The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-12 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDAN THEATRE.

A new Comedy, entitled Pride skill hart a roll, was
troughtout at this Theatre last evening. It was therefore
with no small pleasure that we went to witness its repre-
sentation ; for we really want something, in the way of
lii.ht amusement, to diversify the sombre entertaitments
peculiar to this season of the year. Although we were not
altogether disappointed, yet we cannot say that our expec-
tations were fulfilled, f6t fame (we do not undOruke to say
with what propriety) had assigned the Comedy to uo less
a livrary personage than the Rev. George t'roly. Mr. Croly
enjoys the reputation of being a very eminent critic:
which is, after all, but an equivocal celebrity, for it im-
plies the character of a person capable of saying some
good, but still more prone to say many severe things, with-
out much compunction, bewsuse without any responsibility.
If Mr. Cruly be an eminent critic, and if he be the author
of the new Comedy (we state both as conditional proposi-
tions) there is evidence in the present production to shew
that a critic is not, perhaps,the best qualified person to write
a genuine Comedy. The evidence is this—that although in
the new piece there is no scanty supply of well-applied,
though not original witticisms—although it abounds in
oppropriate sentiments, occasionally expressed in very vi-
pious language--although some pretty episodical eon-
.riations arc intrsluccel into it,—yet nowhere is there
discoverable that flow of soul—that refined, natural,
and exuberant wit—that facility "to snatch a grace
beyond the ruks of art," which. distinguishes she comic
olive. a Sheridan, and with whose ir.spirations the 'I
present production is somewhat too presumptuously corn-
pared
in the epilogue of this play. There is a fastidious-
ness
in a critical eduction which checks the expressiou of 1
natural feeling, and confines the flow of thought to a
narrow and restricted channel. It is not unlike the effect'
of the finely-cultivated taste of Mr. Campbell (we do not
surely mean to compare him with Mr. Croly, for he, too,
we understand, is a poet), who would, we think, have
written finer retry than even he has done, were it not that
he shrinks from giving anything to the public that is slot
convintsl within the limits of an elaborate harmony.
The plot of the new play is briefly this:—
Victoria, daughter of a Sicilian merchant, has been twattithed to I
Lorena,. au ufliccr of hussars. During his absence on an espedi.
'ion to Mlrocco, the merchant has been bequeathed a large estate,
and has become Count Ventoso. The family decide on rejecting
Lorenzo, a., an inferior match. He returns, is indignant ; and ac-
suainting his brother officers with the insult, detcrzunes on degrad.
icg the family by a marriage with a man of the lowest order, prr-
socatMg a man of rank. This man is looked fe- in the public jail;
the family at* captivated, and the match is to occur immediately,
Lorenzo suddenly regrets his vengeance, Interferes, and detects the
impostor. The pride of the family has a full. Finally, • Lorenzo
is aaccrtainal to bent high birth, and tlstrimrsfor heir to opulence.
The daughters find their lovers, and the Count and Countess are
secured in their tide and lottune. The scene is in Palermo.
Such is an outline of the play which was last night re-
presented before a very numerous audience, and which
was givisen out for repetition on Saturday night, with what
Mr kr-I • ton would call applause, "such as was never before
heard in this or any otku Theatre." In our minds the
Plal-akilMlPEite sentiments of admiration corresponding
to the
cal itoeeZeling,imeaxviowe should c refer to say the expression, of the
racier, and appeared to us
a production that maybe described as gelfee-centedy, half-
an-opera, and, but that we are unwilling to be guilty of
of a mathematical solecism, we would add, kW-a-tragedy.
Of the part which partook of a tragic cast was a personifi-
cation of Curiosity, "out of time and place," by Torrent°
(Mr. Jones) which was a manifest imitation of "All the
World's a Stage " which reminded us not of the
beauties but of the characteristic defects of Shakspeare,
and yet was most tolerable where it bore most resemblance
• to those defects. This character of Torrent°, by the bye,
Is the only prominent one in the piece. Mr. Jones bustles
eitilearti it with a boisterous vivacity, that conceals the
improbabilities with which the author has connected it.
Ile is introduced in the opening scene of the play, making
love to Leonora (Miss Love), daughter of Coast Pintos°
(Mr. 1%. Farren). We next id him in prison (making
a bad speech, in the style of Billy Waters, to the convicts),
in which he is confined for assassination; and,in our third
interview with him, he is making witless puns before two
or three Sicilian officers, whom he affects not to know.
He is released from prison, paid for personating a prince,
and moreover promised five hundred crowns if he suc-
ceeds lathe disguise, and marries Victoria (Miss Paton),
in order to gratify the jealousy of Lorenzo (Mr. C.
Kemble), whose love she has slighted because he could
not find in his line of ancestry a more illustrious forefather
than Adam. Torrent° turns out to be the heir of a rich
banker, and Lorenzo the son of the Viceroy of Sicily: they
are married respectively to Miss Paton and Miss Love, and
so far make no unenviable matrimonial provision for them-
selves. The full of pride consists in the transfer of the
property of COMM! and Countess Ventuso (Mr.Farren and Mrs.
Davenport) to Torrent°, of which the former were before
illegally possessed. Their. pride consisted in what others
would consider the reasonable rejection of a young

