The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

AM USEM ENTS.

PRINCESS'S.

The entertaioments at this theatre consisted of,
Macbeth, followed by a new melodrama. called 3/anvil
Spada. The house was crowded to excess. and the pressure
in the upper regions produced a degree of noisy discontent
which interrupted the performance till Mr. Kenn, address-
ing the audience, intimated that those who found them-
selves uncomfortable would have their money returned if
they chose to leave the house. This restored quiet, and the
splendid representation of .lionieth had a must attentive and
delighted audience.
Marro Spada is a version of Scribe and Aubt'r's new
opera, which is in great vogue is Paris at present. This
English adaptation is by Mr. Palgrave Simpson. Anher's
music is left out, and the piece is changed into a melo-
dramatic spectacle, for which the subject is exceedingly
well fitted. The story is composed of materials' well worn
on the stage—especiallv the musical stage ; the hero Long
one of that numerous race of personages who have existed
only in the ima,inations of playwrights ;—amiable bandits,
familiar with robbery and murder, but full of virtuous sea.
timents, and oliects of romantic interest. Marco Spada is
first presentect to the spectator in the guise of
a Roman nobleman, calling himself the Baron di
Torrids, and living in a nohle mansion in the
neighbourhood of the capital, having an only daughter,
Andrea, who believes her father to he what he seem*. The
Prince Orsini, governor of Rome, belated in travelling,
finds shelter in the chateau of the pretended Baron, arid
thus, without ki owing it, makes the acquaintance of the
terrible brigand whom he has been for years endeavouring
to exterminate with his hand ; and a tensequenee of this
acquaintance Man invitation to him anal his daughter to •
peat ball at the governor's palace. The young lady is
, loved by Federico, the Prince's nephew. The false baron
unwillingly accepts toe invitation on the earnest en-
trentiee of his daughter. The seethe of the ball has
considerable interest, derived from the dangers incurred by
the seeming Baron, whose person is at last recognised oy a
Monk, who had formerly been Ws prisoner. The recogni-
tion takes idace only iu the presence of the daughter, and
the Monk is suddenly carried off by some concealed bri-
gands, whoa their chief has brought with him, in case of
need. The discovery is thus confined to his daughter,
whose heart it crushes ; but she resolves to abandon her
lover and follow her (ether's fortunes. In the
last act, the scene lies in the retreat of the
bi4gand• among the mountains, whither the young
lady has, with filial piety, felloweu her father
and assumed the costume of the women of the hand. Several
stirring incidents take place ; one of which is the shooting
of • member of the band who has been convicted of
treachery. At length the brigands are attacked by the
troops, and Marco Spada is mortally wounded. Ile de-
clares, with his dying breath, that the etain of his name
does not rest upon Andrea, who is nut his daughter, but
the child of • nobleman win, with his family, had hero
massacred by his bairt ; he having saved the infant's life
and brought her up as his own. All this ie auto.
ciently commonplace, but the piece is constructed
with Scribe's usual skill ; some of the situa-
tions are striking, and the whole excites a gaud
deal of interest. By way of relief, a couple of comic
characters are introduced—a cowardly captain of dragoons-
& personage of the kind frequently manufactured for the
especial use of Mr. l'sul Bedford, and acted by Mr. Lacy
a good deal in Mr. Bedford's style ; and a pert, flippant
Marehesa, whose flirtations with the gallant captain be.
come not a little tiresome. Mr. Ryder, who is an excellent
melodramatic actor, gave great effect to the character of the
brigand hero; and Miss heath was a mast pleasing and in.
Westing heroine.
But the glory of the performance was the extreme bril-
liancy and beauty of the spectacle. The scene -f the ball
in the Orsini palace, we hesitate not to say. was the finest
thing of the kind we have ever seen in an English theatre.
The architectural beauty of the hall, stretching in long
perspective and blazing with lights ; the groups of revellers,
their rich costumes, and graceful dances, would have done
honour to her Majesty's Theatre or the Grand Opera,
Equally admirable was the mountain scene with the bri-
gands and their women and children. Both these scenes
were received with acclamations from all parts of the
house, and some parts of the dances were vehemently en-
cored. In short, the getting up of this piece is one of the
greatest of Mr. Kern's managerial achievements, and it
cannot fail to be attended with the greatest success.