The National Register. — London, England, 1815-08-06 00:00:00

TUE NA.T4ONAI. litbaTF.R. Contrast has not been wrongly considered one of the highest sources of no old gratification. Otherwise, how could we ex plain the taste of the times ? In the midst of stupendous events, (-alcohol d to ao akin all the energies of the passions and to swell the oOtol pith e xaled Woiliter, it would be natural to expect that :i,ocitts and ideas should imbibe a portion of moral grandeur, most ;oat star roil tor of our manners and feeliNgs, the stage, should 7sitlrc/ 11 , )littill! hilt what is great. impressive, arid elevated. Yet moo on Mole at our modern theatrical prodoctious and discover in them those eharac•teristics ? Their sole aim is to divert, not inortiot, y play with the imagination, but never affect the li t oirr. The hoonoor of a pantomime, and the bustle of a farce, arc girds rigid to the paillos of the Tragic Muse, and if the dramas of same illustrious binds still retain their place on the stage, they ewe that privilege to the opportunity which they afford to a few super-emilicot performers, of displaying all the excellencies of the lOstriso.•ealt. In fact, were posterity to judge of the present retie ratiotetrom the nature of its dramatic pieces, it would describe tis as a ligbulieedeil, sportive race, amongst whom the powers of the fool .operreolid the sensibilities of the heart. The catise of Ibis seeming contradiction is to be fennd in the rTeasure which contrast yields. In the midst of grave cirein *latices, of gigantic exertions abroad, and heavy horthens at home, see want to be enlivened, nut depressed. One authors tbllow, in stead of attempting- to direct, the public bias, and farces and ope ratic pieces, are almost the only dramatic novelties of the age. •iNtioingst the pleasing specimens of this sportive kind, may he rooked a new mnsiral farce, entitled, My Aunt, which, on Toes day last seas iirodueed it this theatre. It possesses the necessary qoalifications of bustle a n d sprightliness in an eminent degree, with tire ley- common merit of simplicity of plot. •A «ilsivonng ottioer called Doshoit, (Wallack) on his way to an aunt ( FirltieWl`) whom he has never seen, to marry her pro ite i .r,(e ( Miss Poole) with whom he is only acquainted by having re ceived her picture, stops at an inn, within a few miles of her man sion boost.. and meeting with sharpers, loses all his money, his watch horses and cierricle at play in the course of the night. The next morning Capt. Ft:neat (Pone), who es the fottimate lover of ilahhairs intended wife, at rives at the same inn with his servant, RoWc( llarlevl, He there. finds his friend whom he knows not yet as his rival, net sunk io despondency aid despair, but laughing at Lis own ruin, and stating that of all that lie 'possessed nothing re. mairted hut the portrait of his mistress, elespoi led of the brilliants with which it was mounted He shows that portrait to Vincent, who is near bete himself, but rescued by the presence ofiniod of his servant. pretends that lie should like to possess it on account of its likeness to a lady whom be leered. Dushall retbses to sell, hot offers to play for it. Vincent accepts. and in a few minutes is reduced to 11w very state in 11441 he fennel his friend, who, to soothe his mis fortunes, makes him a resew of the miniature, and piepares for the Mau ion house. Mrs. Corbett (the aunt) has meanwhile heard of ter nevliew"s losses at play, and conies to the inn w itli her protegee, to remove and forgive him. At her arrival she finds l'ineent in ex actlyy the oaiu a situat ion iu IA Dashalt had been reported to be, vet y naturally mistakes the former for her nephew. At the in stigation of his servant. and with the consent of his mistress, he fa vours the deceit, and is on the point of succeeding, when, during his absent!, to order the I ady's eat riage, Deshall enters intoxicated with good fortune and with whir, and without knowing his aunt, whom la torus into ridicule as an old maid, or his mistress, whom lie calls a rustie,lets the whole secret escape. Vincent at Isis return is con formica, but the aunt, irritated at her nephew's motile, reproves his ingratitude and fashiouable vices, and consents to the enion and happiness of the lovers. Thus concludes a little piece, in olderh much smartness oldialogne and excellent acting ale displayed. It is from the pen of Mr. Ar. wild, and dies not disgrace his former productions. The music, by Addison, is pleasing and tasteful. Wellack g,tree a finished portrait of the light, but not had-bearted rake, under his various turns of femme. This young peereirmer has not disappointed the expeeta- • liens of the public. He is now realizing the promises which his first efforts held forth. His acting is chaste, elegant, awl spirited. It abotiods with natural touches, and expresses•with equal fidelity the warm feelings of the heart, and the polished extravagance of fashionabls lite. Halley was excellent in !tattle. Without imita tion, his perfOrnianee frequently recalls the fe (jellies of our best , comic actors to our minds ? probably because. he draws at the Wine Fotireer, wit awl nature. The rest of the performers did full justice to their respective parts, as well as the public to the merits of the piece, which has since been repeated every night with♦ unabated sac. ceas. HAYMARKET. The triumph of public liberality at this theatre, has been attended with gratifying consequences. Had the efforts of a party prevailed, it is now evident that they wid() have repressed the elevation of real merit, and deprived the metropolis of a valuable performer in the very first walks of the