The National Register. — London, England, 1818-10-26 00:00:00

OCT 26 TUE DRAMA: DRURY LANE THEATRE. Tuesday.—The Recruiting Sri:leant was the perform ance of this evening. When this comedy was revived two years ago, it immunised st fascination which extracted the sting of criticism as to its moral tendency. The asr ceful and elegant deportment of Rae, the witchery o f Mrs. Marilyn, and the inimitable representative of Serjeant Kite (Johnstoue), gave a zest to libertinism, a charm to tinily, and a delight even to roguery. Mrs. Mardvn. on the present occasion, seemed to want the animation with which her girlish fancy was wont to be exeited by the gallantry of the sprightly Captain ; end Mr. S. Penley proved but a sorry stetstitute for our lost favourite. We regret that the present meagre list of tterformers of this Theatre precludes the possibility of confining this gentleman to that line in which his talents weld doubtless receive the meed of approbation. Wednesday/,—Bickerstaff's opera of Lionel and Cla rissa was performed for the second time this evening. We were prevented witnessing Mr. C. Fisher's debut in Lionel on Saturday. His voice, though not powerful, is pleasing: be pomsses much knowledge of the science of music, and his execution seemed only to want ani mation to give it due effect. He occasionally strains his voice beyond its natural pitch ; it then, and then arty, becomes unmelodious. His reception was most nattering. We understand this gentleman is a brother ti Mr. D. Fisher, of this theatre. Miss Witham per sonated Cleteissa—but not with her usual success. Mr. Memlea's Colonel Oldbov did not excite those pleasing sensations with which Dowton inspired us in this cha recter. He has, though still a fitvorite, descended fern comedy to farce. The character of Jessanty is not Lama in the present sera of the drama: Mr. S. Penley gave it all the effect which characterized the effiminacy of former times—and although the Dandies of the present day are equally oulre with that of Jessansy— we can only pity the degradation of the human mind that can prostitute talents for the express purpose of excitiws. ridicule. Mrs. Bland gave her usual fascina tion to Jenny. Thursday —The Distressed Mother —lt becomes an irksome task to write a fair opinion on the merits of a performer, and particularly when Mr Kean is the sub ject of that opinion, when we dislike the piece itself in which his character is the most prominent. We had hoped this play would have been consigned " to the tomb of all the Capulets." It is founded on the French model : it is deficient in passion ; it possesses no claim to grandeur of sentiments: and the principal character is cold, and declamatory rant, which give but few opportunities for the display of intellectual excel lence. The mad scene of Orestes, indeed, has ever been considered as ene of the greatest tests of the theatric art—and in this scene Mr. Kean was eminently successful. His brill:int eye full of lire encreased the illusion of the whole scene; and in that where, Pyrrhus since des !toyed, he anticipates the consummation of his best hopes that Heriniane may be his, and he consents, sooner than lose tne idol of his ullectiuns, to become an assassin—and, after accomplishing his bloody purpose, is received ey his mistress with exeeratisms instead of affectionate endearments : —in these extremes of love raised to the highest pinnacle of hope, and then hurled to the lowest gulf of despair—language fails of con voying to our realers Mr. Kean's able delineation—to be felt, it must be seen. The greatest compliment, perhaps, ever pail to an actor, was evinced i on this oc casion—when Mr- Kean was carried (din his paroxysm of madness, the audience would not allow the perform aace to be contieued ; and when Mr. Barnard came forwatd, as we presume, to announce its repetition, Mr. Kean was called for from every part of the house. lie obeyed the mandate, and announced it for Satur day. Of the other performers, we do not wish to speak of them as they DESERVE: we will not descend to personality—and shall only add, if SUCH be the BILL or FAKE, we do not wonder that the ORDINARY is not 'better attended. COVENT•GA R DEN. Tuesday.—We had hoped the rage for melo-dramatic zeprzseatations had subsided ; or, at least, that this species of entertainment hat been consignei to Minor Theatres. We are deceived ; and, if we may judge from the brilliant assemblage which grazed the Boxes, and crowded the Pit, the mania encreases rather than diminishes. Another of these non-descripts was pre sented this evening. We will endeavour to give an outline of the plot, which, we presume, is founded on the late trial tier the murder of M. Fualdes, in France it is entitled, Proof Presumptive; or, the Ablny of San Marco. Romani (Macready), a determined liber tine, seduces his friend Aiberto (C. Kemble) to the gaining table ; hoping, by depriving him of his fortune, .to secure his interest with regard to his sister Ernestine (Mrs. Faucitt) . I n pursuit of this object, il/bcrto is swindled out of a considerable sum of money and is induced, by the persuasions of his rr dhotis friend, to yield a reluctant consent to mintuit a