The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-10 00:00:00

Miss' NACAULIIY.

A female rival to Mr. MAYHEW! has come for.
ward in the of Miss MACAULEY. Lie of
Drury-lane Theatre. 'rho. lady has announced
for performance, at the K ing's Theatre. a mis-
cellaneous entertainment, embracing innate, Cr't.-
lotion, and imitation. the whole supported by Iti rse If
alone. Independent of the talents of this lady,
there are many CirCunistititees in her hi:dory that
must excite sit interest in her favour, and acorn-
mend her to a liberal and enlightened public.
Among these is the disuppointnient of well-merited
expectations in her profess' , which she charges
to the envy and selfishness of Mr. KEAN. Nis.,
MACAULEY has secured the opportunity presented
by the eve of her entertainment, to publish a
pamphlet, entitled " neuirie Revolution." on the
subject, in which she ascribes not only her own
wrong*, but the decline of Drury-lane, to the
sacrifice of all other theatrical talent in the manage.
meat of that house, to the overweening vanity aid
domineering influence of that Gentleman.—The fol-
lowing is au extract :
" Some of the best plays of the inimitable Shakspeare are
consigned to oblivion ; he cannot play in them, 110, will
allow others to try their skill ; his talent is restricted ; it is
of that peculiar anti, which was newer meant fur common
nee. The plays of Mr. Kean's choice are, fur the must part,
those where his character is of the malignant cast ; thole
that are written or altered fur him, the principal object is
(not to prepare • good play, from which a fair mural may be
drawn) bat to collect a number of scenes, where the vilest
peaking of humeri satire me held out, to shew the force of
his powers, and tee virtues in the other characters, suf.
!friend, strong In excite any sort of interest. What a vi-
tiated taste mast this insensibly create in youthful minds !
instead of visiting a theatre fur the purpose of beholding
virtue portrayed to all her native majesty, ility behold it
feebly displayed by the peu of the author, and as feebly re,
presented by the talent of the actor.
is The Jew of Malta is one ..f those plays that is repug-
nant to every feeling of humanity ; what might be well
suited lu the taste of the age two hundred ago is not
likely to pass currant now. Mr. Kean's acting on iliefird
eight of its representation was undoubtedly very great, but
it Was • greatness that excited Tforror rather than adoeira-
tioa, and though it might agenutrk, it could nut delight any
'how's mind ; there was also much of cruelty in its per-
formatter ; it was offering a palpable insult to a elude body
of men; and that body IVO than any other claws
in the British dominions. The Jews and the Chrithans,se.
cording to the tenets of their irligion, do nut meet on fair
and equal terms. Suffering for the sibs of their progenitars,
the Jews are, by the vulgar and ignorant, considered as a
proscribed race ; and is it either pulley or humanity in a
theatre, the school of morality as it should be, to strengthen
prejudice, and increase the darkness of vulgarity sail igno-
rance ? If • Christian were thus publicly represented in a
Jewish amino, world it sot tend to increase the national
direinion between them, and most not the weaker and more
defenceless party feel themselves degraded in the person of
the individual thug publicly held up to infamy and defeat ?
11 is possible there may have been Jaen. there may bare
been Christians, as detestably vile as Mailow's Jew of
Mallo ; but their vices should die with them; a memento
of deliberate villainy, without one single trait of virtue to
enlighten the glouns of depravity, must be offensive to all
delicacy of feeling. It is necessary to display vice on the
stage, ur we could not witness the true charms of virtue;
but it should be so displayed, as not to cast a stigma alike
sin the innocent and the guilty ; every play must have its
discordant characters, or no harmony could be produced ;
but When one villain is drawn disgracing the name of Chris-
tian, others are also drawee with goodness enough to blunt
the sting, so that the community at large shall 110 i feel
themselves 'havered ; but in a character like the Jew of
Malta, thus represented, where is the antidote that cat
obliterate its venom ? The fame which is inci eased at olio
expense of our fellow creature.' feelings, is dearly purchased,
since we equally fuifeit our claims tet their esteem, indtang
own approbation.
The Dwarf of Naples is another assemblage of hoe.
ruble passions ; the extremes of hugeness will sons be so fa-
miliar to our sight, that it will cease to alarm us, mini
should we at length become su habituated In the repreren-
Missal of bad passiows. that they cease to he replan/I', is
it not • terminable fear, that weak minds will by degrees
fall into the practice of vice, without fear, shame, repug.
Nance, or the wish fur suseadmeut ?"