ofilcer for their daughter in mariiage. The operatic
part of the play is, we think, the best : it contains
some very sweet and recherclai airs, which Miss Pa-
ton and Miss Loveve very sweetly. Mr. Pyne (un-
necessarily, we think) mine twice on the stage, and made
a trio with them, of what might very properly be confined
to it dart, when two such fascinating warblers are entrusted
with its execution. Mr. C. Kemble had little to do, but
did " that little well:" he always pleases us most in co-
mely. Mr. Connor, Mr. Yates, and Mr. Abbott, bad
three parts assigned them, of which Mr. Moncrief might
justly complain, for they were almost literally Tom,
and Jerry, and Bob Logic, rediriri. Mr. Yates was'
a sort of second editien of Bob Lvic, unimproved. His
imitations, in the Epilogue, were, however, correct and
forcible : that of Kean, in Richard; Rayner in Giles
and. Young in HUM let, were peculiarly accurate. The
Prologue was little else than a vulgar lampoon upon IreH
laxd. The house before half-price was quite full. The
spirlause, we 'have already said, was excessive. We are a
little in the secret, however, of the manner in which houses'
aro constituted on the occasion of a new play ; and can'
therefore pardon something to the spirit of friendship and
to the gratitude of gratuitous visitants. If the success of
the play be determined by the sour of last night it, will,,
doubtless, be great and almost unimralleled—if by the
more equitable rule of impartial criticism, and the sense!
of rational entertainment, then we say its success must be
very moderate, and even doubtful ; and "Pride shall have
a fall," not only below the level of the all-gifted Sheridan,
I,!it below that of has celebrated dramatists, whom we
might easily name, The. Duke of Gloucester and several
pepons of distinction sat in the private boxes. The
amllitice received his Grace standing, and at the close of
the play God save the King, at the call of the house, was,
sung by the company. Few of the vocalists were in at-
tendance, but Miss Paton and Miss Love did full justice
to the fine national anthem ; and they are in themselves a
host.

PROLOGUE,
Spoken by Mr. Cox woe in the character of Dr. 0' Took.*
lie enters, singing " The Groves of Blarney."
Here I am, frmt the Land of Potatoes and Fun!
Bot I'm ending my story before it's begun—
• I saii'd from sweet Ire'and, no thanks to the wind,
In hot water--(thei Mistress O'Toole stayed beisiewl.—.
Mow I roasted and boil'd;—but that part will keep cool ;
_So! now you've the history of Dr. 0' Took.
was smoked upon sea, I was moth a upon land,
For the tint moo I wet was a boy in the strand ;
•My own blood relation--a liqht of the age !
. For he trims all the lamps in the front of the stage •
Bel by day-light a dasher, a high liond-•treet blade-
-4 This Trimming, they tell me • a mighty trade)—
" So !—you're 00111 t for an actor ?"
Says I, " You're just right.'
" Eb !—then—could you speak us the Prologue to-night ?"
•• What's a Prologue ?" says I.
" 'Tis a sort of a thing
That an ivtor must mouth like a tragedy king,
With his worst leg behind, and his best leg before ;
'Pon honour / rote it a horrid great bore :
Half a puff for the //Dose, half* rant for the nation ;
In short, 'tis • P: ologse—
A grand botheration I
Dot a word for the ladies?
—Pat, what I'm afraid is,
You're not to be trusted in sight of the ladies :
No: hit them on polities—' bold British 'Fars !'
TI is unim kv for that that we've done with the wars,l
hen conclude with a whisper on Spain won 0.011%."
" By my oath !" says I, • I'd be for breaking the peace :
I'd give them a laugh; they should know, by a Joke,
'Twits a Comedy night, before one word was spoke
A wee British comedy, tho' all the actors
Wen! &Moors • men, women, hussars, malefactors !
isiporied e I'd show at a glance
tfet of !t glum in the wows from Francs