robbery upon Orsano, who is to l ass through the ruins of the A.Ptwy with a considerable sum of money, in the intentism of paying tbr an estate he had recently purchased. Orsano .resists the importunity of 'Milo, sad Romani shoots THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Orsano, and hurls his body into a neighbouring river. Ernestine arrives at the Abbey to meet her husband, Finanzio, to whom she had been secretly married ; and who, from a soldier of fortune, returns, loaded with riches and honours, to claim her father's sanction ; pre vious to which he requests an interview, to arrange measures for the elucidation of the mystery. She, con. Kquently becomes a witness of the murder, to which her brother is accessary ; and being discovered by Ro mani, is bound most sacredly to keep the secret, and her child is retained as an hostage for her fidelity.— During the interview with her husband, however, some memorials are dropped by him, which, being found by a countryman, are brought forward as " pre sumptive proof" that inan.:to was the murderer—but as these papers relate only to his clandestine union, he refuses to submit them to the tribunal before whom he is summoned, and, consequently, increases the suspicion excited against him : during the trial, the firms eas of Ernestine yields to the danger with which her husband is threatened—she denounces Romani, and he his t friend. The latter, who had been joined with his father as judge, poisons himself in despair, and leaves a written memorandum corroborating the testimony of Ernestine Romani, in slttempting to kill himself, is prevented ; and the curtain drops on the judgment scene.—So much for the plot. Report ascribes this melange of horror, remorse, and crime to the pen of Mr. C. Kemble—as a translation—if so, we are de ceived in our opinion of his taste. The characters are superficial, and are placed before us without poetical colouring. The piece retains too many of the peculi arities of its original construction and has not even the merit of novelty, having been already dramatized at one of our Minor Theatres. sir. C. Kemble and Mrs. Faucitt made too much of their respective parts: the former was a continued monotony of whine—and the latter betrayed her knowledge of the crime she had witnessed by excessive agitation; and, consequently, the denouement became comparatively feeble Mr. Macready gave a specimen of abilities it will be our pride to draw into notice : in the delineation of the cool and crafty, yet bold and deliberate villain, he has scarcely one competitor—and, if we had never seen him before, we should, from his personation of Romani, have ranked him with those who tread the highest walk in the Drama. The opening scene surpasses every thing we have yet witnessed—it represents, in the fore-ground, the ruins of the Abbey—and the per spective comprizes a distant view of Italian scenery, interspersed with towns and chateaus, and forest crowned hills and rivers meandering through its whole extent. The effect was beautiful, and the change from clear moonlight to a heavy storm was managed with great skill. Though. at its conclusion, some dis approbation was expressed, yet the majority of the audience were in its favour—and, when autiounced for repetition, the AYES HAD IT. The Wedding Dail followed, in which Farren gave addititional proof of talent in the character of Sir Adam Contest: he was, indeed, little inferior to the great original. Nlrs. T. Hill, from Bath, formerly Miss H. Kelly, made a favourable impression on the audience. She po-sesses a handsome countenance, a pleasing voice, although somewhat harsh in the higher tones, and much vivacity. We cannot, however, listen to the song, " In the dead of the Night," with• out calling to our remembrance the spell with which Mrs. Jordan enthralled us. Altho' it would be unjust to make any sort of comparison between a debutante and such excellence, yet memory delights to dwell on l• joys now past. ' Mrs Hill was most favourably received ; and it is our pleasure to record her as bearing a claim to patronage rather above the ordinary novelties to which we have been accustomed. Thursday.—Miss Somerville, formerly of Drury Lane, made her first courtesy at this theatre this even intr. in the character of Bianca, in Millman's tragedy of Fazio. We are not sure if it be in the power of an actor to choose his own character for a debut, or whether the fat of the Manager decides the point: but this we know, if the former claim the privilege, Miss Somer ville was injudicious in selecting one which had pre viously been sustained by Miss O'Neil—if the latter, we deem it invidious, as the reputation of Miss 0 Neil was considerably raised by her able delineation of this character ; and, consequently, the impression on our minds had been pre-occupied by her excellence. Pro vincial report has eulogized Miss Sotrmrville—and we think deservedly—for althouah she has yet much to learn, and something to unlearn, she is evidently Un proved both in the business of the scene, and in her general conception and delineation of character. The house was crowded to excess, and Miss Somerville was greeted on her entrance with peals