The National Register. — London, England, 1809-12-03 00:00:00

t- •%4, COVENT GARDEN THEATRF. • • It war an observation of the judicious Addiaen, (pre the " Roman rat4ter," made its appearance before the that our snglish poets have - succoesled better in the style thau ia the seutime.sts of their Tragedies; thcr lan guage, he says,•is often bold and sonorous, but the cense either very trifling or very common, a judgertOut Truro which his own. Tragedy of Cato ill exempt, and tO which even this first offspring of Whitehetia's muse, upi adored as ail exception. Yet even here there is "silt little eriginality to boast of; the nut for lodged has mot been Iteti?mtlful of that well ILnoyi,o gxprefution of Seneca, that viritioait man struggling with misfortunes, is such a spec tacle, as the Gods might look upon with pleasure," he his therefore according to his own confession, endeavoured to render the elder Itoratius the principal personage of the piece, and he has ever been studious to represent him in every point of view which his peculiar situation, and,every possible variety of distress, would admit of How far he 1 has succeeded in this, or how ably he was seconded in 'file . present instance, 'by the acting of Cooke, it is not here ma- I terial to enquire; but Tragedy is certainly not the passion 1 , of. the pr scut day, and though some of the histArical iedies of Shakespeare may excite attention, yet five long acts of declamation copied from Corneille, are not likely to produce crowded houses, nor do we believe that the green carpet would have been spread on the present occa sion, had it not been for the purpose of producing Mrs. Parke in the character of floratia. Whilst the uproerious accompaniments continued, we certainly abstained from any decided critique on the inerits of this actress, but we are now, however, enabled to decide - on her-capabilities with more accuracy, as she has apreared in this character twice in the lait week, and on Thursday night in particular, the 0 Y's, were so quiet, as to permit us to hear the whole of the performance ; we wall we could say as Much of the orderlies, who by Heir ill-timed„ injudicious, and languid applause, destroyed the Wlude elect of the scene. It is surprising that the Managers do not see impropriety of this venal, this hackney praial.;. it is disguating to listen to the preparatory knocks in the side boxes, followed up by the clapping of three front roasa 4 in the pit, and two in the two 'shilling gallery, nay., to find it echoed by so many well known faces in theboxm.wanyt of whom actually sit with their backs to the : atage, whilst' they are as loud in their applause as the rest of their 'bro ther petf9rmers before the' eurlain. As the oppositioaists, however, seem to have changed their plan from attack to y defence, defence, and now stay away, we hope that the Managers! *ill soon' be tired of playing to empty benches, and will again restore this Theatre to its usual state. When this- Tragedy first appeared upon the stage, the influence and conlroul of the public over their owl) amusements, seem to have been of more impertans:e than at U* emernt.43l this appears evidently froin the last three couplets of the prologue, written expressly for this pitce. . " If shunning faults which nobterhards ctAnm,i4, He wants - their forge to - sfrike tb' attentive pi Ile just and:tell him Sii; he• asks advice t Wiltingto learn, and would mit.ask it twice, Your kind applause may bid him write—r---04trare Or kinder censure teach him to fur forhicar." • This censure, however, so modestly alluded to by an ad naire4 author, it would he . now dangerous to offer, as a person in the pit on Thursday night, who ventured on a quiet hiss during the third act, at a ciriapiisNiCeriiii,7*Or Deserving of it, wa s . immediately' assalled wits. cues turn him out, and serroiteded to his man 4., 11 i :s ! !?k i wA y a rude amid riiffiauly . gang ! • But.to return tq Mrs. CL4RIfR I t4u4gh gariled her as an actress of lomeprenvie l ,. we must nov lick now ledge that she has not, by any the ca epe e`plitiiilajor.cl 2 , v x v ectAions; her en.up ta it ciatiolid ct t . , ♦ a, .- speeches are positively bad, and we can ontramirnrelleT; misplaced variations With that monotonous toss of the head, and laboured twirl of the arms AvAlkch are ,cer tainty tut calculated' to please:, a Londlin • audience. 