The National Register. — London, England, 1815-11-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTEII. 76 DRAMATIC REGISTER. COVENT-GA RD EN. . Garrick's Opera of cymon was revived at this house last Monday, in all the pomp of scenery, and with a 1 the charms of melody. To Dr. Arne's music, a tasteful selection had been added by Mr. Bishop ; and the great vocal abilities of Miss Stephens - and Miss Hughes, sup ported by those of Mr. l)uruset, Miss Matthews, Mrs. Liston, and the Misses Burrell and M'Alpine, had been called forth to give it effect. Denuded of extraneous aids, the story of this Opera possesses but little-to excite either interest or admiration. The days of enchantment may furnish pictures to please the imagination, but few scenes calculated to of the heart. That an unexperienced youth, ctimon (Mr. Duruset), detained by the jealous love of the enchantress Uiganda (Miss Hughes), should sigh for liberty, and - when he has regained it, should sur render his hitherto insensible heart to the charms of a sim ple shepherdess Sjikia (Miss Stephens); that Urganda should be defeated by the more powerful enchanter Mer lin (Mr. Egerton), and that (qmon and Ligkia should ul timately prove a Prince and Princess in disguise, is in the common run of fairy tales, and too trite to awaken inte rest. The under-plot, scarcely connected with the main subject, is in itself but insignificant ; yet, with all its faults, this Opera is one of the most attractive theatrical representations that we have witnessed. This is due to the complete crumble with which it has been produced. *More beautiful and appropriate scenery has never rival led on the stage the varied landscapes of nature, and greater abilities have seldom been marshalled to give life and effect even to the most trifling parts. The appearance of Miss Hughes and Miss Stephens for the first time together in the same piece, has no doubt also greatly contributed to increase its interest. Rivals iI in excellence it is natural they should contend for the prize of fame, and that this contention should excite some sensation amongst the public. If we judged from the 1 quantity of applause bestowed on the fair candidates, and the degree of enthusiasm displayed by their partkans . ; we • should immediately pronounce Miss Stephens the favou rite. After duly weighing their merits, however, we find it difficult to give a decisive opinion. Like the characters ll which they personate in this opera, is their style of singing and the nature of their excellencies. Urganda, a mighty Enchantress, indebted to art for all her spells and delighting to display their power by the magnificence of her creations, is a faithful type of her representative, Miss Hughes. This lady possesses a strong and flexible, though not very pleasing voice, with which, disdaining the simplicity of nature, she produces the most exquisite wonders of art; and in her is ornament, but executed with so much ease, so much skill and so much taste, as to make us forget its nature, and excuse its luxuriance. Feeling and expression arc sacrificed to brilliancy, but the delight of the ear is too great to let us Perceive the unmoved frigidity of the heart.-4/via, on the contrary, is the daughter of nature. In her all is simplicity, son- - allay, and truth. All these qualities are found in her representative, Mks Stephens. A melodious voice, whose every note is fraught with feeling, and vies iu purity with the clearest vibrations of the harmonica, an execution full of ease, taste, .and expression, unsurpassed in bril liancy when the occasion reciuiris it, but even then re- NOV. 26. taming an accent of sensibility which awakens all the sympathies of the heart, a countenance beaming with the reflected emotions of the soul, and an action simple and graceful, are the excellencies which this young lady brings into the scale to counterbalance the spells of her power ful rival. Between such claims we will not presume to decide, other;•ise than by observing that nature always pleases, whilst art does seldom more than astonish. Mr. Duruset gave a most faithful and effective represen. tation of the artless Ciimon, passing unconsciously from insensibility to love, and assuming at once all the feelings and energy of a man. His voice is strong and harmonious, and his songs were executed with the purest taste, and the truest expression. Every subordinate part was ably sustained, and the bril. liant success of this revived opera was not above its deserts. I)RURY LANE. A new comedy called Where tofind a Friend, was pro. (limed at this theatre on Thursday last. It is from the pen of Mr. Leigh, the author of Grieving's a Foit,y, and was performed some years ago at the Lyceum, for the benefit of Mr. Dowton. It displays no novelty of character, for most of the originals will be found in John Bull, and the few incidents which enliven its course, seem little tnore than variations of those contained in that comedy. But the language is good and sometimes elegant, and supported by the abilities of Johnstone, Dowton, Mrs. Davison, Miss Kelly, Mundell, Knight, Wallack, and Oxberry, it obtained the most complete success. The following Pro_ fugue, written by Mr. Rae, was spoken by Mr. Powell; In days of yore a Sage, the story ran, Went crumbling forth to find an honest man; With lanthoree glimmering in the open day 'the cross old Cynic, purblind, poked his way; With jaundiced eye his fellow man sin vey'd, And swore that honesty from earth had fled; To what, you'll say, does this allusion tend/ To this—l'in puzzled Where to find a Fricad ; To you I how, grave Cs mars of the Stage,. We prize your plaudits, and we dread your rage; To you, who hold the scales of praise and blame, The Critics here peculiar homage claim •• If on our Play this night your brows you bend, Jrhere shall an Author hope ta,fiarl a Friend! Dread is the task in this enlighten'd age, To•faee the terrors of the scenic Stage ; To dare the gaze of England's classic mind, Endow'd with judgment am' with taste refm'd ; Anxious our Author comes with fear opprest, Tumultuous ft clings agitate his breast ; He sees the sphere where SH AKESPEARE'S muse bath shone, And trembling shrinks to plunge the Rubicon ; Illusion all ! for here indulgence reigns, Sheds her enchanting beams, and het e her throne maintains. Friends to this ground ! to all I now appeal; To British minds, which ever kindly feel; Your smiles can all our apprehensions end, On this occasion prove the Author's friend; Grant him the Olive if denied the Bays, And yield him" pardon where yon cannot praise." EPILOGUE cc TO WHERE TO FIND A FRIEND." WRITTEN BY THE HON. GEORGE LAMB, AND SPOKEN BY MIS' KELLY. Mean is the fame the comic Bard can reach, (Howe'er amusing) if he fails to teach. Has then the lesson that this Play imparts, Enforc'd its moral on our hearers 'waits? Will one wife here (Bone, oh ! let me find her) Become less teasing, or one husband kinder •.lw ~. ..~.... we ma the