The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-14 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

A very pleasant little burlctta, in one act, or rather
scene, has been this week produced at the Adelpiti•
It i
somewhat whimsically called SurceA.i, but we are harp- e,
say the manner of its reception has been such as to v.,!
cate the author's claim to the title as applicable to his pr(_
sent effort. Without any claim to merit in plot, chart,
tcr, or dialogue, the piece is pleasing from the ha•,i:.
ness of the idea on which it is constructed, the
opportunities afforded Messrs. Yates and Reeve for se!;.•
very clever imitations of popular performers, and
wholesome moral to be deduced from the whole, ir.
this latter respect it may be said to resemble ti;,.
metic prayer/A- peculiar to our French neighbour, ;
all others it is strictly an alle;ory. The seine ns
in the Palace of Fashion, somewhere at the west eud
the town : anti the Governor, who is no k s 1 p r, •
than Fa.,:ition hinneelf, is represented by Mr. l.Vrc; i
" Motley's your only wear" is his motto, and mutal,:':•.
scarcely inferior to that of his twin relative Fortnne.
course his practice. Consistent with thew pr.inciph.,
wears a wig brown at one side and black at the ocher i,•
coat is also Li-color: his nether integuments et-plane
sificd ; and the rest of his dress as consistently i oh.are ,e
ous as possible. Fa.-hion has gotten &wet's, (MN. Fr
william) to his daughter, and feel; at a loss lice; 1,,)
pose of her, or to which of many contending
dates for the favour of her smiles site shall ha
The lady appears equally puzzled in her cicetic:,,.a,
to solve the difficulties of father and daughter, it
proposed to tape the advice of the press ripen tine.
jest. Accordingly, those of tine drily and weel
Babb whose names will conveniently admit of
tical pun, or allegorical representation, appear at the f.tie
Prince's levee, and, after a tender of their sirs ict s, art:
graciously received. Many suitors of different kir
appear as aspirants for " success ;" and in the altilfy
which the manner of several popular performers is inn' et,i
the principal drollery of the piece consists. The first
plieant is .Zerile!, from the English Opera, by Mr. Ctx,;,,.
lie is of course an original, and it is well he is, for " not,,
but himself could be his parallel." Ills appearance ch., s
casien to some tolerable hits against the Der risc,;:,;:en a!
and a pretty song by Mrs.Fitzwilliam,in which she
of the general annoyance experienced front the rent rt-
petition of" the lin ',tiny chorus." Next conies Kean. in
the
character of Brnt us, represented by Mr. Reeve; i
neither this nor the same gentleman's still bolder atternie a:
Liston, in Paul P n, were among the happiest elliees
evening. Perhaps this is, after all, as it should be. ;11-.
Reeve has a very excellent mariner of his own, of wh'tl.
we might have hs.'eni deprived hail he been netlH,
mere than an imitator of the mannerisms of edicts. We
only complaint of the attempt, which, in these
was unsuccessful. IVIto will ever imitate Listen= r
Brutus Terry appears as 21Iephi,topkiles. Mr. Vat, t':
imitations of Young and Mathews are about the most perf.c:
things of their kind ever seen, or that can easily be itnag:ned.
Polleinello, by Monsieur Courier. after Marstrier, was pt-r.
haps as geed as could be expected, and all that any tree,
except that particular piece of " animated whalebone" Lire.
self, can perform. ..Ceecess becoming monkey-trad, dike tl:e
Town, declares " ti.e monkey is the man fur her, %Ilea
Cooke, as Long 7'ont Collin, slips in, and, with the appro-
bation of Fii,Lie,t, snakes her his own, and declares his ir.
tention of retaining, possession of his prize, and fixing ht:
' future residence at the Adelphi Theatre. From do (tt-
ness and good humour of the audience, it would seem they
concurred in the lady's decision, and were resolved to tl.)
all in their power to forward her intention.