The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-12 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

The grand show of the French Coronation was produced
'at this house last night. It was placarded in the play-bills
1 under the head of The Ramsbothms at Rheims, with a
second title of A Local Sketch, to in tr,,duce the Coronation
of Charles I, King. of France. We cannot help ex-
pressing our obligations en
,passant to the author of the
jLccal Sketch for giving us the help of the attribute " local"
Ito the meaning of his piece. A sketch which should fail
I to represent the localities of the scene which it pretended
! to depict, would be an article possessing far snore attrac-
tions in the way of novelty than even the ceremony of the
French Coronation on the stage. However, let this pass,
a •.I possums as :acre.
The prefatory matter is of a very silly description. Per-
haps the anxious anticipations of the chief business of the
piece render that tedious, which, under other circum-
stances, might appear tolerable. The adventures of the
Itamsbuttoms, the family of a vulgar cit. living at "No.
Montagu-place," who trust themselves for the first
time upon French ground, occupy tlle better half of the
piece. The incidents possess little humour, nor arc the
jokes new. T here is a love affair, as usual, which ends in
Miss Ramsbottunt running away with Mr. O'Connor, to the
great grief of her disconsolate parents. At length the
show snakes its appearance e,n the stage. A platform is
suddenly, and with great ingenuity of contrivance, erected
round the orchestra. This is very tastefully spread with a
tissue of blue cloth, with the
,fieur de lys plenteously
worked in. The curtain rising, presents the exterior of
the Cathedral of Rheims, and the French guards stationed
in different parts of the scene. The different preliminary
movements of the military in this early stage of the busi-
ness, serve to impress an air of reality upon the coming
procession. Of the procession itself we shall not pretend
to give a detailed account : that will be found in some
of our earlier numbers, under the head of " French In-
telligence." The King, the members of the Royal Family,
the Marshals of France, and the Priests, all appear in their
appropriate costumes, and very eloquently make the
circuit of the orchestra, and enter into the cathedral.
No sooner has the last man passed the sacred portal than
the scene changes. The earth opens, and swallowing at
one mouthful the outer walls of the church, discovers a
view of the interior arranged for the final ceremony. Here
the procession enters in the same order as it was seen
to pass the platform. The King, after subscribing to
the usual formalities, is proclaimed King of France.
His Majesty, it is to be observed, does not stoop
so far as to lay along upon his stomach, as some
late accounts represent him to have done at Rheims.
This portion of the ceremony at an end, a second proces-
sion, en retour, takes plaee, and the scene is speedily
changed to the gardens of the Tuileries, which, as well
as the ancient palace of the Bourbons, is illuminated and
decked out in its gayest trim, for the amusement of the
faithful inhabitants of his Majesty's most loyal city of
Paris. Dancing and singing are the joyous occupations cf
the assembled groups; and the whole affair terminates
with a grand display of fire-works.
Of the scenery, there is a very fair proprotion, new and
well executed. The dresses are splendid, and perfectly in
character with the scene and the people who form a part in
it. The cathedral scene is a very successful effort. The
glittering congre42ation of Coronation dresses, and the
contrast of the military with the ecclesiastical costume, each
equally costly, produce abrilliant ensemble. Upon the whole,
the production is very effective as a show, ant/ deserves
public support, on account of the heavy expense to which
the Managers must have put themselves. There is much
good music. The house was crowded in every part, and
the curtain descended amidst a tumult of applause. It
was some time, indeed, before Field Marshal Farrcn could
be heard in announcing the piece for future representation.
Charles Kenible played the and "fretted and strut-
ted his hour upon the stage" whit Monarchical dignity.