The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-18 00:00:00

XL LUMLEY'S BENEFIT PERFORMANCES.

Mr. Lumley, well knows in the musical world ae
Use keen sad manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, ham m-
amma three "Benefit Performances" to be giros, sot
' •

at the theatre with which he was so long oannected, but at
Drury-lane—a circumstance which has naturally excited
considerable surprise, and as to which we think it necessary
only to say that it is not at ail to be attributed to the pre-
test leases of Her liajesty's Theatre.
. .

The principal " artistes " who at different time ham
been memben of Mr. Luzeley's company, have mese for-
ward in his Waif in a marina honourable both to thaw•
selves and to him. Madlle. Piccolomini (the Marchioness
Ceetani) has comeall the way from Flomeos, " for the sole
purpose" (says Mr. Lutaley's announcement) " of rendering
• service to the director who bad the good fortune of first
making known her piquant, original, and fascinating talent
to the English public." The following graceful letter hes
been addressed to Mr. Lumley :

" Mosismoa Luitiav,—Raving learned that it is your
teatioo to give three wirier for your benefit at the t
Royal Drtuy Lane, on the 23rd of May, the 3rd of June sad
Bth of June, we beg to inform you that we shell be charmed
to lead you oar sanstenos ; delighted to have it in oar power
to be of any way useful to our old director ,tusder aroma-
stances so intemstieg.
TIM= T 1712118, Ammo 13113GLDfl, Limo
Asurri, P. Visurrn, L. GABBIRII, Mateo Dzi.LE-
Szour, Piano FZIULANTL"
We learn, moreover, that Madame Alboai and Madame
Amelia Ferraris have signified their desire to take part In
this demoartration.

The performances are to take plan en Monday, May 25;
Wednesday, June 3; and Monday, June 8. We tusdentand
that the fine will consist of La Trnsiata, and the second of
Don GiOrCIRIII. The orchestra and chorus will be those of
Her Majesty's Theatre, and Signor Artliti will act as the
conductor.

DRAMA.

HAYMARKET.

The long-promised comedy by Lady Gifford was
produced at this house on Saturday night, under the title
of or, Spy and Counter-Spy. The crowded and
distinguished audience were attentive throughout; the
scenery and appointments were all in the best taste; the
actors—allowing for the imperfections of a first night--did
the utmost justice to their author ; and the result was the
usual demonstration at the close of the piece. A foolish

delicacy was shown by Mr. Wigan, in withholding the name
of the writer from the few whose curiosity bad not long
been gratified ; but, with this exception, we have no com-
plaint to bring against the performers. The cast of the
characters could hardly have been improved, and the
whole performance wee a aedit to the theatre.
When we oome, however, to examine the work
which was placed in the hands of Mr. Bock-
stone and his company, we regret that oar ver-
dict most be far lee favourable. Lady Gifford can
inanely claim to be tried by the low literary standard which
is usually applied to test the hack playwright. She may be
*elided to some indulgence for mechanical shortcomings on
the soon of her inexperience in writing for the stage; but
her literary reputation jultifies us in expecting something
from her of more than average merit. In this we have been
disappointed. Her new sod original comedy contains no.
thing that is new, little that is true, and much that hoiden
on the offensive. _ . .

The story of Finesse is confused and uninteresting. It is
fixed at a period which, though not remote, has a very slight
hold on the sympathies of the audience ; it is hampered
with allusions to people who never appear on the scene,
and have little to do with the action ; it is loaded with
several prominent incidents which lead up to nothing ; its
program is delayed by long conversations which are not
remarkably brilliant, and have little effect in developing
character ; and ft is based on a political conspiracy which no
one believes in, and which never seems to threaten real danger
to those employed in thwarting it. This conspiracy is chiefly
represented on the stage by two harmless-looking and corn.
municative villains, who are expecting a certain spy to do
their work ; and it is out =manned by a Dr. Bertrand—
an
old French refugee—who substitutes a spy of his own
in plam of the spy expected. The slight serious interest
of the piece turns entirely upon the fact that this sub-
(Minted spy is a lost son of the doctor ; while the comic
interest is chiefly maintained by Mr. Thickstone in several
farcical situations. The some is laid at Messina in 1811,
a !period immediately preluding the abdication of Fedi.
nand of Naples; and the small conspiracy faintly set be-
fore the audience is supposed to be a part of the greater
scheme in which that monarch and Bonaparte were en-
gaged in opposition to England. The historical flavour ci
the piece adds nothing to its strength ; and the way in
which Lord William Bentinck's name is dragged in at the
end to set matters thoroughly right is prosaic and in.
artistic.
The great defect of this ;comedy is its looseness of con-
, 'traction. We have plenty of scenes, but they have little
I connection with each other. They contain the materials of
two good farces, one of which would resemble "The Egyp-
tian Mummy," while the other might he called "The Two
Popplcions." Added to these, we have the groundwork
of a powerful drama in the relations between Dr. Bertrand
and his unknown son ; and a glimpse of a more romantic
drama still in the person of a Baron Fieitenhoreen—a
. _ .
' '

dreamy searcher aft.; the elixir of life. This but character
is intended to be one of the butts of the piece, but partly
owing to the poetical force infused into it by Mr. Chippsn•
dale—the actor entrusted with the put—it excites nothing
but pity and sympathy in the minds of the audience. The
taste and feeling which could try to extract fun from a poor
enthusiast like this, and from an ill-timed joke about the
small-pox, are more than questionable.
The dramatic rule that serious scenes should be relieved
by comic meow his evidently been misunderstood by lady
Gifford. She has certainly relieved her serious scenes wit►'
the wildest comic contrast., but only by running them into
a burlesque antlelimax. One of the most powerful
situations in the comedy—a situation that is well contrived,
supplied with good dialogue, and well acted—bee hardly
made its intrinsical whea that impulsion is roSsly destroyed
by a farcical discovery. A fine bunt of real tragic passion
from Dr. Bertrand, who is striving to save his newly
tread see keen death, only leads op to a display of Mr.