The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-10-17 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE nrEATRE.

The appearance of this magnificent house las
evening proved the intense curitenty which the de
tiled accounts of its improvements and decoration
had excited amongst the public in general. At a
early hour the doors were beset by a clamorous am'
impatient assemblage, each individual eadesvour
ing to be the first to beholeshe scene which he ha,
pictured to himself in such enchanting colours
Pit, bases, and galleries, were in a few miaow
crowded almost to suffocation; even the 'obis,.
were well filled, and many persons throughout it-
night were obliged to content themselves with a.
nnsatisfatlory view of •liat was passing throng:
the glasses of the box-doors. As soon as th
curtain was drawn op the burst of apple's.
was tremendous. A considerable number of ill
corps draneatique appeared upon the stage, so
were greeted with loud clapping of hands, *twin(
of handkerchief,. &c. The national anthem wa.
song with great effect, in alternate verses. b•
Madame VEsTRIS. Miss POVIV, MOO COll
LAND, Miss FORDE. and Miss CUBIT; sad warm
ly encored. Mr. Twist', whose appearance wit
hailed by the audience with the most Batter.
ing cordiality, then came forward, and deliverer
the opening Address (which we subjoin), with ad•
mirable point and humour. After several otla
rounds of applause. the play, SMER/DAN's excellent
comedy of The School fur Scandal. commenced,
If the brilliancy of the architectural part of ti:
house were first admired by the audience, they wet
no leas delighted with its living ornaments.
coterie established for the laudable purpose of de
stroying every body's reputation "but their
were very amusing. Mrs. GLOVER, u Mrs. Cos
doom. ran dwelt her game with • keenness au
dexterity which shewed both her taste fur lh
sport and experience in its practice. Mr. Team
(in the absence of Mr. MUNDEN, who is hid',
posed) assumed the character of Sir Peter Teas,.
He played it with less of that apparent pterialion
which en old mast, married to a young and haudsom
wife, is sometimes justified in entertaining, as,
which other perfumers, who have supported tb•
character with considerable applause, have mad,
one of its prominent features; his chuckling a.
having discovered the affair of the French million
and the eagerness, with which he made the cow.
munication to Charles, were laughable in the es
treme. Mr. COOPER, as Joseph Surface, nu
loudly applauded ; he delivered the moral wastinseat.
with • kind of half-suppressed sneer, as if he de-
spised Sir Peter for believing him, which had i
good effect. Sir Wirer Surface, by Mr. DOWTOS.
was rich in true and natural humour; and Mi
Ei.t.trroe played Charles Surface with a aufficies
quoit/am of rakish spirit. Mrs. West's Lad,
Sneerwell was a performaitee of considerable merit,
her retort upon Jost ph Surface whe tilt is discovered
in Its library, still her reaunc 'tot of her forme.
associates, were energetic and impressive.
The play was succeeded by the comic opera e
7'he Poor Soldier. which was rendered very at-
tractive by the delightful singing of Madame
VESTRIS (who played Patrick with unimpaired
vivacity), Misr COPELAND, lOW Miss FORM.
A Mr. Mit.Leit made his first appearance is
the character of Dermot. He was very farm-
ubly received ; hr possesses a voice or very sweet
quality, and was encored in his first I,OIIK. 41 Skip
sleep ow, my Kathleen dear." Mr. HAftLEy,
in Darby, displayed Ins eccentricities with their
usual cheat.

In the course of the evening the audience took
occasion to esp•esu their sense of the wonde►ful
exertions which Mr. ELLISTON has made to coo-
tribute to their comfort and amusement. Rhea
he first made his appearance on the stage. the whole
pit aloud up and saluted with the waving of hats
and handkerchiefs sod loud cheers, whuh continued
for some minutes. Ile laid his hand upon hi,
heart, and made several obeisances in return for
their reiterated plaudit..
The following Address, written by Glom
CoLig N, Esq. was spoken by Mr. 'IMLAY

Sion Theatres so oli, in ibis our lime,
Are lasueled wpm, the gown with solemn rhyme,
Thoughta reedy-made to fit the theme are found,
Like last year's loses on barrel organs (roved,
And Poets forbiali, in Ike both°. style,
Old tropes sad loins for the new.larili pile:
The Sock end Baskin named—ihe Slams ;
Then Opera, always prefaced with Apollo;
Bet Airbitt (lure's claims when we caftan,
Vacuoles and Polled'' come of course.
Till, afier a buoy dance through Grevee and Home,
To Urydeo, ()tiny, Coourve, getting home.
We end with Sliakspeare's Ghost, still ►us'tieg so nor(
dame!
Alas ! how vainly will our modern fry
strive with the uhl Leviathans to vie!
How kei
fouliahly comparison provoke
. .

With lines thal Joltasou writ, and Curia; spoke
Abitadon we a sham, without more loss,
Which, Owe attempted, has absadun'd us;

And let as gellibs b.:however dull,

Of morderi;g the sublime sad braottial!
Thai, thea:--oar Manager, she ICOIIIII the fears
Of pulling sa old house shoat his eats,
Mae spared, of vier late (daces prude,
The outward walls, and Mile else beside:
Anxious has been lidt labour to complete
Which make, magailseu ace sad comfort meet ;
Maslow, that wialiiissdrs may eN as cam,
And scantier suable* is sedans*, freeze ;
That maple apace may mark the liberal plea,
Bat never strain the eye* or ears of ma..
I.n•k would and judge; his efforts all are watt.
Unka. you stamp them as a work of taste;
Nur blame him for transporting from hie •
'Rom old °Meader* here—the two
Door. which base oft with • ,
And golden knockers glum
Which os their poem, the • •
•
East as Bray's lirar,
That screed fur palace, '•• 'Mese ,or hall,
Used for each place, sad MO of place in all ;.

Statioo'il, like watchmen who in lamplight sit,
For all their business */ the sight unit.
So much fort misalowswe;—what follows atm,
Is chiefly ow the hiadamis hgt :
Aud oar Ad/restart, has wird tto store
His list of favourites oisi awe farusultes ranee ;
Sought planets ROTINO Rom their furrier sphere,
Asa iii J, as stars, the brilliant *moderns here ;
Tu Drary's lustiossries aided light,
And made his sky with couttelliitions bright.
Rich the repast, aid may, we trust, Mum
The custom of the occult epicure;
Is I, although among the last sod least,
May pass, peihsps, as guraish to the feast.
As fur tier liv:og dnstatims--if sow
The psarbe bays disdain to deck their brow,
Still they es* please, sad, as they're dell or ckter,
You patrons.., or damn, lb* mms as ewer
Fur mirk degree of talent, after all,
Hull brie, by your decision, rise or fall.