The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-01 00:00:00

ENGUSH OPERA HOUSE.

Last evening the theatrical " pet," Charles Mather%
resumed hie situation on these boards for a limited period,
The performances chosen for the occasion w, r•' a new farce,
called Hi. bre Brcukfiivt, and '1 he Boarding Boom, or Fic:
Hours at Brighton. The new farce is from tie pn of kr.
Peake, and written, of course principally ler Mathews.
There is noihing whatever new in the plot, which consists at a
testy old retired civilian, Sir William Buffer attsriley), who h,,
niece, Fanny (Miss liodett), which niece he intends to ntarro
°
3lajor Havanna'', front the Colonies (W. Banned), 3fin p,;n"
being in love with the Major's son, Lieuteninnt 110raneah, born
the depot at Chatham (J. Bland), and which b. id 11,Trive
tween the Major and Fanny is i revented, and that of her
and the Lieutenant brought ',bout, by the ilij(tcy of Niehal
Trefoil (Mathews). The scene is laid at York. w:tere mr
thew...just disclurpcd from gaol, where he has been eon.
fitted twelve months for assault and battery. As ncceicaril-
happens, he very opportunely discovers his old master. the Lir!
• tenant, while sitting on a post, which he &writs% t the fitsc vs.
•
cant one he has found, and is anxiously comid
'xi' g lino tit ohtain
a breakfast. The Lieutenant, after reibinclicg It!ht that slide is
his service he had had his pantaloons to brcs't, nit ,f the pocket of
which he Ina bru•ltml tt ree sovereilea, • itla which he had broiled
off consents to accept his services, for a "cored time, in order tp
avail himself of them in the accomplishment at his object in mar-
rying Miss Fanny. 'and so committees his servitude with hit
master, No. I. He then introdums btm-t•if tit the Major ass Scotch.
man in want of a situation, and is accepted ; and thus obtains his
master, No. 2. In carrying a letter from the 31ajor to Sir
William Buffer's house, he falls in with the Knight, alto basing
discharged his "dram (Keeley) for dropping Is eight hand boot
into the water-butt and here, as a Frenchman, ii.to•ducts himself
to his master, No. 3; aid the difficult situation in which
he is placed by this triple servitude gives rise to some 1400 d Ofitti..
coque, and west amusing acting. 'floe denouement is brought
about by .dl the partiea having assembled at the Knight's to bred'.
fast, when Trefoil, being no longer able to sustain three thereon'
in one material corporeal body, is obliged to come to as ellikeas
tins, and the piece cat•cludes by the marriage of the Licentiate
and Fanny, Trefoil, for his ingenuity in bringing it about, wig*,
Mg twin his master, No. I, the promised reward of one
porr•iis.
From this outline it wi:l be seen that the object has
been to give Mathews an opportunity of personsfing
three characters, and all of which he sustained with most
adinirallle effect. The most original character of the threeis
the Scotchman, and certainly it received ample justice at bis
hands. His Frenchmen are too well known to need mo-
ment here; they are perfect. Much amusement was en.
cited at the conclusion, where .he charges his masters with
abusing him, and threatens to take their iumbers, in
reference to the numerical order by which he always dis.
tinguished thorn ; and his description of annoyances to
nervous personage was most happy. He gave a song de-
scriptive of rural sports, for a she shirt, grinning
through a horse-collar, and donkey racing, inimitably;
and the encore was an admirable Lew version of the origi-•
nal subject. Bartley, in the Knight, was admirable; ho
unfortunately is subject to " loaders impairs," which lead
him into a thousand little divt-rOng situations with all
111000 with whom be comes in confect. It is iturssibk to
conceive a finer picture of an irascible John Bell. Bennett,
in the Major, who is always " carrying on the warr'nnu
very droll, and the manner in which he uttered hfreom-
mon-llace observations on all subjects was very good.
Keeley had but little to do, but that weave]] done; his
taking his departure from the honlefbr Air Tiipiom Briffrr,
when discharged, and his affectionate leave-taking of the
holyoaks and at/dates in the garden, particularly his good-
by to Venus, was very clever. Mr. J. Bland and Miss
Bolen had each a song, which they gave in their best man-
ner. Mr. Peake has been tolerably successful in the num-
ber of his puns, and some of them have merit. The doable
entendres are somewhat inroad ; but if an audience are eon-
tent to applaud them, of course an author will riot be easily
persuaded that they are objee:lonable. This farce is an
amusing trifle for Mathews to display his peculiar talent,
and beyond that it is fair to suppose it is not intended to
claim any merit. The music, by Bartlett, is passable. At
the fall of the curtain the applause was unanimous.
The house was crowded in eves y part. The Prince Es-
terhazy, with a large party, occupied two private boxes an
the King's side, and the Duke of Wellington one on the
Prince's.

