The National Register. — London, England, 1819-01-11 00:00:00

JAN. ii THE DRAMA. DRURY LINE THEATRE. On Mov.day, after the dramatic romance of Flatten O'Keette's humorous farce of The Prisoner at L a rge AIMS perfortned fitr the first time at this Theatre. Poor We never Witness the performance of one of his productions, without lamenting that he, who has contributed so much to the amusement of the pub bee—whose Castle of Andalusia, Wild Oats, ,igreeu bk Surprise, Poor Svldier, &c. &c. are so often repeat ed, should have been suffered, in the decline of a long protracted life, feebly to combat with penury and dis aopointment. If we are not misinformed, " They enter these things better in France." There, the Ma nager of every 'theatre, metropolitan or provincial, is oldiged to keep an account of the receipts °fetich night's perthrtnance—.4 portion of which is marked clown to the credit of the individual, or of the family of the in dividual, whose play has been perforated. Thus the descendants of Racine, or of Where, if necessity oblige them to crave the boon, may look to the works of their ancestor, as to a fund whence thcy 'nay derive, if not a competent, at least a respectable, source of subsistence. Had such a principle been adopted here, we should not, some few years since, have heard of the distress of Shakspeare's posterity—nor should we now have to state, what we have been positively assured, that a/Cm& has been obliged to have recourse to parochial assistance. The mantogers of this theatre have kept their promise to the public, by the production of a new pantomime. The title of this holitly amusement is The Silver Ar rano ; or, Harlequin and the Fairy Pari-Mason. It is founded upon a story in the " Arabian Nights' Enter tainments." To give any thing like a detailed or con nected account of the plot of this production front what was represented on the stage would be impossible, so gacat was the uproar and confusion which prevailed in almost every part of the house from its commencement to the falling of the curtain. Some of the scenes arc splendid; particularly the opening one—the Mystic l'alace of the Fix( King ; and the last scene—the Celestial Palace. Several of the tricks are those with which the lovers of pantomime are already well ac quainted, but some are new, and tolerably well got up; others, and we must say the lint greater part, were very ill conceived at first, and much worse exe cuted ; hut this is a defect which is generally excused on a first representation. We come now to speak of what, from the temper of the audience, seemed to be a far more important business than tile merits or de merits of any pantomime—the dispute between the friends of the late Clown, Mr. Bradbury. and the pre sent holder of that enviable post, Mr. Hartland. It will be recollected, that from the offence allege' to have been given by Mr. Bradbury, in the late panto mime, to some of the audience, a formidable party was made against him. and he in consequence lost his eu gagement. This, after the apology he offered, was considered by many, and was in fact, harsh treatment, and they determined that his successor should not enjoy undisputed possession of his new situation. Mr. Hart land's friends seemed equally zealous, and when the curtain drew up, shouts of " Bradbury," and "No insolent Clown," were raised with a deafening clamour from several parts of the 'wince These were auswered in strains equally loud and inharmonious, of " Bradbury for ever." "No oppression." " Don't condemn un heard." Continuing, with scarcely any intermission, till the piece ended. During this scene of tumult, no way creditable to either party, attempts were made to address the acdienee, but the noise was too great to allow a hearing. The pit on this occasion, if we except a part of the dress boxes, was the most orderly part of the house. They huessed, it was true; but they did n it proceed to those disgraceful scenes of personal con test which were exhibited in other parts. The principal contest seemed to be between some well-bred gentlemen in the galleries, and their equally polished but better dressed antagonists in the side boxes, who, to do them j istite, showed themselves to be perfect adepts in low and vulgar quarrel. They hooted, hissed, struck the boxes with their runes, used every species of abusive language, and lastly, began to pelt at the galleries with warge peels. This, it may be supposed, was not all Int on the gods, who thuadered lint!' their indignation it a very palpable manner. While this continued, Mr. Hartland—the double object of applause and disappro b more for himself than the indiscreet zeal of his friends could possibly effect. lie showed himself very good master of those tricks and of that bodily agility which arc necessary to support the character he undertook. He is, however, much below the Grimaldi standard of excellence. Mr. E. Yarnold, as Harkquio. *neared to more advantage than his predecessor ; hut this is saving all that can be said in his favour. Miss Tree, as Cottimbiac, was is her usual style ; and Simp son was ridiculous enough in Pantaluon.—The piece was announced for repetition. During the performance of the new Pantomime on Thursday ni.;;lit, and more particularly in the scenes where ihatiand was engaged, nearly the same ais turlguices occurred which disgraced the Theatre a.ul • • ---• unuoyed the audience nu the proccding evening. 