The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-10 00:00:00

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JAN. 10. , THE NATIONAL REGISTER. . ' c't
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THE THEATRES.

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DRURY LAN's,
ie reigns of Mr. Garrick and Mr. Kembte, Tragedy
ray cultivated at Drury Lane ; and the audiences,
eneral they preferred Comedy, were induced by the
'the actors, to countenance a species of entertain-
they had a vanity in admiring, though, with d few
they did not understand it. But the present Ma;
•eiving that the town, unless led into another channel
tmanding genius, inclines rather to Comedy than to
nd having no Tragedian of sufficient powers to stand
Ajax, and turn an overwhelming multitude, have
Comic Muse 4o re-assume her reign. Comic actors
to be found : both because Comedy is of all dramatic
st encouraged, and because it does not require in its
ives the same grand qualifications of nature and

'ad of this Theatre stands Mr. Elliston, a gentleman
;!I he acts in every thing, is most particularly cmi-
ant comedy ; and we have often regretted that lie,

approach ►o near to perfection in one sphere, will
weakening bis efforts by dividing his pursuits. As
are adapted rather to charm in eqtabliihed Comedy,
ipport the tottering pile of Tragedy, he would do
andon the latter : for though, perhaps, the town w ill
Tragedy at Drury Lane, once in a month, an actor
llistun ought never to play but when he can be ad-

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endeavoured to speak bold constitutional Inaguagat but *hat as
we expect a plain vindication of popular rights, we find the
Kiug and People makiog up matters in a good-humoured Way,
and submission, as usual, walking quietly, arm in ann, with in-
justice.

his is our general opinion of Mr. Elliston's genius,
re two or three characters of Tragedy which he plays
force : and among them is the Earl of Warwick,
Tresented on Wednesday night.

gedy of The Carl of 'Van:tick was written by a
lin, %lift was Chaplains to His 1111;jesty : and is one
ays a hich are never very likely to incur execration,
ley never take the chance of delighting. When a
v puts on his Parnassean wings, he may fall, like
ny ::wing too high ; hut an author who creeps along
ha, at leant the solitl satisfaction of considering that
easily be lower. Dr. Franklin selected the safer
constructed his play with great regularity, and, with
(table respect for custom, abstained from introducing
eters but those to which the stage had been long
. • A Monarch amiable hut misled, a Nobleman the
prople, a patriotic l'eer, and a cringing Courtier,
pie of Ladies, one an angel and the other a del il,
imf lig Persona, of " The. Furl of I.i'nru•iek." The•
/Revel-, was evidently as honest a pa ins-taking poet ns
-Chaplain who ever wrote : and by his labour• he
t succeeded in obtaining some cold eulogies, as a mole
way through earth to day-light. From this sample
thy Doctor's genius, we cannot help conceiving that,
in;; him to a Chaplaincy, his Majesty acted with
imination than patrons usually evince in the business
on : for hi;; reverence has brought his clerical taste
!tore itself, and mar►ifcsted his veal for the church
lig on the stage. NVe have in vain endeavoured to
single poetical passage, or a siagle situation of real
.ough the whole live acts of the play. Warteick, in-
chibited in various tempers ; but whether he be
vexed, angry or affectionate, he inVariablY fails to
emotion. An actor may create something from the
and to hate git:•n an opportcnity for gond acting, is
but it is only the merit of a raw outline ; the actor
the picture. An author of real genius leaves nothing
r but the business of traraishing, and the discretion of
cw Enishing touches. The Doctor ha 4 O;ACC QC to ice

We are happy to speak with unequivocal praise of Mr. Elb
liaton's Warwick. Ilis magnificent voice gave apowerful 'Her+
gy to the vigorous scenes : and where affection for Elitahrth
wits to be expressed, he evinced all that tenderness and feeling,
which so particularly distinguish his representations of love.
There is one passage which he delivered in a mantwr b 0 nobly
accordant with the genius of his character, that we cannot deny
ourselves the pleasure of pointing it out to our readers. War-
wick, having quarrelled w ith Edward the Ponrth, whom he justly
considers as a creature of his own elevation, is ordered into
custody by the enraged king. The guards are about to take his
sword, when Warwick exclaims :

" Slaves, stand oft !
" If I mu3t yield my sword, I'll give it bim
" Whom it so long has served ; there's not a part
" In this old faithful steel, that is not stained
" With English blood in grateful Ed wa.rd's rause.
" Give me my chains ! they are the hands of feiendthip--
" Of a King's friendship ! fur his sake, a while
" I'll wear them."

An actor of vulgar conception world have contented !limed(
in this place, with preeenting the sword in mock humility to
Ed►ccard. But Mr. Enjoin', it ho knew that the very iron,/ of
so high-spirited a being as Warwick, was °prat!, contemptu-
ous, did not affect a reverence for Edward, but having spoken,
with undisguised resentment, the line—

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