The National Register.
London, England, 1815-11-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER:

DR.eI3I4TIC REGISTER.

DRURY LANE.

Miss Nash, whose first appearande we noticed in Our
last, has since confirmed the favourable opinion which we
expressed of her writs. Her voice is rich and harmoniotial
and the skill with which she manages it, considerable
Her ornaments, however, are perhaps too luxuriant, and
the beanties of execution too often substituted for those of
expres,ie. ; but defects of this kind are to be liild rather
to the charge of the public than to that of the singer; for
who can resist the certainty of being loudly applauded
for brill ant nothings by the many, whilst simplicity of
tones *ill only secure the approbation of the few ?
Or Tu,sday last Mrs. Manly!, assumed, for the first
time, the part of the Widow theerly in Cherry's Comedy
of the Soldier's Daughter. This character rises above the
giddiness of eytreme youth, and only displays the levity
and spirit of a fashionable lady. 'his difference ought
to have been Mote carefully marked. Mrs. Mardyn re-
tained too much of the wild restlessness of a hoyden. Her
ge,ticulations were sometimes too hurried, and not suffi-
cieiitly graceful ; but the expression of her countenance,
the spelling ailimatibn of -her eyes, the melody of her
tones, and the general propriety and energy of her action,
greatly overbalanced these defects, which-a little attention
and -elf-command will easily and entirely remove. The
liberal applause which now falls to the share of this lady,
in whatever Character she appears, will no doubtencourage
her so to exercise her judgment as to attain the elevated
rank in comedy to which her abilities, well conducted,
cannot fail to raise her.

A new farce, called Twenty per Cent, was produced on
Thursday evening. It is a trifle of the lightest texture,
evidently of French origin. Its dialogue is lively, and the
plot, though rather extravagant, not deficient in interest
and amus' ment. Mr. Dun.cford, A young man of fashion,
(Mr. Barnard), during his abode at Bath, has got at once)
deep in debt and in love. He courts a young widow of
quality (Mrs. Orger), who returns his passion so far as to
be jealous of a lady who is reported to have been seen in
his apartments, but who in fact was no other than a she
rifF's officer. Unsatisfied by his explanations and those
of his servant (Mr. Harley), she determines to go and sur-
prise him with her maid (Miss Kelly), and ascertain the
fact. She finds him, not indeed with a lady, but with an
old usurer of the name of Gripe (Mr. Bartley), who has
called to be paid a debt of 1732/. On this emergency the
wits of the valet are set at work : he represents Gripe to the
lady as his master's father, and with difficulty prevails over
the usurer to play that part in order to secure his money.
The pretended father sanctions his son's union, and retires
to draw the marriage settlements. Meanwhile the teal
father (Mr. (lattie) arrives at the lady's house, and after
making himself known, and ascertaining the trick at-
tempted to be played upon hers agrees to counteract it, by
appearing as her father before the impostor. The usurer
arrives with the marriage deed, which he has drawn on the
back of his bond ; but when he presents it for signature to
the lady, her pretended father tears it as an attempt to
impose on his daughter. At this moment all the young man's
creditors are set !dose on Old Gripe, to obtain payment,
for the debts of his supposed son, After much merriment
caused by his distress and selt'-etposal, he is sent away
with mere legal interest iustead of twenty per cent) the

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bond having been destroyed ; young Dunsford is forgiven,
and the lovers are united.

Although Written in an easy style, this piece is less in-
debted for its favourable reception to the author, than to
the spirit 'and exertions of the performers, who did more
than justice to its merits. It will continue to please and
to amuse for a short time, for its eiCeilencies are not of a
nature to cast root on the stage.
On Thursday evening, the drama of The Birth Day was
revived, to introduce Miss Johnson as Emma and Mr.
Dowton as Jack Junk. To Miss Johnson, na►ure has
not imparted one of the first requisites for the stage,
flexible 'yoke, and this defect can only be remedied by a
degree of experience and management which, from her
youth, this lady cannot yet have oht4ined.. Her figure is
light and airy, her countenance handsome, and hi.r man-
ner interesting. We have seldom seen a finer specimen of
acting titan in that given in all the scenes between Mr.
Mundell and Mr. Dowton as Captain Bertram and Jack
Junk. They were both natural and affecting.
A divertissement, called Caledonian Laurels or the
Highlander's Return, was produced the same evening.
It is a simple and tasteful Ballet, and afforded Miss
smith, and Mr. Oscar Byrne, an opportunity of displaying
much grace and agility. The music is well selected) and
the whole gave considerable satisfaction.