The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-10-27 00:00:00

THEATRES.

DRORY-LANE.

Last night the humorous comedy of The Way
is Get Married was performed at this theatre, for
the find time this season, will' the full strength of
the excellent company of comedians which it is so
well Nesbit of furilishing. M. 04 KELLY per.
formed the part of Julia Faulkner, with great feel-
ing...4lre. Eogarox's Clement:an Allspice was
lively and stiiiited.---fauay and Ludy Sorrel
hod good represeutatives hi Mies Put 1,1,1ps and
Mrs. lisatows—and A would be to throve into
oblivion sill the rare excellencies of some of
the highest comic powers which have so long
delighted us. to refrain hem expressing our appro-
bation of ELLISTOS'S Tangent. Dowron's Toby
Allspice, Alumina's Caustic, POPS'S Captain
faulkner, KUSOLLL'S Dothan, and GATYIE'S
N.Queey. MUSSES, DOWTOII. sod ELLISTON.
were admirable in their ierpective !Wis. and pre-
served the hoincior of the comedy with an effect
shich was well seconded by the subordinate clinrac-
tens in the piece. The farce of The Prize follow-
ed, which was sustained with equal force sod hu-
mour. The house was very respectably attended ;
the pit was filled at an early hour, and several distil).
guiehed hishicasbles entirely occupied the dress
circle of the bows.

COVENT-CAUDEN.
The comedy of The Clandestine Marriage Will
last night performed and afforded to the lovers
huniou„ most plessiog entertainment. Lod
Oglrby is oar of Mr. W. FARREN'S best characters,
It improves upon repetition. We think Mr. FAR-
REX was list night peculiarly felicitous in depicting
tic manners and (1,-scribing the feelings of the vain,
hot noble-hearted old beau. Mr. FAwcErr's
Sitrlistg was an excellent picture of the retired
citizen, mullein to ennoble his family by a marriage
with titled poverty. Mr. CONNOR, as Layered!,
and Mr. ABBOTT, as Sir John Melville, supported
those eheractera very cleverly. The female parts
were ably sustained. The vulgar habits and
shrewish temper of Mrs. Heidelberg were ren-
dered very entertaining by Mrs. DAVENPORT
—the pert manner and envious dispositimi• of
Miss Sterling, were exhibited with uncommon
skill by MIL GlBBS—mid the gentle, the affec-
tionate Falai, found in Miss BRUNTON, • lovely
and sissablo representative.
_ .

------- .
Afire the comedy. DRYDEN'S masque of Arthur
mid bombes was revived. Sixteen years have
elapsed 14114't the perfurmaiice of this (llama—and
rile pabbc will not have much reason to lament
should another sisteen years pass away, ere it is
dont brought forward. It is calculated for the
closet, not the stage. There are many tine poetical
passages in it, but the action, throughout, is dull
and lingering. In writing this piece it is pretty evi-
dent that DRYDEN had SHAKIPEARE'S Tempest in
his eye. The Grintbold. Philidel. Merlin, and Em-
meline, of the one, answer to the CaWean, Ariel.
l'rospero, aid Miranda, of the other. DRYDEN.
however, great as was his genius, failed in his unite-
fion_and, we may add, failed inhembly. The
plot of the masque of Arthur and Emmeline is
b..rren in the extreme. It presents scarcely an in-
coltut. and not a single situation. Emmeline. the
daughter of Conon, is, though blind, beloved by
Prince Arthur —sgsinnt whom the SMIIOIIII, headed
br Oswald, King of Kent, are waging war. Os-
scold is also smitten by the charms of Emmeline.
To insure success iu love and war, he employs Os-
mond, n magician, who has bowed beneath his power,
Gralubo/d, a mis-shapen and niost mischievous
hem!. Arthur also has recourse to necromancy. Ike
employs the sage Merlin, whose chief agent. the
spirit Phiiifiti, is opposed to Grintbuld. Arthur
finally prevails, and Emmeline, restored to sight,
becomes she great reward of his high schieveineuts,
Such a drama is eminently calculated for the dis-
play of beautiful scenery, and in this respect, the
managers have been libtial, even to profusion.
The landscape scenery is varied and beautiful—and
iii those scei.es where fancy is allowed to take an
unbounded range, much novelty of idea and much
brilliancy of execution are observable. Few fancy
scene* ran he placed in competition with that which
represents " the silver current and the golden
bridge." The music, by PURCELL and ARNE. is
of the first order. The music of PURCELL. whose

genius appears to have delighted in the grand and
terrific. iv immediately recognised by its resem-
blance to the strains with which he has enriched
the !raptly of Mucook—otraim* by which alone
the, interpolations of D'AvErtaNT are rendered
supportable. The various performers last night
did ample justice to their different parts. Arthur
ai.d Mediu were played with good discretion by
Messrs. ABBOTT and EGERTON. Neither r•ha.
racte► admits a display ut genius. The decla-
matory speeches of Oswald were well delivered
Icy Mr. CONNos. The fiend Grirnbald was

personated by Mr. EMERY. Those who have
.seen his performance of Cahbtut, may easily hoe-
g.ise that DRYDEN'S " delicate monster" was pro-
perly represented. Miss M. TREE appeared as the
slottt Her dress displayed her loan to
great advaniage. Her leg and foot are beautifully
mortified. She wird and sang charmingly—but.

we fear, few of the audience attended to /tor act-
ing or her singieg. Must of the Gentlemen
were occapied in admiring the elegance of her
form. and 41 the Lithes were employed in criti-
ilbing it. alias FOuTL played the part of kmme-
lape with great feeling.

We are happy to learn that the keelmen of Shields
returned to their work on Friday last, the terms
htriug been swaged between them and their em-
ployer.. Tbeaadors 011 the Weir also returned to
their work last sleek.