The National Register. — London, England, 1812-11-22 00:00:00

739, DRA M A TIC REGISTER. COVENT 11I1.)EN. dome of the daily critics have thought proper to contro vert the position which we felt it our duty to lay down when 11 speaking of Mr. Brrry's first appearance at this theatre. We then stated that it was not fait . to expect to rind in Mr. BETTY a finished actor, and contended that he was entitled to that patient indulgence which on ordinary occasions new performers are accustomed to expect. To this the reply is " No,—Mr. BETTY is entitled to no such forbearance, because—he has .FIFTY POUNDS per night," With alt clue submision we beg to say, that Mr. BETTY'S engagement is between him and the managers, and has nothing to do with the public. It surely must be admitted, that Mr. BETTY has a , right to make the most of his talents; and it is for the managers, and not for the public, or the critics to complain, if he rates their value too high. If the managers make a foolish bargain it is but fair to laugh at them, but it is the height of injustice to persecute an actor for their folly. It, is not common to require the terms in consideration of which a performer gives his talents to the public, before it is decided whether or not he is entitled to favour ; it is there fore as unprecedented as unjust to deal harshly with Mr. BETTY because his exertions are amply remunerated; nor is it liberal to treat him with scorn if he is not found equal to a KE7:IBLE or a YOUNG, or wise to defend such conduct by throwing "Xity pounds a night in his free." On Tuesday Mr. BETTY performed the character of Alexander the Great in LEE'S Tragedy of that name; and whatever difference of opinion may exist among critics on the met its of various parts of his performance; he had the satisfaction of extorting thunders of applause from the audience. Ilis delineation of this character is much more equal than his acting in Douglas. In the first scenes his deportment was unusually free from embarrassment, and snore animated than on any former night. The character, however, is such that no acting can here give it much of interest, and certainly the audience in the elrly part of the evening were not in a humour to be prodigal of their ap plause. Mr. BETTY was honoured with frequent marks of approbation in the progress of the Tragedy ; but it was not till the fourth act that those cheering acclamations were heard which usually give eclat to his exertions. In the Banquet scene, after the death of C/ytw, he was particularly happy in his lamentations over the warrior, and . his censure of Ly;imachus and Hephes!ioo, for not drawing their swords and opposing his wild rage by force, as C/yius " would .have done for them," was delivered in a tone properly subdued by the emotions of anguish and temorse, yet suf ficiently audible to be heard distinctly all over the house. The air of anxious affection eager to guard i:s object front .danger, with which he started from the remains of the mur dered Cistus to fly to the re:ief of Siotira, was much admired. In the iat -cone where Altvander is mad, he wa•= enth.:siasticaily cheered by all parts of the ilothe. His hysteric laugh had not on us all the effect which other actors have produced in site ar scene: , , and his voice failed him greatl3 . . These defects, however, were overlooked by the audience, or reprded as beauties; and throughout this dif ficu:t scene, which concludes the play, he was applauded to the skies. Cis performance of this character is in our estimation fully equal to any thing we have yet seen of Mr. iILTTY. tinles a want of impoi twice was felt, and in some of the love scenes he may be said to have failed. The censure, however, which might be merited here, ought to be equally di% ickd between the actor and the author. N 0 V. 22 On Friday a pleasant nonsensical trifle was performed at this Tireatre,•mrder the title of ',act-, Law, (qui P.'orisic. In a farce we are not accustomed to expect much attention to he paid to probab!lity or natate. All that is ask e 4 „f such a piece is, " Is it laughable ?"—" Ilas it much cf drollery and, fun %"--" Does it afford good scope to the ralZ:nts of the comic petrol - : iers ?" These questions can be most satisfactorily aw,wered for Lo .e, and Phnsic. It is throughout ludicrously diverting, anti harmlessly entertaining. As a literary production it i, n6t entitled to much consideration, and it is Lot conducted in the most skilful manner. The scenr..:i we unconnected with each other, and instead of being made subservient to One particular purpose, have for the mist part nothing bent their respective merits to stand on. The business, however, i s distinguished by its whim and huitle, al:d when made sfunc, what shorter, the farce will become a favourit'. It ‘vai announced for a second representation without one di!.;- sentient voice. Mr. KENNY is the author of this afterpiece. Ire is mch indebted generally to the actors for their• exertions. It is a pity he could not give BROADHURST a better song than he has here put into his mouth. This actor is not much at home in the Captain, but in the song, and that unfortunately is worth nothing. It was mournfully ludicrous to see hi►n scrambling across the stage in a military dress, with all the awkwardness of a fresh-caught bumpkin. His whole appear ance reminded us of - Nipper/chi in disguise, so strangely were his reg;mentals put on : among other things equally cha racteristic, he wore his belt over his sash. We have not heard of that order from the horse Guards, which sanctions this practice. That pleasure is perhaps to come. Before we take our leave of Love, Law, and Phycir, we beg just to hint to Mr. KENNY, that we do not see the wit or the humour of making every character in this farce repeat the word " hoax" a dozen times. It was excuseable in THEODORE HOOK but we never heard that Mr. hi..ssy was suspected of the Berner's-street business. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. DRURY T-INE. Mr. RAE has repeated the part of Hamlet in the course of the week, but has not yet appeared in any other character. We did not sec him on the second night of his performance , and this we rather regret, as it is highly probable he corrected some of the defects we observed on the first. On Saturday we could not but complain of the great distance at which he stood from the Ghoa. It bad a bad effect, as the eye could hardly contemplate the two figures in one view, and this error was aggravated by Mr. RA ifs leaning (or appear ing to do so, to thoe seated on the opposite side of the house), against one of the side pillars. This was reprehen sible, as it caused an object to be included in the scene which ought not to be there. The deep interest Ilnakt takes in what is communicated by the Ghost, he very skil fully marked, and his starts were always admirably timed, without any apparent preparation, indicative of anticipated emotion, which we have frequently seen spoil good acting. We very much disapproved of the manner in which he gave the line in the preceding scene— ' Oh, that this too, too s•lid flesh would melt !" in which be spoke the word too but once, and by way of atoning for the absence of the word he left out, length ened the line by suffering his voice to dwell unnecessarily on the too which he did utter. Doing this, he added a fault of commission to one of omission, for though nothing would be more improper than to speak it hastily, the pro . Ouncintion of that word.should not be Icrithenedytill it de-