I'd ray. with a mighty ?ow bow, to the Pit,
• Well find the good humour, if you'll find the wit;
Our pool too, sins for the gggy firat time,
And for fear the tint's last; pray encourage his crime.'
To the Doses I'd say (with my band on my heart),
• Dear girls ! it's n love-tale—all flame and all dart;
And if ever
.you hope to be bridegroom or bride,
Stni/r &good word to-night on the comedy's side.'
To the Gods nigh the roof, I'd say, • British boys, roar,
And when our play's done, ail give me an (arum'
'fat de rul 101, tot de rol lot" (Exit, ringing.

• Irish Tutur.

EPIIMGVE,
Spoken by Ir. VAT E 3, as the Comes.
(lie hurries in.)
.

Ladies and Gentlemen !—quite out of breath—.
Ten thousand pardons l—tess'd, star% talk'd to death—
Found it scarce possible to get away,—
Those Greenroom persons,--monstrous deal to say—
queens, heroes, ghosts, priests. ploughmen.—in full swing-
-111 give you some—few—touches of the thing.
Imitations.

Y. A Comedy ! A ifiew-born miracle !
Comes it with aim from heaven or blasts from hell ?
Is it a spirit of health, or geldin (laniard 9
F. Fob, fudge and nonsense!—are the boxes cramm'd ?
H. The pit has had a fainting match And light ;
Of coarse, you'll hare it acted every night.
F. Boy ! print to-morrow's bills,— No siumling room;"
, And ' Not an ossicr Jur a year to sow."
MIS. L. (Mrs. Malaprop.)
Has it no scandal in 't ?—n3 Lord's jobligion ?

No, y- ?—no crilmconcatenition
F. (S'ir FOktfal.)
See Act the Fifth : that " clerates,—surprises."
D. "I think it falls."
F. "You mean, Sir, " rises, rises."
B. .rag passable. His next, pethaps, will mend.
F. 'Tis passable! (a d—dgood-natur'd friend).
M. No scalping' in t,—no squaws !my friends the Yankees
For ten such plays, I gars:, wouldn't give ten thankees.
C. Sir, that's a plain affront I like the play ;
Such nights as these, Sir, arn't seen every day.
T. Such nights !—I tell you that those things won't tell;
Why didn't lie dramatize St. Bonn's Well ?
Write wholesale from my friend, Sir Waft is page!
M. The Well ! Aye.—" Real water on the stage !'
Why, Drury ! Zounds—llc'd drown your C AAAAAAAA
E. Ile drown my—l'll but state one stubborn fact;
Ladies and Dandemen I—These fifty years—
Lend me your ears (such of you as have ears) -

That line shall rut; !—I always speak my mind—
The WATER W the way to raise the salad!
And, since I've trot, IT dry the British Nation ;
I.llly Benefit-night's—the OENERAL CONFLAGRATION!
F. D'ye think the author has a knack for rhyme
VU make him Losicute of the Pantomime.
M. (I'irgisirs.)
Ilis cast is good !—The man need have no fear,
Were bat "my daughter, my Virginia," there.
R. I lam Victoria! She my heart--ray Ivy?,
Turk her who de.—Shed make s pretty eselft

1. (
" May my mare slip her shoulder, but I'll taker
The yang 'on."
B. Gentlemen ! for Shakapeare's sake.
Leave as our Nightingales !—We want them all—.
Falstaff himself without them non must fall.
K. Shakapeare to music ! livery inch a King !
"Richard is Aoactr." thmk before f'll sing.
Allenth, escaped,--myself again,--aloac,..—
i supplicate at Beauty's native throne.
By the high splendours of our ancient day
By those we've seen, and wept to see—decay;
By our--by Mankiti's SHERIDAN ! whose tomb
Is scarcely closed !
Rut no—no thoughts of gloom;
Again conies ComaDr ! So long untried:
Give her your smiles !
The victory's on our side.
Your smiles have woo the day !—Thanits each and all :
Now, now indeed—" Ow pride shell have no fall."