'f fv.t whole was a warfare between the partisans of Hartland and 13ratlbury, in wnich tits neutrals, certainly the grAut majority of the spectators, were the chief sufferers. While the contest was carried on, a great unnnber of the annexed hand bill were circulated throughout the house : "Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane, Jan. 7. "It may be neccioiary to infirm the Public, that Mr. Bradbury has no catts fur complaint against the management of Drury.l.ane Theatre, he having been inibrinett. on Tuesday last, by a letter front Mr. Stephen Keinble that although the late Pan.uxitialc, for which oat/ he was engaged , failed, yet the Gentlemen of di...Sub-Com mittee had empowered Mr. K. hernble to assure him Nlr. It.) that his engagement should be as strictly fulfilled as ii lie had hien successtUL And this statement Mr. S. Kemble twines the Public is the fact." This statement did not, however, produce a cessation of hostilities, which were maintained for a considerable time, even after the close oldie perfl3:mance. Though the commencement of the dispute at this Theatre was so vigorous as to protnise a long and obstinate contest, the temper manifested on Thursday night induces us to think that it is already concluded he house was very %veil attended, but the manner in which the Pantomime was received, proves that the full attendance was not occasioned by any hostile feeling. There was occasionally a good deal of ap plause, and the disposition to condemn was so feeble, as lead. in its expression, as scarcely to deserve notice. A few persons lingered in the house tin. some time after the curtain fell, but nothing took place in consequence of their delay. There was neither a light nor a speech, nor even a noise. COVENT GARDEN. Shakspeare's play of The Twelfth Night was per f armed at this theatre on Wednesday night, in a manner which we think renders its repetition desirable for all parties. The play which we are now considering, like that of " The Winter's Tale," and one or two more, holds en intermediate station between those which are thus purely imaginative, and those which flinn an exact copy of living nature. It gives a picture of what ap proaches to reality, heightened by the vivacity without the grossness of caricature. Of all its parts the cha racter of Sir Andrew Ague-cheek is unquestionably the most prominent; and in this Mr. Farren has made Lis first sopcarance. It i, a portrait so exqui sitely drawn, so finished a developentent of utter imbe cility, that although it has, we believe, given birth to more imitations than any other of Shakspeare's comic characters, it still retains all its original freshness. Mr. Farreo's success in Lord Ogleby and Sir Peter Teazle had tnanift , ted his powers in seizing the nicer dis tinctions of human character, and in giving expression to many of those fleeting and often unmarked lineaments by which it is most certainly detected. A perfect con ception of .Sir Andrea, required more general knowledge anti study, because the ideas with which it is associated are necessarily more remote than those which serve to explain the parts he has hith,! , sto sustained. It required also, not peemps the same, but a considerable degree of delicacy in the handling, if we may so express it ; for the character, although sinLtle and uniform, is deeply stamped, and cannot be counterfeited with impunity. It would be idle to examine the performance of an actor in detail—an useless prying into secrets which can only be properly understood by the leading professors of the art ; but of the general effect it is open to us to speak, whether our opinion be consonant to that of others or peculiar to ourselves. In this light, Mr. Farren may be said to have neither lost nor added to his previous reputation. That reputation we consider to be established, and on a foundation the firmer, inasmuch as the small inequalities and slight detects which strike us most, are those which, without even any effort on his part, time will necessarily correct. He introduced though sparingly is number, with mach taste and felicity, some of those unexpected sallies of action and changes of tone, which contribute so much to enliven our ider, of the character, but %a/hick can only be supplied to the performer himself; by a just and vigorous conception of hit subject. The extreme chastity and reserve of his style subjects him to a certain degree of hardiness, and furnished as strong a contrast to the full, mellow, and glowing humour of Emery, in Sir Toby ik/eb, as the fictitious originals themselves present. Liston was the Ma/colic and it will be readily imagined by those who are familiar with the play, that all criticism would be misapplied. He was the vain, fantastic, original in every look and tone. His Soliloquy Scene was highly diverting. tl his Brunton performed in a pretty interesting man ner ; and the entire representation was extremely well supported. The performers on Thursday night, did the Winter's Tale great justice. Mi.. s Sommerville, as the heroine. had au unusual opportunity for displaying her powers, and she was fortunate in their display. Her reception of the first appalling charge was natural and !spirited, her defence on the trial was delicate, yet impressive ; and when she sunk apparently not less os , erpowered by the pain of such an imputation, than be the infirmity of a mother's frame, the audience understood her ti:el - ing, and followed her exit with loud applause. Mrs. - I Yates, as Patdina, glared spiritedly in the scene of upbraitling the king. 