The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-10 00:00:00

Jbe Drama•

FRENCH PLAYS, Sr. JAMES'S TnEATRE.—M.
Cloup, the veteran rt'oisseur of this establiahment, took his
benefit yesterday evening, on which occasion two new pieces
were produced, '‘ Louise ou la Reparation " and " Les Flews
Auimees." The former vaudeville Mr. Morton has adapted
to the English stage, under the title of " Separation and
Reparation, ' and we have, therefore, all the less occasion to
give its plot, in itself slight enough. The piece was admir-
ably acted by Mots. Rhozewil, Domenic, Madame Orman,
and by Mademoiselle Valli°, whom we never saw to greater
advantage. She played the inginue to ingenuously that we
,annot but consider the character as natural to her. " Les
Flours Animists," again, need not be described, for its story
is much the same with that of the ballet, " Thee," so
popularly known. Alter the second piece, Madame Baderna
danosel her new Cachucha, and the entertainmenta con-
cluded with the amusing vaudeville, " Une Femme qui le
jetie par la Fenftre." Benin commences a limited engage-
ment on Monday, with Michel Perrin, and Les Vieux
Beebe's.

HATMARKET.—Mies Julia Bennett took a benefit
here last evening. It is expected that on such occasions
newspapers should "be gentle and not critical"—full of
polite sayings as a poor cousin on a rich relative's natal an-
niversary. In truth, however, Miss Juliaßennett isone upon
whom compliments would be thrown away. She has esta-
blished herself in public esteem, and in her peculiar
Hue is universally acknowledged to be en elegant actress.
Her priformance last night of the part of Letitia Hardy, in
the " Belle's Stratagem," was an essay in a range of cha-
racter requiring some power, and a challenge of comparison
with actresses of some celebrity. To go critically into the
alitrits of the lady's performance would, on such an occasion,
be sensual and unnecessary ; suffice it, that it quite equalled
tise expectation even of those who augured moot favourably
from Miss Bennett's known abi lithe. The other pieces selected
teethe *stamina were the " Day alter the Wedding," and the
"Poor Soldier." The Hungarian Vocalists also lent their
aid; and there wean additional entertainment, not in the
bills. which afforded in its turn as much amusement as any
of the others, namely, the decoration of the stage with
bouquets, on the occasion of Mies Bennett's appearance before
the curtain where she had to sustain such "showers of
Sewers" se really quite made one tremble for her safety. A
otrespr ia Landon who entered the house at the time might
reensaably have doubted if he had not got into Covent
Oarden market by mistake.
PRINCESi'S TH eArRE. —The tragedy of "The
Bridal," revived here last night, was originally produced at
tne Haymarket Theatre, a few seasons since. It Is an adap-
tation of Beaumont and Fletcher's " Maid's T.ragedy," with
alterations by Sheridan Knowles, who has thus introduced to a
modern audience a noble drama,freed from that grossness which
would not now be tolerated in representation. Mr. Macready
appeared as Melantius, the wronged warrior. In the pas-
sages of violent anger and eloquent reprobation, he exhibited
that appalling energy which *ems to subdue, with equal
case, the passions of the spectator and the cmisposure of his
fellow actors. In the scenes of less emotion, the vigour of
the general conception, the sagacity of the by-play, and
the minute finish of tbe details, compensated by nchness
of suggestion fot the poverty of the writer's thoughts.
The performance was one full of instruction to young actors—
& practical lecture on the art of being effective in tragedy
without resorting to stilts. Mrs. Warner, as &edit*, the
sister, displayed greet power in depicting the haughtiness
and daring of& woman who has sacrificed everything to am-
bi,ion i but was less happy in the purges of repentance and
despair. Mr. Crtewick, as Assintos, the injured husband,
added to the favourable *Oita of him which is so generally
entertained. Of die other *atm it were useless to
speak. One word • • eggeunses. It is perhaps
net worth while to
... . sapless, aplate
which causal front •
~",.."''.., 1. ,e.:: fed ; but
something like • 4 ..a. - observed.
The dream were • - • - '-' —•'l a r , . Types
writes, became • Ilt . `"1e~ , ' ' ' varied
wardrobe.
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