The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-13 00:00:00

THEATRES.

DRURT-LANS.

Guy Manuring was performed on Saturday night
to a crowded Slid fashionable audience. Mr. BR A-
lio,. as !kora Bertram. 11:111% with more than his
accustomed effect. That splendid piece, the last
words of Marmion, in which YUCII exquisite feeling
is united with so much science, was givcii in a style
divest perfection f lint it was for the celebrated sir.
6, Seats wha' hat." that Mr. BRAHAM reserved all
bid „ogles, We never witnessed a more over-
more surprising effect from any exer-
tion on the stats.e. The feelings of the singer
him,eff seemed to have ',ern wound up to a
great degree of excitation. The itispisur.
lau-
guage of that beautiful composition received ad-
ditareel force and point from the coutitelialice
and the action of Mr. GRAHAM. even indrpentletit
of the matchless sweetness of his voice. The
performance created one blaze of enthusiasm
through the house—it was like inspiration ;at that
moment,, we believe, every heart in the theatre
would have drained its dearest veins" in the
cause of liberty. The song was given a second and
is third time amid the tumultuous applause of the
hogoe„ Miss Blume oppeared asJwliu Martiering.
In her duet with Mr. BRAIIAM, and the substiluent
songs, she displayed her usual sweetness and exe-
cution. She was very deservedly applauded in the
sang, "Why host Mott taught meta hire thee ?" She
introduced with great propriety the charming melody
sf 'Twos within n mile of Edinboro' town." which she
sang with so much sweetness and simplicity as to he
Mildly encored. Miss CAREW sang very charmingly.
" Rest thee Babe" was an exquisite perform-
ance, displaying a great deal of science and a
great deal of feeling. Mrs. EGERTON'S Meg
tticriiks was, as usual, powerful and affecting.
The rest of the characters in the opera were sus-
tained with much talent, particularly OxrEttax's
Sunipscrit, and BUTLER'S Oundie
mont.—The farce of High Life below Stairs fol-
lowed. and was supported by an unusual combina-
tion of talent. The united powers of ELLISTON
mid lIARLET kept the audience in a continued roar
of laughter. Mrs. GLovea's Mrs. Kitty displayed
that lid, strain of comic humour for which thin ex-
culleitt actress has been so justly celebrated.

COVENT-GARDEN.

Public expectation had been fur some time very
hi4hly raised by the announcement that SHAIC•
SPE.% I:E.S Comedy of Errors would be revived at
this theatre, with new scenery, dresses, and decora-
tions, and a selection of song', duets, glee., and
Oioroses, entirely from his plays, poems, and son-
nvte. The revival took place on Saturday night ;
and in consequence the house presented one of the
most fashionable dress circles and the most over.
flowing andiences we have witnessed during the
present season. It is but strict justice to state,
that the general curiosity was most amply repaid,
and that the gratification derived from the repre-
sentation was proportioned to almost any degree of
expectation which might have been entertained of
it. This play is formed on a classic model, the plot
having been taken from the likersechrni of PLA (ITO!,
which was translated, by a person entitled %V. W. in
1695. Considering the number, the variety, and
exceollence of SHAISPEARE'S works, and in how
few instances he was indebted is a similar way to
the productions of antiquity, we should think
vain enough to imagine that ally thing coming from
so humble a quarter at this period of time, could
have that effect) that it would add to, rather than
diminish his reputation, to observe that this comedy
appeals es largely to the credulity and indulgence
of the reader mid spectator, as almost any other
effort of his mighty genius. However, the whim-
locality of the incideirts, the spirit of humour
which pervades some of the parts. the constant fund
of amusement and mirth, arising to the spec-
tators, who are its the secret, hotn the never-
ending confusion, perplexity, mistakes, and mis-
understandings between the parties, in a great
degree compensate for the want of verisimilitude
in the basis of the drama ; which perhaps, after all,
provided the characters speak and act true to na-
ture, in the situations in which they are placed, is
but a secondary consideration. The two Anti-
pholis's were ably supported by Me . DURVSET
and Jots Es, and the two Dronsio's by Messrs. %V.
FARREN and LISTON. The illusion was aided by
means of an exact similarity of dress, and a com-
mon observer might easily confound the one Anti-
phohs at least with the other. Mr. CHAPMAN per-
fortivA &geun with great good sense. He delivered
the long speech in the first scene, which opens his
own sail history, and the early part of that of the
princip d character', impressively and pathetically.
Mr. BLA NCH ARD persousted very happily the self-
important empiric Doctor Pixels. But, perhaps,
the performance of Saturday night should be
looked on chiefly in the light of a musical drums,
and iu that view it is entitled to the very highest
praise. The poetry of the airs, duets. &c. always
Slisk.pearian, is, in general, extremely beautiful,
and, as well as the music, very appropriate to the
passages where they are introduced. The overture
STOS very highly applauded, and reflects great cre-
dit on Mr. Illsßuo's taste, in the selection and
tolaptation of the airs. The new music, which, we
believe, constitutes but a small proportion of the
whole. was furnished by Mr. BISHOP, and the re-
mainder consists of selections from the works of
Dr. Attu a, Sir J. STEVENSON, STEVENS, and
Moz A KT. The characters of Adriona and Luciana
were I,elformetl by Miss STEPHENS and Miss M.
TREE, and as it was the first time these chitin.
guielied vocalists appeared in the same piece. this
clicurnstance alone conferred great interest on the
revival. Both ladies exerted themselves extremely,
and executed two or three duets with almost equal
skill and applause. It was the first time Miss
STErHE.NS appeared after the indisposition tinder
winch she laboured, and though the lingering tinge
of illness might have weakened the full effect of
her voice and powers, it certainly lieigidesivd the
interest which her appearance always inspires. In
the second act she gave a beautiful sang front
Othello, commencing The poor soul sot sighing
by a sycamore tree." with indescribable sweetness,
ex prearton, and pathos, and was rapturously cc cored.
She also, at the requisition of the awlience, mot
eulficiently considering the recency of her recovery,
repeated several other airs, However, after .ing-
ins; the last song allotted to her, from the poem of
Venus and Adonis, " Lo, here the gentle lurk,"

&c. and retiring of the stage, the audieoce!having
testified their desire of hearing it twins Mr. DURO,.
sre, after a short pause, came forward and said.
"6 Ladies and Gentlemen. Miss STEPHENS would
be ning happy to repeat the song, but finds herself
finable to attempt it in consequence or iwlispositinet."
This slicingy was received with the utmost indul-
gence. The glees rent choruses were admirably
executed by Messrs. DURUSET. TAYLOR. PYNR.
and ISAACS. The scenery is well painted, and
the piece wit% on the whole, got up in such an
.'G-owe sty le N. promises to ensure it • long pos-
session of the stage.