drama. We are theta:ire much► indebted to that confitleuce in its own abilities which tine genins alone can feel, and which enabled Mr. Meggctt, by a manly appeal to the sense and justice of the audience, to procure a fair hear►ng, and a second opportunity of displacing talents which qualify him to bold a distinguished place in the public estimation. After having justified, in Octavian, the hopes which he had ex cited in Richard M. Mr..Meggett has now surpassed. in Str Ed ward Mortimer, those to which his performance of Octavian had given birth. His genius seems to have recovered its tone, and the more lie proceeds, and meets with encouragement, the high( r does he rise in excellence. Deeply impressed with the spirit of the cha racter, alarm and snspicion never ceased to haunt his mind, to sit in his watchful eye and changing countenance, and to tremble on Ids ton.•ne. The straggle of a soul which tries to keep down, not indeed the conscioncness of guilt, for it overpowers almost all its fatuities, but its outward appearances, were depicted with 1111C0111. mon eneigy and truth. And when he perceived he should fail, when he saw that his own agony would piove his betrayer, the convulsive laugh of nature half yielding to despair, was terrifically just. His last sacrifice of justice to the vain hope of retaining the rood opi. Mon of the world. when he falsely charges Wilfort with theft, was one of the most difficult and one of the most successful passares of his pe•rformanre. Its effect was powerfully telt, and owned in a manner, wheel', however enthusiastic, did not surpass his flf serts. O►ic of Mr, Meggett's good finalities, is docility. Whatever limits have been pointed out in his acting, he has endeavoured to correct. He has generally been wirecessfnl, but, in some instances, has, perhaps, gone beyond the necessity of the case. Thus, the re dundancy of his action has been occasionally curtailed into a total inactivity of limbs, which, without offending, weakens She force of the sentiments or passion which lie has to express. Variety of tones, when judiciously used, is a powerf►►l auxiliary ; but excess spoils the effect. Mr. Meggett's judgment should never resign its influence over the inflexions of his voice. These are only tr,A.►g imperfections redeemed by solid beauties, and which we only men . tion, in order that they may be entirely removed. Criticism, the common lash for incapacity and folly, changes its nature whttt it is applied to real talents. It then becomes a faithful glass, in which genius ran at once discern its beauties and its defects, in order to retain the one and discard the other. IVe are happy to find that our old friend Dowton does not retire from the London stage. The new Druty Lane Committee have •ignalised the rommencement of their power by dismissing to many of the established favourites of the public, that had be been added to the number we have lost, we know not to whom the Town could look for tolerable entertainment in the ensuing season, for which an increased price- is to be required. Mr. Raymond's long and meritorious services are understood to have availed liiiu no thing. Elliston leaves the Theatre in disgust ; and the only man we have had for some years wig° could successfully assnme his cha racters (Wrench). is not re engaged. Mrs. Edwin, one of the most distinguished votaries of Thalia, is dismissed ; and Mrs. Glove r , equally useful in comedy and tragedy.. shares the same fate. Gallic, a very respectable actor, is dismissed, at the same time, with many other performers of merit. — We like novelty, but we grieve to see those wim have so low/ laboured fur our amusemeni removed to make way for its introductions. Of all disorders to which the human frame is liable, there are none but what may be ascertained by the appearance of the morning urine. Nothing can be a greater proof of this curious fact, than the amazing number of painful, lingering, dangerous, and complicated diseases, that have been per fectly cured by the celebrated Dr: Cameron, who is con sulted every day till three o'clo - ck, at his house, No 34, Ilerner's-street, Oxford-street, and practices by examining the above•mentioned fluid. DRAMATIC REGISTER. LYCEUM THEATRE. .wftwowwi%.iiiffill AUG. 6. AUG. 6. timers did full justice to the merits of the at with unabated sec. re, has bern attended of a party prevailed, sod the elevation of Unable performer in efore much indebted true groins alone can manly appeal to the a fair hearing, and a i qualify him to hold es which he had ex. urpassed. in Sir Ed. ace of Oaf:riot had red its tone, and the tent, the hight r does the spirit of the dia. nut his mind, to sit and to tremble nu to keep down, not owers almost all its epicted with 1111C0111. he should fail, when ayer, the convulsive rritieallv just. His silting the rood opi. fort with theft, was )(Tessin! passages of elt, and owned in a urpass his di serts. toeility. Whatever has endeavoured to , in some instances, , a•e. 'thus, the re. urtailed into a total 'Taken:: the force of xpress. Variety of xiliary ; but excess :Id never resign its ese are only trithig rhich we only men. Criticism, the k nature when it is law glass, in which lefeets, ire order to rton does not retire e Committee have dismissing to many had he been added whom the Town ristting season, for fr. Haynie:l(l's long► ye availed hint no. and the only man ly assnme his cha• Mwin, one of the ; and Mrs. Glover s ;ante fate. Gallic, to time, with many at we grieve to see :men! removed to le is liable, there he appearance of ter proof of this Ilan!, lingering, have been per- m), who is con- house, No 3.4, s by examining If .~ ~~