of welcome. She sustained the part very creditably ; but we would sug gest to her judgment the propriety of choosing some other ground, where we may have the opportunity of speaking of her eadJatments. unshackled by impressions which the admirable powers of Miss O'Neil have stamped upon oar memary. Mr. C. Keruble gave her every support—his Facia was excellent. A new tragedy, from the pen of Mr. Shill, is in considerable forwardness at Covent Garden flieatre. POETRY. --•- TILE FLOWERS. With each expanding Rower we find Some pleasing sentiment combined : Love in the Myrtles bloom is MM. Remembrance to the Violet clings, Peace brightens in the Olive's green. Hope from the half•closed Iris springs: And Victory on the Laurel glows, And Woman blushes in the Rose I FRIENDSHIP. Come, FRIENDSHIP. COuic, life's sweetest balm, Thy joys are exquisite, tho' calm : Yes, thou of bye dart all contain, Except its dangers and its pain I 447 ANECDOTES OF DISTINGUISHED PERSONAGES, &e. • Lord North, when Minister, (accused of nodding over the ruins of his country in the House) said, " I am not dosing (a cry of hear hear !) nor, as the Honourable Gentleman stated, am I fast asleep ! (hear! hear !) but this I do assure the Honourable Speaker, that I would to God that I was." GeNERAL WASHINGTON.--When W. Washington had closed his career in the French and Indian wars, and had become a me caber of the House of Burgesses, the then Speaker, Robinson, was directed, by a vote of the House, to return their thanks to that Gentleman, on behalf of the Colony, for the distinguished military services which he had rendered to his country. As soon as Colonel Washington took his seat, Mr. Robinson in obedience to this order, and following the impulse of his own generous and greatful heart, discharged the duty with such warmth of colouring and strength of expression, as entirely confounded the young Hero. He rose to express his acknowledgments for the honour; but such was his trepidation and confusion that he could not give distinct utterance to a single syllable, he blushed, stammered, and trembled for a second ; when the Speaker relieved him by a stroke of tultlress that would have done honour to Louis XIV. in his proudest and happiest moment : " Sit down, %Ir. Washington," said he with a conciliating smile; "your modesty is equal to your valour ; and that surpasses the power of any language I possess." KEN/a/A.—When this celebrated actor first appeared in London as Alexander ths,Great during his triumphal entry into Babylon in a splendid car drawn by ele phants, he appeared to be suffering under a degree of alarm, very inconsistent with that inflexible firmness which generally characterised him—but suddenly, before he alighted, his fears seemed to give way to laughter, which be was very evidently labouring to restrain Upon being interrogated as to the cause of this unusual appearance, he stated, that at the moment when he had presented himself as the Macedonian hero, an unfortunate dispute between the legs of his elephant had caused hi, alarm, and excited his subsequent risi. bility. The front members moving with a sprightli. ness which the hinder parts thought inconsistent with the ponderous body they had to support, exclaimed— " You front legs, 4—n te, if you go so fast, by G—d I won't fol'ow :" " why then, remain behind, and be d—d," retorted the leaders. This disagreement pro ceeding to extremities had literally nearly thrown the actor of his guard. The following morning the con tending members were lopped of the establishment. A celebrated performer, during a rehearsal, having by some accident had a severe fall in a sedentaiy position, upon the inquiry of a sprightly young actress as to the extent of the injury he had received, was answered by the sufliaer that he was very much hurt upon his honour. The following morning, the same votary of Thalia assailed him in the words of Ophelia—How does your honour for this many a day ? HENDERSON.—This celebrated actor was seldom known to be in a passion. When at Oxford he was one day debating with a fellow student, who not keep ing his temper, threw a glass of wine in his face. Mr. Henderson took out his handkerchief, wiped himself, and cooly said, " That, sir, was a digression ; now for the argument." The Marriage of Figaro is to succeed The Barber of Smile, at Covent Garden Thetare. Ben Jonson's Volpone ; or, The For, is said to be in the list of revivals at New Drury. This Drama was re-produced by Mr. Garrick with much success. Sh ou ld it again be brought on the stage, Munden and Kean will, of course, have the two principal charact• rs. The following is a list of Actors and Actresses, at present engaged at either of our .%:etropolitan The atres:—Messrs Barrymore, Bartley, Bellamy, -Betty, Broadhurst, Brunton, Conway, De Camp, Denning, Dowton, Elliston, Foote. Horn, Iticledon, Johnstone, Mathews, Philips, Pope, Sinclair, Wallack, and Wre:ich. Mesdames Bartley, Davison, Edwin, Eger ton, Matra, Mountain, and Renaud. Misses BoOtb, Carew, Kelly, L. Kelly, and Poole —Rae has not vet appeared ; and it is with regret we learn that severe indisposition has prevented him from resuming his. . professional duty. .