The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-13 00:00:00

gbr Drama.

HATMARSET.—The revival of " Twelfth Night" at
this theatre on Saturday evening gave great pleasure to one of
the most crowded audiences of the season. It can only be ow.
ing to the difficulties attending its representation that this
c eneuy is not more frequently performed ; for, when it re-
ceives anything like justice from the players, our stage
scarcely affords a more delightful entertainment. It own-
bines romantic interest, rich humour, and beautiful
and its genial cheerfulness affects the spectator like tgr teightrY
of a bright and sunny landscape. The story. is clearly told,
though the &meow* is brought about by incidents so im-
probable as to be barely within the verge of possibility ; but
we easily forgive this in consideration of the animated scenes
and amusing displays of character which they serve to intro-
duce. The perfect resemblance between the brother and aister,
Sebastian and Viola, which confounds their identity and
causes all the perplexities of the plot, is a thing which has
been, though rarely, seen in real life ; but it can hardly ever
be realised on the stage; and, if not realised, the dramatic
effect is marred. Some of our northern readers may still
remember the 'performance of these characters i n the B,din-
burgh theatre by Mr. Money and hie sister, Mrs. Henry
Siddons—a performance commemorated by the au•lior of
Waverley." "Flora Mae-Ivor," says Scott, " bore a most
striking resemblance to her brother Fergus; so much so that
they might have played Viola and Sebastian with the same
exquisite effect produced by the appearance of Mrs.
Henry Biddo .s and her brother in those characters."
But this was, probably, a solitary instants, of a
likeness between two performers sufficient for the
purposes of dramatic illusion. As the play is generally
acted, and as it wall acted on Saturday night, the spectator
cannot, even with an effort of imagination, see how Olivia
alter felling in love with the **or, could marry the
brother, or how the Duke, seeing them together, could ex-
claim In wonder, " One face, one voice, one habit, and two
persons!" Between Mr. Vasidenhoff and Mrs. Kean the
mere habit was the sole point of resemblance; there being
nese at all in face, voice, or person. This, of course, could
not be helped, but yet it seriously damaged the effect of the
perfornanos. One of Shikspeare's principal commentators
(Dr Johann, if we remember right) has attacked the cha-
racter of Viola as bold and indelicate—mo-t unjustly,
we humbly think. She is one of the most charming
of the great dramatist's female creations, exquisitely
feminine in the innocent purity and maidenly sen-
sitiveness which mark her every word and action ;
and these features were probe- ly never more sweetly
displayed than by Mrs. C. Kean, whose melodious voice and
graceful utterance gave new beauty even to the poetry of
Sbalespeare. The excessively difficult character of 31alvolio
was well acted by Mr. Webster, though perhaps he made it
too ridiculous. Malvolio, though his inordinate vanity and
ambition make him the ready victim of a most clumsy trick,
is in other respects a man of sense, at the head of a great
household, and high in his mistress's regard, which she tes-
tifies towards him to the very last. He is not a mere comic
character introduced for the purpose of exciting mirth, and
mast not be so exhibited even when under the influence of
his aboard hallucination. Sir Andrew Areeetwek, with his
self-satisfied is quite a character for Keeley ;
the jolly, rollicking Sir Toby, that strange compound of folly,
wit, and shrewdness, found a very tolerable representative
Is Tilbury; and Maria, the clever, intriguing chambermaid,
could scarcely have been in better hands than those of Mrs.
Hamby. The lovesick Duke Offillo-..11 part which Shak-
epeare has enriched with some of the fairest gems of poetry
has a tone of elegance, refinement, and romance, which Mr.
Howe wss not able fully to itch ; and Miss Reynolds had
not the dignity and grace which belong to the noble Olivia.
Mr. Wigan, as the Clown, "played the fool" amusingly
enough.. The comedy, as a whole, was one of the most
agreeable and satisfactory entertainments which have lately
been presented to the publk.

SADLER'S WELLB.—Otway's tragedy of "Venice
Preserved" was played at this theatre on Saturday evening,
be the purpose of introdeciag to the Loudon boards a new
aspirant to tragic fame, in the person of a 111 r. C. K. Dicks:-
sea, who appeared in the character of Jektsw. Physically
this geatleasea pumas@ many of the requisites for an actor,
though kg ewes lsiet at least, which cannot but
to his s, oppeelelly in the more lofty and no.
hi* range of sharauless is the tragic drama. lie has a hand.
some though wet • sommanding person, and easy and
graceful caning., mad well formed, and expressive features,
but his vein is weak and effeminate, so much
SO that la the mews with Be:eiders it was difficult, except
by • knowledge of the text, or watching the action of the lips,
to know whoa he or when the lady was speaking. Of
the higher eider of qualifications Mr. Dickenson poserssee no
mean share. Hie conception of the part is natural and un-
exaggerated. In his reading he evinces natural good taste,
improved by careful study: he is in general free from rent,
though not wholly so, &Ado:mitt in one or two instances, he
'voids making points, as it is called, aiwiog rather at a cor-
net and equal representation of the part as a whole. Without
closing him amongst the few geniuses of the stage—if any
such we have left—at is not too much o say that he will be a
useful addition to our list of payers; and, that, in a certain
though limited class of characters, be will, with a little more
practice, ham few superiors. At the conchuion of the tragedy
he was called b,fore the curtain to receive the hearty cougra-
tulatiorm of the audience. Mire Glyn, who, as the Belvidera
played well and Mr. G. Benaett, who, althourh a little too
noisy and boisterous occasionally, made a very effective Pierre,
were similarly honoured.