than its outline should be noticed, together with the alterations which it has undergone. Prince Alasnam, Sultan of Balsora (Mr. Wallack), having ,exhausted his father's treasures a few months after ascending the throne, is on the eve of falling a victim to the indigna• ' Lion of same injured individuals, when he is rescued by Ki/roomy, an Irishman (Mr. Johnstone), whose daughter Nora (Miss Kell)) had previously been conveyed to his Seraglio."' On finding that his deliverer, whom , he appoints the' captain of his guards, is father to his love, he preposes to dismiss all his other women, and to marry her. The delicacy of the Irishman, however, will not allow the Pritice to contract a marriage which must lower him in the eyes of his periple. Disappointed in his tenderest affections, and tired with reading the useless petitions of his .eubjects, he falls into an uneasy "sluthher, in which the spirit of his father appears to him, and reveals a- secret passage - which leads to hidden treasures. On wakitm, the Prince realises his dream, and descends into a suhtei:raneous palace, containing ;rases full of gold, and eight statues enMi.osed of a single diamond. The ninth pedestal k empty, but a scroll informs him that he can obtain the Ninth Statue which sur passes all the rest in value, by applying to aforabee (Mr. (;attie) one of his father's ancient servants. Accompanied by Kilroony and his daughter disguised as a boy, Alasnam 'repairs to Morabec's, who invokes the king of the Genii. The latter appears, with a degree of fanciful magnificence, which really does not seem to be the creation of man. He promise: the Ninth Statute to Alasnam, provided he brings him in twenty days the most beautiful and perfect girl in the world ; and that he might find her mit. he gives him a mir ror, which will grow clouded when outward appearances deceive him, and will remain unsullied, when it reflects the form of real virtue as well as superior beauty. The second ct consists of the various attempts of the Sultan to fulfil hi , promise. Sixteen hundred and thirty seven ladies at his own court, having stained the purity of the glass, lie determines to seek to repair to other countries, as fie will not allow Nora to make the trial, lest it should succeed. and he should be compelled to give her up to the :King of the Genii. She cOntinues to atte►rd 11;m, however, as a boy, with her father, and rescues them bOth at Bagdad from the vengeance . of the daughter of the Grand Visier• (Miss Boyce), who, irritated by the failure of her trial, wished to - destroy them, arid whose dress she assumes. Under this disguise she loOks into the'fatal glass, which remain sun- i 4.