'iiss Beaunwn ire of a character of Perdita wa4 'ful bew a pretty portraitu_ . a play' Li ton and Blanchard were admirable in th,:ir parts ; Abbott way. devoured too early in the piece to acquire much distinction ; though his new ofike of Drll►urrtae to the bundle which enactod the young expasee, pro. cured him a prodigious explosion of laughter, and his death by the lamest of possible bears made his exit as jocular as his entrance; Fawcett'? Aulolycns was acute, humorous, and indefatigable ; Ken►ble's Florizel was the noblest of rustics ; and Young a ',follies was is the early scenes a fine conception of far) , jealousy, and in the latter a close and painful sk..tch of dejection prey. ing upon a powerful mind and an unwearied love. The discovery of the ntatne was prctki!y arranged;- Miss Somerville bore up the honours of sculpture. steadily, and the grace of her descent was much ap plauded. The opera of Figaro is to be produced at Covent. • Garden Theatre as soon as Miss Stephens returns to town. Ile part of the Page is to be personated, we understand, by Mrs. T. UM, who is establishing her • musical reputation under the able instruction of Mr. Bishop. The Earl of Miltown is the nobleman to whom, it is said, Miss Stephens is about to give her hand. Mr. Cruker, it is said, is going to I adia. Extr►ct of a Private Letter from Paris, dated Jan. 4.—" It is now known that M. de Cazes and M. Ba ron Louis contributed most to the formation of the • present Ministry, in which (so chance would hare it) there are three Gascons (Dc Cazes, Dessulles and Poi... tal), and three members from Lorrain (Louis, Gstvion - St. Cyr, and De Serte). Yon may well believe that this curious coincidence has excited muck merriment here. The new Ministry will have much to do to rea lize its promises. Inslitutions of every kind am ex.- pected from it. The guarantee of the liberty of the press, the freedom of the journals, the re.'asting of the • whole of the administrative system, impressed with the despotism that presided at its origin, the reform of the criminal code, and many other improvements, are ex pected. The Ministry of the Police is suppress2d, but tin. some years this suppression will be more in name than in reality. M. Coxes will even continue to occu py the hotel occupied by the successive Ministers of Police tir the last 20 years, the Pouches, the Savarvs, and such like agents, although the inscription placed over the door is withdrawn. Many changes are con, teruplated in the Prefectures, the military commands, and the foreign missions. General Maisun, it is said, succeeds NI. de N'osilles as Ambassador at Petersburgb. There is a talk of the creation of 20 new Peers." The following is a letter front a person of high re spectability in Madrid, addressed to a friend in Lotion, upon . the melancholy occurrence of the death of the Queen of Spain. We give it in the writer's own words _ " Madrid, Dcc. 28, 1818. " MY F.STEEMED Fare:ere—With this you will re..• ceive intelligence, which will doubtless afflict you deeply. The Queen, the object of all our hopes and de sires, at the very moment when she appear, d likely to realize those hopesiand desires, by giving to his Majesty and to the Spanish nation, a Prince of Asturias, sud denly expired, the night before last, at half past nine. The feelings excited by so unlooked tar, and so fatal an event, may be more easily conceived than described, - when we consider all the eminent viitnes, and diqin geisha qualities, which characterized her Atejesty.—. The atHiction of the King, who tenderly loved her, must be greatly aggravated, by the deep souse which entertains of her exalted merits, and by the cir cumstance that she expired in his arms. With 4 respect to the particulars of this most lamentable event and of the su::sequent loss also of the !Men% I must refer you to the Extraordinary Gozette. I must add, however, that the King d.splayed, on this sad occasion, a sensibility which did no less honour to • his heart, than justice to the depend object of his tears It was intended at first to bleed his :Majesty ; but it was afterw , !rds abandoned ; and, in the midst - of the g.meral affliction, we have the satistisaion of knowilig that his Majesty is recovering from the first shock, and that there is hope it may net essen tially allixt his important health. It would be hopes sib/a for you to ftrin au idea of the sensation which .; has b. en every where produced by this event. The Queen had gained, in en extraordinary manner, the love and affection of all classes. The Royal Family, . the t'onrt, the People. all. all, exhibit the most striking prolfs the regard they bore towards her, and of the pain which her death has ciccasioned. It so • fampletely occupies every mind, that at the present . moment 1 am unable to write to you upon an) other. subject." The French papers received on Friday announce the death of the Queen of Spain, just on the puint of be.... coming a mother. The king himself is at such a time . • of life, that it is not improbable he may still look fur • heirs in a new marriage. lier late ISlttesty was united in person to the King on the 29th of September, ietti, having been betitre married by proxy. ills Majesty was torn iu 1763. .