The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-11 00:00:00

71144TREL

Dattat-Lust:.
The rrappearaneo of Mr. BSA MAN in the eh*.
meter of Henry Bertram. in the poindor drools of
Gay Maturering, attracted ou Saturday night a
crowded •ud elegant aurlirrier. Aii apology woo
itiodt for Mr. tittistn.L. who wog announced for the
part of Ihrlytistie Mnielpion. Mr. Fattarn. of Covent.
garden, kindly lent the aid of hie totems to supply
the deficirucy. Mr. BRAMAN Woe received in a
inianner worthy of hse splendid tolento. The fo-
vomit.. song of Scots wha hae was repeated twice.
and the beautiful sir. Lowe's Yuung Dream, was,
as Wind, huuourrd with on encore.

covanT-sionnah.
On Saturday night was presented the tragedy of
King Leur, in older to iiitroduce Mr. VAND4II•
1101,P, • Gentleman of great provincial lime in his
prOrtvsloll, to a London audience. The difficulties
atteudnig such a performance are, span the whole,
greater than attach to any of taw characters of SSA.
SIMARS ; aid among them may be eilumerated the
violent and irrational alteration of the original, which
thwarts SHAIESPEARE'• play in almost all its easels-
nil purposes, which caramel his plot. and deaden
the influence of his magic poetry. The suhetitit-
lion, for example, of the mawkish love scours of
Cordelie and Adger, for her marriage with the
King of Fiance, end the remits which Row ken
it, according to the original. is twit to he oecnouted
for on any priuciple of good taste 6r convenience.
The same may be said of Adelina', discevery, of
Adger's quality before the combat, which gives
Edmund the opportunity of proclairuing some
wretched fustian in honour of bastardy—whereas,
in the linguist, Edgar's obscurity during the coin-
bat, and after his fall. give* rise to a current of
dialogue highly interesting in the matter of it, and
as natural us the organs of speech. So far are
these alterations from doing any thing for the cone-
pression of the original plot, so little do they relieve
it. either from tediousness or improbability, that
while they render it vapid and wearisome, they make
it still more difficult of completion and detract from
its credibility. It would be difficult to assign any
good reason for the entire omission of the character
of Leer's fool, whose wit plays with such Worms-
titre effect around the wretchedness of his Royal
Mader, many of the situations and rhapsodies of
the hitter character depending on it for their ex-
eitearient and interest. lii brief, it would be well
worthy of the general spirit and good taste of the
managers to contract with some clever dramatist for
a new version of the play, giving him directions to
restore the whole piece as fur as the ordinary time
allowed for the performance would admit. Mr.
VANDINIIOFF, though his part suffers from the
causes which are here mentioned, had less of
the interpolated trash to repeat thin most
of the characters. This was most fortunate
for him, as his taste is more effectually excited iu
proportion to the strength mid beauty of the lan-
guage. It is to the credit of his understauding
that he failed in the substituted rant, and that he
was quite successful in all the lofty passages of the
original. His voice is of a defective character, both
as to strength and depth of tone. If die great size
of the theatre be taken into consideration, it will
not he intinited to him as a fault. that in most of
the level passages he failed to impart the fullest
effect of which they are capable. He was decidedly
excellent, however, in those which molt from the
more dire and heartfelt enionous. His first
bursts of rage were full of deep pathos,, sod his
curies on Goneril were delivered with a frank-
ness; of baffled indignation terribly natural. His
irrepressible grief broke forth in irregular volleys
of groans and shattered articulation, which fell
upon the feelings of the audience, without waiting
for the sanction of their judgments. lie was pre.
mature in the full display of mental agony, as
some of the effect should have been reserved for
the distress which precetles the conclusion. His
voice wants more modulation ; it was too much
convulsed and broken ill the stormy passages, and
too weak and indifferent in the calm ones. Some
of his delivery in both instances was powerful.
The address to the element., and the mad con-
versation with Edger, may be specified as ex-
staples. His deportment was in strict conformity
with the character throughout, end his figure and
appearance were sufficiently regal and impeniog.
Upon the whole, the performance was a spirited
effort, abounding in proofs of sound judgment
mid a refined taste, the few drawbacks upon it
'tieing the result of accident or negligence, and by
nu means attributable to defective sense or accom-
plishments. Ile was enthusiastically applauded
throughout. At the falling of the curtain Mr. C.
KESIBLE came forward to announce the perform-
mice fur to-night, but the audience drowned his
voice with cries of " Vanden/ad f!" The latter
Gentleman came forward after a few minutes
had elapsed ; the greater part of the pit
rose, and standing on the seats sainted him
with acclamatious, waving their hats and hand.
kerchief.. Silence being restored, he announced
King Lear for repetition, and retired amidst
the same tumultuous approbation with which
he had been received. The piece was very effi-
ciently cast. Mr. C. K EDIBLE'S fine person end
lordly manner perfectly agree with the romantic
fortunes of Adger. Mr. Assures figure and de.
portmeut correspond with the character of the in-
triguing and ambitious Edmund. Mr. FAWCETT
is die very being that Sueaseiteue designed in the
bluff character of Kent. Mr. EGEWCON, as Weiler,
Mr. Fautifir, us the mincing Oswald, were as good
as coold be wished. Miss You're is a very beauti-
fel Cortlefia, very interesting in the dialogue, and
altogether very complete, with one exception, that
fur a King's daughter the posture of her figure was
in general too supplicatory. Mrs. IFsucur was an-
nounced for the part of Regan, but being attacked
with sudden indisposition, the part was ably read
by Mrs. T. HILL.—The house was crowded to
excess.

TH2 OLYMPIC.
Mr. DOWTON'S engagement has proved very
productive at this theatre. His King Arthur is
a finished performance, and excited uoiverail
admiration. The burletta of Toss Thumb displays
talent in every character. The Lord Gressk of
Mr. OXIIBRRY, Mr. HERRING'S Noodk, sad Mr.
VALE'S Doodle, rival each other in comic humour,
and prove a rich treat to the lovers of mirth. Mrs.
BROOMS also 66'9'4 a rich specimen of she

*roue its Delieleile. Muter Satyrs?? warbled the
airs allotted to his part with swevirovi and simply ivy.
The following "rife in the list of visits,' lost
week : •
Leedom' Lady namely soil rot,: low,trorlosi and
Ports; Mir Wear, post; Cabral. WI . sod assets
U. G. irreppol sa.l pony; Weed tiara. lerausiou.sil mud
Arls; Casual awl Maw Berriste sad potty; Sir IL Lowly,
duel party; Baja. Aubrey aril party; lord sac Lady Was.
Pionorald awl party; Colospet Aron arrt party; Om. M.
Kluasird rd parse • tdarinis Chrbbente.s owl party;
Mr moil illitfurisail family; mid Ow Owl. Mr.
sad party.

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