The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1815-12-28 00:00:00

lillE/171,R ES.

DAT Rif -L NE.
The Tragedy of Ge.ne Barter c/( wits retseareil
last night, and, as on the former one, was received
with applause, wliAl the intervals of silence admit-
ted an opportuaity of estimating the iherita of the
performers. It was followed by the new Pantomime
of Hartelnin Pane" or, the Poet's lnst Shil-
ling. Here the attention was arrested. The
minds of the audience found their entertainment
in the rapid progress of iimitantimie
It was attended' with a good deal of applause
throughout, hut we think it would admit of, awl
indeed requires improvement, front the addi-
tion of more of the tricks resorted to upon
such occasions. 'The line scenery, the happy
touches that are occasionally interspersed, Must Ce-
commend it to those who Lave a taste for such pro,
doctions ; but even those will require that the
Clown should he more beaten, and the Harlequin
more ou the alert. W cannot think that origio-
ality should .o Ilir attract the ambition of writers
and of theatres, when they apply thenivelves to such
productions, as to induce them, merely from the
apprehension of descendin., to imitation, to adhere
exclusively to the suggestions of their own fancies.
The Pantomime is in itself very geed. The
scenery is splendid and beautiful. The (lowa is
admirable. The fable, as far as fable can be eon,
tiect:-..: with any thing of the kind, is interesting;
lint it requires a little tilling rip, and the only
IMO) tt; up it wants is that of the cotounomplare
tricks at which we have often lairglied, and are
always prepared to laugh again. ‘'Ve have, on
the first night, given our opinion and approtra-
holt of several 14 the tricks—that opinion has
been confirmed by the performance of lust iMifit.
Ainoive, the another of successful exhibitions, we
should not oinit one Of the fears of the Clown, who
stands neon his head fora con-iderable time on a
small nedessal, and in that position turns about for
scveral tiohies. The other prominent tricks dint we
have already ieniverl were repeated with increased
facd v, their exhibition was :mewled wish every
demonstration of pleasure oil the part of a crowded
house.

CuYENT-GARDEN.

The new drama of Smiles and now avow-
edly the production of Mrs. C. KEMBLE, was last
night repeated. We have rarely been present at the
performance of a piece more strongly cast in ail its
part.. Indeed, so well-suited is each of the charac-
te•rs to the peearliar abilities of the individual by
whom it is represented, that, in ow opinion, any
alteratioo, ie this particular, would materially injure
the general effect of the piece. Mr. C. IiFMII-
- us Sir I Ivory Cholinoadeley, ploys with the
easy imil unembarrassed air of a gentleman. His
friend, Colonel 0' lA:medlar: is iepecsented with
ranch energy and vivacity, by Nte. Janes.—
The character bas, however, no prototype in
ac►ual life. We would vitally seareli the army
list of this, or any other country, in the hope of
lighting on it character that even approximated
to so strange a compound. The Colonel's bulls
are of the most silly description. They tire the
offspriug of downright stupidity--they do not
arise from a luxuriance of idea, which, in the ab-
sence of au adequate facility of vxpres-* , has
been said to occasion that colifusion of terms, de-
nominated a bull. The Colonel's politeness rip-
pears to be on a level with his intellect. One-half
of his time is occupied in abasing the lady whom
he professes to admire—a species of conduet, we
should apprehend, neither characteristic or an Irish-
man or a soldier. Mr. YOUNG'S I•it=hardint is an
admirable piece of actin;;. His scenes of idirenty
were terrifically wild—those of itielaucholy madness
were deeply pathetic. Stanley is a character be-
neath Mr. FAWCETT's powers. He is described its
" a very good sort of mail," lint not oppressed by
any peculiar interisity of feeling. Sualt a character
cannot excite much nitrite—and stone of the little
which it is framed to create was itnimirad by Mr.
l'awertra performairce. Mrs. C. KEN 151.1.1 dis-
played a large portion of good-humour owl viva-
city in her personation of Lady Emily. Iler list
dress might lie chini.getl, with advantage. It is one
of the t awkward mid cumbrous we ever saw on
the stage Mrs. FAUCIT'S Widow Belosour pre-
sents many claims to public approbation. She sup-
ported the character in is very graceful mid polished
manlier. Miss ForrrE's Cicely is extremely inte-
resting. This young lady always loolci lovely ; but
her appearunee in the last scene is pre-eminently
beau►ifiii.

The new Pantomime of Harlequin arid Fortinlin,
succeeded the Phay. The machinery was wrought
with more facility than on the preceding evening—
the performers, particularly Messrs. GRIMA LDI
awl lioLOGNA, made greater exertions than they
had previously done—and the general effect of the
Pantomime was, in consequence, improved. One
of the most laughable scenes, is that is which the
Clown serenades Isis mistress, 11 chamber-amid at
the Black Bull Inn, iiishopsgate-street. For tlns
purpose, lie proceeds to the leads of the house, and
a duet, to the air of " Whither my loci," ensiles
iwtweeu him and Ins fair one, which is ficeasiontelly
interrupted by the riiscorrlant notes of a couple of
cats, who appear on a neighbouring parapet. In the
midst of 1116 altiorolu: incantations, the (lowa's bed-
room takes hire, and the scene concluders with the pre-
cipitate retreat of the lodgers, some of them clothed
iu blaiskets, " in the alarm of fear caught up," from
the windows into the street. Much disapprobation
was manifested at the exposure of a " Bond-street
Dandy." who, when stripped of his false whiskers,
deprived of his padded coat, 1 disencumbered
frOnt his stays, turned out to he it trembling old
matt. A good deal of mirth was excited, by the in-
troduction of twelve figures, representing the King,
Queen, and Knave, of the four suits of cards, who
perform a comic dance. Two very clever tricks, the
transformation of a water-trough and pump into a
" Hot shower-bath," where the Clown is assailed,
like Don Juan, with a deluge of fire—noil the me-
tamorphose of a package of claret into a kitchen-
range, at which a tailety of jostles are roasting—
were much admired for the ingeouity of' their in-
vention, and the adroitness with which they were
executed. In the course of the Patitost ... e, ass
aerial lino takes place—aea enormous boar, a tio4,
and a well-.ion in.,l W 0.1.111411, supplied by the
eelekateil NI. harms, take .their flight across the
stags:.
The decorative part of the l'atitoinitue is very