The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-14 00:00:00

MADAME RISTORPS PitILFORMANCIB.
_ .

DRAMA

The series of Madame Ristori's performances at
Her Majesty's Theatre closed tut evening with Alfieri's ;.1
tragedy of Rovaundo--otie of those sombre stories of Italian
history in which the classic drama of Italy abounds. Per.
haps so play of Alfieri is better calculated to convey sa
idea of the characteristics of his genius. Dependent almost
entirely upon the conflict of passions in a few character;
and utterly devoid as it is of all those poetic ornaments in
which our own great dramatists took delight, to an English
audience, unprepared by • previous study of the
author's writings, it must necessarily appear strange am
unnatural. But what is lost by the want of all
those accessories which are now-a-days deemed indispensa-
ble to • dramatic plot, is in great measure recompensed by
the intensity which this concentration of the interest runes
manly implies. Probably DO English play could give so claw
an idea of this kind of work as Shelley's tragedy of the
Cenci, which, though a production of far higher genius, beg,s
in ita sombre incidents, its intensity of passion, and its as.
elusion of all mere descriptive writing, evident traces of
study of the works of the author of Bo Banda and the
Conpiura de Pazzi. The terrible story of Itoemtuids, rate
almost entirely upon the hatred of the heroine, 060 of
the Queens of Lombardy, for her step-daughter, Remade
The causes of her hatred are siphoned in the first woe.
Compelled in early life to marry Alboin, the murderer of
her father, Rosmunda has vowed eternal vengeance apust
her husband and his daughter. The former she had used
to be slain by Almacluld, whom the had rewarded for the
service with her hand, while she has determined to many
the unfortunate step-daughter to the cruel and bloodthirsty :
Alarico, who has already disposed of three wine. But her
scheme of vengeance does not work smoothly. She know
her new husband Alnuchild to be her tool, bet she has ea

wonted on his forsaking hi allegiance in order to protect
Romilda, with whom he has, in fact, fallen in love. Wilk Li
his disloyalty to his wicked consort is discovered by be,
he most also be punished ; and this can be done by call;
in the aid of one his generals, 11domld, on whom the love d
Romilda has fixed itself. The end is the triumph of Rae
moods, the murder by her hand of Romilda in the preemie
of the two men who loved the girl, and the abasement d
her wicked husband.
The first great scene in the drama is that in which
invade overhears her husband's declaration of love for the
hated rep-daughter. Her eager curiosity to hear me,
word of his coufewion of infidelity—her tiger-like mows
sion of countenance as she came stealthily upon them,
her fiendish exultation over her husband, as the yowg
maiden expressed for him only sc3rn and detestation, we.
finely rendered. But the most terrible delineation d
ferocious hatred appears in the climax of the last act, n
which, dragging the girl along, and clasping her to he
breast, as if she were precious to her for ti
satisfaction of her vengeance, she defies her kabuki
sad her lover to interfere, end thee plunges a
• dagger into the heart of her victim. Her action at ttis
point, as she held up the bloody dagger, mid with a
terrible look at her husband exclaimed, while the '
descended—

Tr.= I Or priscipia appeea
La vendetta. the amplere in to gizmo—

was equal to anything in those terrible displays of turista
passion with which she has so often electrified her audience.

HAYMARKET.

Mr. Buckatone will take his annual beneSt to-
morrow night at this theatre, and with it will close hs
second season of five years' duration. The attractions per
vided for this OCCIIiiOII are ample and varied. Mr. Planchi's
historical drama of Charles Ike Twelfth will be tensed, i
with Mr. Alfred Wigan as the King, and Mr. Biackstose
Adam Brock—this being their first appearance is that
popular characters. The Bengal Tiger, with Mr. and Ka
Wigan in their original parts, will also be produced; sal
Mrs. Howard Paul will give her celebrated imitation d
Mr. Sims Reeves, and sing a new serenade. A lead* i
attraction at these annual benefits ia Mr. Blackstone's eb
dress, and in the one which will be delivered to-morns,
night the past and the future will be described in the na
nager's most agreeable style. The past season has ben
usually prosperous, and the future season procaine to oil
equally successful. as the theatre will be much altered tail
improved daring the recess. JJJ