The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-25 00:00:00

HAT:VARKET

The announce/nett of the performance of a musical
burletta, at the liaymarkct Theatre, attracted a very'
numerous audience on Saturday last. Midas is a long,
established favourite with the public—buy altogether, be-
cause of its splendid and beautiful music, for a more meas
n
and meagre production in plot and language has, pe p ,
never been represented on any stags—without point, with-
outrha wit or humour, without even striking and effective
scenery and decorations to make the absurdity of its concep-
tion pass current. It appears to us, as if the compfeer had
endeavoured to prove how perfectly successful music of
itself might be, and how completely it was independent of ;
the aid of sense. The part of Justice Midas fell to the lot
of Mr. Liston, who bas the happy art of making hit
auditors pleased with whatever he undertakes. It is only
necessary to give notice, that he is about to make his ap-
pearance before them to create a universal titter through
the house, and he has only to show himself to change that
Ititter into a burst of laughter and applause. He undoubt-
edly owes much of his success to his abilities ; but be cer-
tainly owes much more his name, his physiognomy, and
to a something that is generally felt, but would be very
'difficult, to describe. In his enactment of Justice ,Ifidas
he was certainly inferir to W. Farren, and the audience seemed
by no means so satisfied with his performance as when, on
other occasions, as Billy Lackaday, Apollo Delhi, or insome
characters better suited to his powers, he has almost
" cracked the cheeks" of his admirers. M edam eVcstris, with
excellence, performed the character of Apollo, and sung in ;
exquisite style. She was loudly and generally encored in
" Pray Goody." The other parts in the piece were well sus-
tained but it by no means producel the effect we presume
the managers anticipated in this departure from what we
may perhaps term the more legitimate object of " the Little
Theatre :n the Haymarket." The piece was preceded by
Sheritlan's comedy of The,Birals, in which the admirable
acting of Mrs. Glover a Mrs. Malaprop, and W. Farren
as Sir Anthony Absolute, almost realised our idtas of dra-
matic perfectum. Mr. Vining sustained the character of
Captain Absolute. From our knowledge of the improve-
ment this young actor has made within a comparatively
short period, we are justified in anticipating his future ex-
cellence. Mr. Lee was the Sir Lucius ('Trigger of the
play, but he seems to have forgotten his brogue, and was
by no means what Mr. Sheridan intended the Irishman of .
Blunderbuss-hall to have been. The Acres of Mr. Liston
is not his favourite character ; and we believe he is him-
self
aware that ia others he appears to greater advantage.
Mis. Davison was admirable in Julia , but we cannot corn-
pliment Mrs. Hamby on her enactment of Lydia Languish:
she was anything but a languishing Lydia, and, to our
mind, had not the slightest conception of the part ; indeed
it is not at all calculated to display her talents, which are
those of a sly chamlxrtnaid or a giddy hoyden, rather than
those of a sentimental, love-sick, and capricious maiden of
seventeen.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.