The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-17 00:00:00

DRAMA.

The production of a four ace romantic play in
btu* vine, though that play may only take sank is the
mood or third class, is sow somewhat of • dramatis event.
Be few theatres are sow open where this school of
theatrical composition ma get a fair hear*, sad so few
dismatio authors are bold aweigh to try their band in
frainiog cos of them modern iiatiquse, that the public ma
hardly bops to enjoy each a treat—if treat it b•—es-
ospl by a sew manager getting hold of a sew author.
Whim sea a samegsr lads such as author, or wash as
author Ws such a massger. it by so mesas follows that
the play is equally new. It is most likely a pause writtai
in some bygone period of the British drama for as audience
who liked than comedy rather stilted than otherwise. sod
who loved that fancy historical tresimeat whit
throws them into the company of reisisislis -amnia
king•—or people quit. as brilliantly droned lad agamibbs.

The sew romantic drama in few es% * Mr. Lewis
Fibaoos, which was produced with every tolise of swore
at the Primer% Theatre Let night, is a play of this des
It is called 'k. Winship Suit, and has I plot al that'
" haseymeoa* ceder which has keg been fscifilikt k tits/
doge. A play very similar to It ia esseiteelek
/adore of nuatile, tree letely peedesel fa Amplaillei vase it
was described as an adaptation bra Ibi Ommaf ; sad the
original' Games play was probably draw' hem tbat
%maid roam which has keg been the fountaine, life to so
seamy halustriese playwrights-
Tie writing of the piece shows literary ability and judg-
ment, though we object to several mock Etilebethen
speeches, which can be manaketured by any imitative
mike, and have always a flavour of parody about them.
The coatis dialogue is smart sad characteristic, end if too
much affection has bees shown for a good many old jokes,
they are oertaialy not spoilt in the telling. The serious
and sentimental portion' of the dialogue are not wanting in
dignity and pathos, and the bison verse has not more
stiffness about it than three-fourths of such English
compositioa.
The acting of the piece—takes altogether—was Padova
and level, rather than striking. The serious parts are soil
stroogly marked—they pressed little that an odor ma lay
hold of ; and it is chiefly in the comic parts that the
actors create the deepest impression. Roderic was carefully
played by Mr. Hermann Veers, bat he could make little of
suck a good-matured, well-meaning plotter; Mr. Henry
hLarstea was dignified and even interesting as the &waked
King; Mr. Bebasse was very amusing, and seemed to esjoy
his part as the loutish sou of the innkeeper ; and Mr. Fits-
JAMe gave substanee and importance to the part of a cap-
Jain of the guard. Mr. W. H. Stephens, an excellent actor
of old men, seemed to want weight in the King of Castle,
and one or two of the minor parts might have bees rendered
more fareibly.
Kim Amy &dgwiok threw all her spirit into the ahareefor
of the Prisms Ocala, but she appeared most at sees in the
more homely parts of the performance. In the inn where
she taken orrice the humour of her position seemed to over-
come her sense of royal dignity, and she was more eacoessful
ea
the Goldsmith's wife, because she seemed really happy is
the Goldsmith% wife. Stage priocessee who speak bleak
verse are not the most thankful parts to perform, sad we
can hardly wonder that a young and sprightly woman like
Miss Sedgwich has little apparent sympathy with them.
Tbsethow fencers characters—an old innkeeper and a lady's
maid—were played with care and judgment by Mrs.
Manton sod Miss Hurray. A very pretty landscape SOON
has been painted for the third act, representing the village
of St. Lucia, with view of the distant country. A ball-room
ballet in the last act might be altered with advantage.

The actors were called at the end of the third act, and the
curtain was raised at the end of the piece. A all was alto
made for the author, and he bowed from a private box. The
have was crowded in way pert with a discriminating
audience.