The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-12 00:00:00

DRURY LANL

The revival of Manfred at Drury.laree en Saturday eight—
considered
only as a smile display—shown an immense ad.
Vance upon the Covent-garden spectacle of 1834. It also
show how difficult it is for the most intelligent stage ma-
nagers, misted by all the improved mechanical appliances,
to touch the poetical drama without soiling it. To use the
words of Lord Byron In this play, " their embrace is
fatal." The ideal school are always taunting the
realletio school far keeping possession of the stage,
forgetting that the stage is neoceserfly realistic.. It never
raked • mortal to the skies, but it hen brought a multitude
of angels down. It takes • poem, and strives honestly to
" illustrate" it ; bat, in so doing, it only eaglets the
imeginatioe of • few, while it falls short of the imagination
of the many. It proceeds as the aremptioe that imegina-
tion is rare, and requires stimulating ; whereas this qua-
lity of human agars leas common se the faculty cif ming.
We need only point to the spread of =perdition es • proof
of ibis. The stage seizes a poem like alsofrod or Are—
and what does it—what can it do with k! It sur-
rounds the chief character or abstractioa with the grossed
material forms, that are all depeedsat epee " ease," pul-
leys, erace-akif tern, coloured foes, and makisig mechisery.
It the student's chamber iota • vulgar eonjuror's
booth at a fair ; it makes the most airy spirits pompous and
eelfaufficient--as windy in their utterances as professional
" orators." It gives us a hell which Sutlers with gold-leaf—a
model in gingerbread of ooe of Martin's—or rather, Day end
Marties—pietures. It calls up uneasy goals who are deemed
to weer meg sera& dream and todanee in *Meal ballets ;
and it tops the whole with • presiding demon, who is a am
betimes • dragon and Punchinello.
These ere not faults that are peculiar to one theatre and
ass management—they are the faults of the stage which
can ewer be entirely eradicated. When • realistic drama
is produced we often have poetical scenery, but when •
poetical drama is produced we nearly always have radii*,
scenery. The natural scenery in Manfred, et Dory-lania
helps to prove this rule, for it is the most ancomdaL The
precipice and glaciers near the summit of the Jangfrau—
painted and arranged by Mr. W. Telbin, misted by hie
see—i • noble and beautiful picture. The appearance of
vast height ad distance is admirably conveyed, and the
risk tints produced by the rising sue are brought out by •
dever application of aide-lights. The solid asp built up
ce the stage, from the top of which Manfred threatens to
hurl himself before he is saved by the chamois hunter, were
bold, rugged, and ample, and contrasted favourably with
the oretemptible scenery—before described—whick ren-
dered Manfred ridiculous in 1834. Mr. Devil, who is still
alive, and who I. engaged by Mears. Palmer and Chatter
tact, though not in a dramatic capacity, must here longed
memo, to attempt his old character with these happier
surrouodinp

The Steiribach waterfall is most elaborately arranged, and
as much effect &spoilable is created without the use of real
inter, and the Ran of Adman's, painted by Maws. Demos
sad Sc..—. copy of the Coventlarden scene —ham a very
Impreesive haekgrousd. Mr. Tellan's (root scenes are also
most snide pantings—theternioe and exterior of Manfred's
made beim a calm, beautiful picture. The bat seen*, taken
from the Coveet•prdso play, sad not from the posse —the
dfitstetioe of Maskers turret nimbi), disclaim, a snowy
Alpine mute with tietarte raise! on high—was marred on
Saturday by the clumsiness of the stage carpenters. Tile
distribution of lot slippers and month-rage for these very
necessary but noisy workmen, and the application of a little
grease to the machinery, will materially improve the repro,
sestatics. Though Manfredi. ►spectacle, the •• wads" are
of some importance.

The music, by Sir Henry Bishop, wants spirit and fancy,
and is a weak imitation of Mozart and Weber. Its execution
will doubtless! be much improved after a few more perform-
ances. The choir includes Miss Poole aad Mr. Swift ; and
the Meowed orchestra is under the directioa of lir. John
Barnard, whose snag, "la the Idea depths of the waters,"
was very favourably received. The other musical addition
is a solo and chores—" The Captive tfeurpie—composed by
Mr. liaadeuer.
Mr. Phelps's reading of Manfred was careful and appre-
ciative, occasionally ruing to the highest level of de-
clanistice—ommionall sinking into tricks of elocution. His
voice, at times, to suffer from weakness. The eel,.
cootemplative tone was well preserved throughout, and his
action was as easy as any inane could be who has to walk
backwards and forwards far nearly two hours, like a captain
pacing bill quarterdeck. When be asks for seitoldivioo,
and We .pint answers that he may die, his rendering of the
doubting line, " Will death bestow it on me!" was very
doe. His description of the chamois hunter's simple life--
Lis address to Astarte—and his scene with the Abbot, were
all excellently delivered ; but his scene with the witch of
the Alps—cos of the finest in the poem—was made partly
inaudible on Saturday by the squeaking of the cataract.
He managed hie humiliations so as to save them from being
&Word, which is the most we au expect, and be listened to
Byronic doggrel like this—
Bear what thou toreit,
The heart and the form ;
And the aspect thou tamest
Redeem from the worm (warm).
with bemiring belief and gravity. His reaptiou when the
curtain 11,11,0 was one of the most stirring seams we have ever
witoessed in a theatre. Before he was warmly seen standing
i in the dim twilight of the stags, the Wier. ...b.._
wedged as they were from orchestra to plkiry—raised one
desfeanig shoat, which lasted for several minutes. The
occupant, of the pit sod galleries struggled ine to their lege
sad waved their handkerchiefs. The scampi,' of fest was
like peals of thunder, and the more Miff sad decorous
Minton of the theatre caught and Wt the eethweasen. Many
pilgrims from the great northern suburb, where Mr. Pbelp,
bee so long been knows es as intelligent measlier and actors
were doubtless in the house to welcome their favourite ;
sad the applause was well earned by one who for many
years has been • faithful and oonsistent servant of the
public.
Mr. Ryder played the Abbot with dignity ; Mr. &year
—who Named to have caught a little of Manfred's gloom
and heavioees—represeated be Chamois Hunter; sod the
rest of the parts were Shed by Mrs. Mislead Meaner, Miss
Atkinson, Mies Murray, Mile Rose Leclereq, Mae Heath
(who roads her Ant appearance at this theatre), sad niaay
other members of she osuipany. Mr. Phelps was called ea
at the ekes of each act. and as the settairstiee of the gnat
eel be bras& on Mr. Wien.