The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-17 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER PLAY.

The Ar.drian of Terence is the Westminster play
this year. Last year, in consequence of the deaths in the
royal family, this usual forerunner of the Christmas
holidays was abandoned, and the previous year the
Trio unimus of Plautus was the drama selected for repre-
sentation. The Roman repertory is, indeed, a very scanty
one, nor in our estimation is there much muse for regret
that it is not more extensive. Of the twentyeix plays
attributed to these ROD= slaves—for dramatic writing was
in those days very much of a servile occupation—Lord
Dundreary would find it difficult to count ten distinct
characters on both his hands.

The plot of the disdrian is by no means devoid of merit,
but the misfortune is that It is developed in • narrative
rather than in • dramatic form. Modern ideas of propriety
would perhaps be shocked at some of the incidents, and the
omission of certain lines of the text scarcely Orvieto, the
indelicacy of the exposure of a new born infant ow the
stage. But perhaps the Greeks, like Magdelon in the
Preektllell Ridicides of Moliere, were of opinion that "le
mikes oe dolt jamais arriver qu'apres lee sutras &ven-
tures." Whatever opinion may be held is to the pro-
priety of young men learning by heart and representing
before their professors and before ladies these forms of
ancient manners, there can be none as to the fidelity and
honourable conduct of the principal character, Pamphilus ;
and in this respect, at least, • useful moral even for modern
times may be drawn from • drama composed more than 150
years before the Christian era
The following is the cast of the play :
Sims N. W. I'. Bosanquct.
&Mil& A. Y. M. Downie.
Davos
tsysis
Pamphilus
Chariton A. Ilionrert.
_ _ .
Byrrhut
Linbia
Chremes
Crito
Brume

A. rWinter.
J. H. ettepmelL
F. T. Mooney.
0. H. Pember.
Persoue Mute.
-

Beni Shnonts ie.7l;;Hiscoe.
A. H. Yore.

The acting of the young gentlemen is of that kind which
has long been familiar to the audiences of Westiniarter Plays,
consisting rather of a careful adoption of stereotyp►d forms
and prescribed interpretations than of bold attempts in new
paths. The strain of the play devolves on the slave Davila,
sad the rendering of the part by Mr. O'Brien
is very effective. Be has oommitted it well to
memory, and not only delivers the language trippingly frees
the tongue, but gives it meaning and colouring, as was
well said of one of the ancient actors—loourici mans.
Pamphilus was represented with spirit and readiness by
Mr. Phillimore, while the less impetuous lover Charinus was
rendered in a very prominent, yet unobtrusive, manner by
Mr. Stewart. So far as the acting went, the representation
was on the whole most excellent.

Though Thursday was the first tight of the performance,
the prologue end epilogue were not delivered till lut sight,
such being the usage of the school from time immemorial.
Amongst than present last night were the Earl of Clare..
deo, the Earl of Devoe, the Very Rev. the Dean of West-
minster, Mr. Walpole, 111. P., Sir Stafford Northoote,
the Solicitor-General, /L.P., Sir R. PluLimon% Sir W. W.
Wyss, Mr. Marsh, M.P., &c, ke.

01111TAL PALACIL —ONE SHILLING DAT. —Tr Hp-
DA; DEC. 16.—Admissioas on Topositt, 31)3 ; ditto by
sawn *los* 633 ; total, 1,03 d.