4S" is glaring . instance of this error, both in her ca dee sand emptlapis, we will notice a flue iQ the just KmAckiktbe lourth act • • Tks thou a l lopg can'st give Horatio peace." 4eql 0 4 4 e ,raisediher. smite and accept au laud] as to make " peace" appear as if tititereil in a tone of reproach, and not as the ofspriagpf resolute despair. Her voice too is by no means fit for sueli a Theatre ; she is obligetto arti= culate in her highest and loudest tone, so thither declaim illation is 911 e continued' kerpto without variation or mo dulation. It is tinpkiii.Ant" . t o observe an actress ray so little attention to the bye }cl ay, as to stkiad with app.areut unc.o.ecera ) lijce as iffkeip,49t vvgdst her father ryas sittipg, until she got the cue word; she aught also, yibeo leek ing to others, to loaf: at Own, and nut turn her back in order to skew oil studied attitudes to the aedience ; and we cannot approve of a Lady iii a . spljlequy, throwing her arms about like a windmill. Yet, if she can be satisfied with such apptanse as is: offered at prefeut, she will have enough ofl i t, f or the audieece would not let her dic in peace, •• , though the actors per.uiitted her to lay .unnoticed like a bag of sand, and fakriu,s, who was said to have loud. her, turned his back upon her with the greatest uncoil,- ceri—but--the whole performance was below criticism. FOR DECEMBER. For the out-doOr costume, mantles and pelisses are a mode ut dress yet unrivalled. They are often constructed of rich double t« filled sarsnet, or .velvet but Merino cloth holds a decided pre-emilience. The favourite colour royal or bishops' purple, hued with white or marigulAl sarsnet ; .they are made to lit tight in tile figure, sy rapping .over the bosom, and buttoning down on the right side, with small silk buttons, confined to the waist (which i, long) by a band and buckle. To give breadth o ff er the bosom and back (now.cousidered indispensible), the arm-hole is cut so small as . nearly to e xclude the cap of the shoulder; and to encrease this effect, is placed a half-sleeve (very shallow) over the Jung sleeve, trimmed the same as the pelisse. Figured biwd. ins of yelvet, in a wave pattern, are most in esteem. Gold is .becommihg rather general. )f,robroidered borderings in chenille are chi,efly confiued to dress, or at most are only seen in ear. .rtages • .but many of our belles declaim coloured edgings altoge- AO*. Mantle. are made longer and wider than last month, they ,have ftiii cotters 'confined at the throat with long bows nod ends of corded ribbaad finished with tassels, left plain in the back, l and plaited full on the phoulders, to admit of their folding over tfi ' d arms and bosom. The hoods- have also incroased in diaten slops, and no w serve asa temporary Alefertee against the night air, or sudden currents 4( wind. • French coats in jeaflei l Spanish green, purple or brown cloth, with high full collars, bruochell at the throat, falliqg in the style of a robe, nett confined to the waist hehipd by a Silk cord or tassel brought rbood to tie hefoire ; the edges wrought in shaded •olive brown chenille, p r (el ieved will} swansdown; worn over it MO dress pf the sane materials, are an elegant and graceful ,italking dres s . The twig swansdown tippet has entirely taken place &along , par hstritinables of the spotted ermine pelerines; we have oh. ) per - ved likewise, a few white mutts. Hats and bonnets are variously constructed after the Turkish,. ;Spanish, or Grecian manlier.. Riding hats in black beaver, with 'rather ft broad ribband tied. in a' small bow before ; or 'in the Spoitis.h form with two small fiat ostrich feather's, are of the newest and most fashionable adoption. Straws are a gond deal either variegated or einhitiitiered in coloured chenille; wr ~have lettlTSeVeTll}4ll bld.ek chip, droantented with pink s otorangs feathers, tipped with black -; the form by no means absolute, but ,to be adapted to the :figure and features of the wearer. ' ....ft . .... 1 A 1 . Morainic dresses bave undergone some fink variation. S'ltsi of i french none trimmed with atoll border of India muslin in small bt .01• hind irottlined to the said' behind by a corded ribbon sash, finished with tassels; to he worn'oner * 'compkte high dress ; .ibe robe bgintjilloilded to fall bark %slut. • 11 ' ; 1 Oirt rrt, hanging.; gnicernity *WI/1W ftbufdrrs , ii a tie fashion. ,jisoldreves 4fo the:wrist•*alt. ris latal nor pumeliaa Imaaar.. imaidge lilMl the (knout lee 3 F r snicks is tkirg • " . , , - -