Madame Catalani, who has returned from her Italian
journey, has given a conceal at Turin, and was preparing
to give a second. One tnay tie by the bill that this singer
has not yet left '• La Oujda Campagna," the •• Non pin
Andrei," and "The Variations of Rhode." The Pied-
montese journalist proclaims her the Queen of Song.
Drury-lane Theatre re-opens on Saturday, the 3J
and the most active exertions are already snaking pre-
paratory to that event. During the recess the interior of
the house, and the avenues leading to it, have been
thoroughly cleaned and repaired. The gilding on the front
of the boxes and proscenium has been re-burnished, and
restored to its original brilliancy. The boxes of the first
tier have been enhorgul, by throwing into them the small
private boxes, which were added when the theatre under-
went alteration. The visitors to this circle will, uo doubt,
be gratified to learn that chairs are substituted for the front
row, and greater space between the seats has been appro-
priated titan heretofore. An entirely new stage has been
erected ; and Stanfield is now occupied on a new drop-
scene—a landscape with all architectural screen—in lieu of
the former bordered one. Beyond these but few alteratiens
have been made in the home ; hut to the company, which
comprises nearly the %thole of its former favourites, great
additions have been made. In tragedy, Mr. Salter, faint
the Liverpool theatre, will ascend the throne vacated by
Macready, who, as our residers know, is gone (or is going)
to America, to take the place of Kean, who will cone
me,nce his re-engagement at this theatre in January next.
To this department, Mrs. M'Gibbon, who appeared a few
years ago at Covent-garden theatee, has been added—al6o
Mies Tree (a sister of Miss M. Tree, now Mrs. Bradshaw),
who will shortly appear as stair.', and Miss Brothers. In
comedy, Mr. Hooper, from Liverpool, will undertake the
line which Elliston s secession has left vacant. Mr. South-
well, from Dublin, in the same walk, will take to the:sore
subordinate business. Mr. Thompson (not the one already
known under that cognomen) will sustain the heavy
countrymen, such as Tyhe, Giles, and that class ; whilst the
lighter parts of the same order are to be supported by Mr.
Edwin. from the Nottingham Theatre, a descendant of the
celebrated performer of that name ; he will make his first
appearance in Zekiel Homespun, in the Heir at Law. In
the operatical department, besides Mr. Braham and Miss
Stephens, a pupil of that gentleman will shortly appear its
Pe/(u, in thelleggar'sOpesa, and Miss Tree, another sister
of the lady above named, will make her debut as Susanna
in FizrOTO. Mrs. Austin, attached to this company some
two or three seasons ago, is engaged; and also a pupil of
Crevelli, a bass singer. Liston is engaged, and it is not im-
probable that Mathews will be. Noble and the Corps de
Ballet are retained. Winter's Oracle is one of the forth-
coming novelties which will be produced.
FASHIONABLE AUUIVAL AT BRIGHTON.—Among our
arrivals we have to announce that of Daniel and ;Michael
Dumsday, two boys, who came from East Grinstead, and
arrived here on Sunday iu their travelling carziage, draws
by two remarkably strong dogs, the distance being up-
wards of 28 miles, which they accomplished in five bouts
and a quarter, including stoppages. The people gazed
with surprise, as they came along the road, at the rapidity
with which the dogs drew the vehicle. Daniel is a cripple,
and consequently could not walk up the hills. He says Ins
dogs have drawn him, on level ground, two mih in six
minutes.—Brirehton G‘rvtk.
Br xeoN, Deane, Aye:. 30.—Buxton has been well at-
tended this season ; indeed, considering the prevalent dis-
tress in the country, the visitors have been far more nume-
rous than we had any reason to anticipete. The lodging-
houses are full to overflowing; nevertheless excellent ac-
commodations have been found for all. The efficacy of
the waters becomes more apparent every year, and many
persons who visited the springs last season as invalids, have,
this year, returned to enjoy the lengthened walk, and in-
hale the pure air of the Derbyshire Hills. More rain bas
fallen this year at Buxton than in the neighbouring dis-
tricts, which has contributed much to the comfort of the
' numerous visitants. On Wednesday morning last, the
• mist lay heavy on the hills; about five o'clock the rain rle-
, scented in abundance, and continued without intermission
until the evening, when the sun poured forth his parting
ray, and the various promenaders were again to be seen cob-
gratulating each other upon the beneficial effects which
must result to the country from thirteen hours of such Hall.
—Arrivals. The Earl and Countess of Liverpool, the
Hon. Mr. Abercomby, Sir George Pownal, Col. and Mrs.
Gore Langton.