The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-03 00:00:00

1

ttIEAtREC.

Pg A• stover:.
Oie of the most brilliant aodiences we have for ;t
leog time witnessed avvembled at this theatre, on
Sttordry evening. t'•; very few occasions do we
reollect to Imre seen so splendid a belly of first_
rite rank, elegance, and beauty, congregated within
the oaths of this Temple of Fashion. I;very box
occupied, chiefly by remelts, whose loveliness
is lwrsoli was brightened and rendered still wore
attrective, by dresses of the most tasty and graceful
dr,coption. The pit was crowded. even to HIS OVerm
s,,,_and vied with the boxes in the array of Endow'

J elegance.
Unsitit's opera uT 11 Barbiere di Sleights went
rirrsctrdingly well. The powers of Madame BEL.
prat, MIRROGETTI, and of GARCIA. gave In
the tine onoisic of !bust xi all the effect of which it
Rost s I and GARCIA seem to have
been made for each other. The beautifully florid
style of the iter is perfectly in son with the
almost inexhaustible variety of airs and graces,
„„inuest which the genius of the composer delights
to canton. ROSIRRO. who has succeeded NAI.Dt.
it a vett• indifferent submittal,. He sang some parts
of the mimic with ability..-but his acting is altoge-
ther harsh and constrained. He wants the free,
ti.v, impudent manner.--the humorous boldness
....;he arch renutug-...which were combined in
N.itnt's performance, and proclaimed loin the
Prince of linfits.
Tiw principal treat of the evening—that which
flaw ii.to one focus all the fashion of the met rowdy%
sot and west—was the new ballet of Adolphus and
jw,,idc'es, the production of the celebrated Durum`,
shah has been to 101 l In preparation, and has form.
ed w. agreenbir a topic of chit chat for the bees
loonde, florin site last month. Mons. Duroai,
whose fame liar doeccd all over the Continent, sod
tis bole. node their first appearance before a Bri-
i*:.ll piddle oil this occasion. Before we speak of the
aniiiiits of there artistes, it is necessary that we
shoal/Ihr.. fly describe the 'ballet. and more portico.
',lv the characters which they sustained in it.—
Notting can he imagined more simple than the
rt..ry. Ado/phse (Thms. DuPont.), while receiving
his education at the chateau of Count Robert, be-
comes enamoured of Matilda ("Madame DUPORT).
tlor young and amiable daughter of the tomer.
—Vain are all the instructions of his music
and dencingarnsotess. His thoughts are unceasingly
fixed on Wilde, whose image tillers every other
ith a from his mind. He at length discloses his
oussion, and is delighted to fild that the lady is not
tosetnible to his Saute. Matilda, like most or her
sex, does not admire the idea of having a stupid
lover. She, therefore, becomes the instructor of
Adolphus, and, in a short time, he astooishes his
masters. both in the musical and dancing derart-
input, •' per sea ',Trivia rapid's el son execution
brillasto. The Doke de Montfort (Nlons. BAP-
TIsTe) solicits the hand of Matilda, and obtains the
commit of her father. But, when he is about to lead
her to the alter. the lady faints, and the lover rusher
in, deterinined to immolate his rival. De Montfort
apprised of the affection which subsists between
llutibla and Adolphus, resigns his claim, Count
Robert consents to their union, and the lovers are
illailr happy. The principal attract/ion of dill
lallet is to he found in the serious and beautiful
dm/cis which form the general diverting:rent,
Own the nuptials of Matilda and Do Montfort
ate about to Ire celebrated. They were eve-
voted iii the most esapiiiiite style. by filessrs.
Vt-sTras. ACHILLE, and TOUSSAINT; and Ws-
d.ones McLANIE, La FeRRE. HOMAN, VCIAT.
Comic, NAlictssE, sod Ci.oTILDE FARCY. The
g 14.111 pui.g in this scene was highly graceful and
picture-friar. The new performers had cousis.
ratively lode to do, contrary to the general
practice which prevails with respect to debutantes.
111inNiele DUPORT possesses a twat petite figure.
b-r features, small and very agreeable—her eye,
flail, and piercing. Site is the handsomest, we
think, of the holies corps. She dances with infinite
and elasticity=--and her attitudes are re-
niarkahle for their elegance. She strikes thepitoseetie
with nitccinnion farce and precision. Monsieur
DuPont. is of short stature, and rather plain-
b-sourtit. His legs are muscular, but their thick-
ness at the uncle (a defect, perhaps, inseparable
boas a long course of dancing) militates against
their symmetry. Ili* acting. in the opening of the
ballet, where lie tiersunates the listless woe-begone
was t-str, iftely good—sod rendered his suc-
ceediog sintaliat snore prominent on the scene.
L'itlike those machines, in the formation of which
celerity cats only be obtained by the sacrifice of
poorer, lie unite* in his sty le the agile with the vigo-
rous. Some of his lively movements were altogether
new to us ; and, we believe, 10 the audience in
general. They were exceediogly complicated. and
it /plied, in their pet formatter, a degree of aletthess
which, we have not often seen displayed even on these
Imaids. Ili* graver oeveinents, ;mud his differesit
attitudes, appeared to be dictated by the Graces.
They were distinguished by harmony, propriety,
and elegance. The debutante:, who were wort
reptutowly applandetl, are of invaluable import-
ance 10 the bullet corps. BAPTISTE danced
with his custranitry minhi)—and BoURDIN, about
it would to piss over unnoticed, evniced
H guest ,nailm of humour, in his relifebelirdrloll of
ii 10/111111,; and dancing-master. in the latter cha-
ts. let, lir ass peculiarly comic.
The ballet On very much admired.

DieCRY-LANE.
Mr. KEAN acted Brutus on Saturday night, and
in arterial prvaiiiitieit that crying, listiful repreren-
tidier if the Weir Minion with great felicity. We
my to grneial, the atriking iiitilualitirs which
iliatacierize Mr. KLAN in every performance we
aerti lota undltrtukr, were very perceptible.
kw. ter, the applatiar bratowed on him war
ciotoriti—ore could out diaunguish a note of thairp.
ptoliation.

'llw whilto.icahiies of the new farce at Covent-
guilt.. 1811 temscrly Ire fully enjoyed in a siNgle
• wriiiits. Thr joke and repartee ►ucceed each other
%till both rapiiiii), that you lute the one in the
iit the other.
M►. URANIA le 11l lelllll the Bawl at the Gland
: 1. ieloirl Mom', Mertii.g, which is to be
u•ttl loi Ihr hi t-raretaleul, hoth woad !turf in.
grusi.eilist. Mr. HAVES:IL conduct's. It is to take
pl.ce Me It &mid atik in September.