The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-03-25 00:00:00

DRURY-LA N R THEATRE.

illuteac's comedy of Know roar orris Mind was
lasi slight perfotaieti. We are inspisy W find that the
*mute of pearominie nod were-drome is mow likely
to be interspersed .eitli lieu bright ever-greens,.
which, however admired by men of genius and
letting, we begin to feor were uo longer to be
coffered to diversify and ornament the seem..
However the feelings of the poWic may be di-
vided on the subject of legitisuate government.,
we believe, with respect lo the legitimate shams.
but oue sentiment exist.. It is that specie, of
*comic amuserueut winch is truly priced in this
country. Doubtless, pageantry and spectacle.
by tittle lit-Mai/icy and variety. attract attesitiosi.
They please the eye far a misaiesit, hut they du out
twisty the judgment ; and, when the show its over,
the heart siiglis for SIIAILSISSRZ'S exquisite deli-
neation of stature, or the int./441.6mi is visited by
the recoiloetiou of SegaspAs's acute but delicate
wit. We are templed to view ow of them pogeauta,
sa a inset is sometimes lured, by the meretricious
arts of a courtesies from beauty and virtue—but,
like time owtiso of error. we Waco. sorry sod
ashamed. to that which in our hearts we esteens, and
wonder that reason did not interpose to prevent the
aherrAtion. The comedy of Know yore awe Mind,
though not a finished production, must rank
Niumigat the legitimate drama. The character. are
various—but they are not strongly detiued. They
ore rather sketches than decided pictures—and
much of the filling up depend* on the performers.
liuslottoold, and Lady Bel/. are the hest
chsracters—the characters nearest to nature. Mil-
lononr, the hero, approaches to caricature. He his
wit and inidersLading—wity then has 111VaPHY

made him cope the sane lines from COMORKVIR to
send to three different ladies ? A schoolboy would
have varied his quotations. He is far from being defi-
cient in feeling--and he sometimest hi nks— why then
has MURPHY depicted him as the wooer of three
ladies, at one time? The diction, in the serious part
of she comedy, is elegant—end, in the lighter por-
tion, the wit mud sarcasm are sometimes neat and
voitTititt. We had not, for some time, seen Mrs.
A L'ittP—and, when we found her announced for
Lady Bell, perfectly conscious of the pleasure
wh tie her perfornsauce is sure to produce, we hut.
stud with more than usual alacrity to the theatre.
We would nut quicken our pace half so much to
ire the Bride of Abydos —or The Sleeping Beast,
—or—a lung list of melo.dratnatic heroines—over
shout, as they have beeu deposited in the 44 tomb
of the Ciipidets." we may he allowed to say, reviles-
roar is pare. Mrs. A Lsor was the soul of the
piece—end, when we say this, we admit that some
putt acting was displayed in other characters.
lint her merit was of a transcendent deserip.
huts. fler humour was sometimes broad, bait
neve- terse—her playfulness was that of • lively
and spirited woman, not of a froward girl—her
archness was the offspring of a mirthful disposition,
out of • depraved mind. Lady Bell is the very
reverse of a coiner. With the same open ingenuous.
nes• which she displays amongst her female friends,
would she treat the man of her choice—but his
is a weathercock, blown about by every blast of
esi.riee. and, to fix hits to a point, she snakes
Inn feel, by the pain which the variability of
her conduct imparts, the pangs which his fol.
ly or vanity hes inflicted on others. In lwr
illfi'eretit interviews with Millastorr, Mrs. A LOOP
displayed ,'.roommate ability. There was just
'-eugh of the coquet to deceive her changeable
104. v—while there was sufficient fetling to disclose
to a Leer
spectator the real state .4 her heart. The
"elle es which, having laughed Millantorte into a
determination to prosecute his snit with Lady Jose,
411 e thaws hint back by the all-powerful charms of
"1"44-. was exceedirigly amusing. The air of
" Swett Molly," which she introduced, and in sing-
ing whirs, she accompanied herself with great skill
on the harp, snas loudly encored. Mrs. A Lsor's voice
is ciiiren":lY swwet--aud, united with a simple and
"1"'"4" style, did ample justice to this pretty little
song. She via., thr‘ughout the evening, moat gene-
roily and enthustastic..tly applauded. Mr. RAL's
Millantoiir was inure retnarkehle for animation
shim degance. In such a character, those qualities
unapt in be combined. This gentleman's per-
formance was, howevcr, as a whole, creditable to
his trlents. Mr. HARLEY, as Dashroonld, Kaye
the dry sneers of the cynic with strong comic
effect. Maki/ was represented by Mr. Ilan.
GOUGH, who, in the drunken scene, evinced
a gre it deal of talent. Ile also delivered the
moral apophthegms of this " man of sentiment,"
with •la propriety. appose, Car. Bygrove,
and Sir harry Lueeleit, characters of a suitor-
ilmate I letalption, were tilled by Messrs. PowELL,
Hums en, and Pelmet", so well as it is necessary.
they should be filled.
The new Romantic Drama, entitled Rub goy,
atitumuced for performance this night at Drury.
lane theatre, hiss excited great expectation. It I.
th,. composition of Mr. Sousa.

Should the tragedy of The Murdered Maid find
its way front Sunderland to town—the ravishing
Lowery of Mr. FARLEY in pantomime are to he
rh,lilayed iu Ahruhars Thormioa; mid Mrs. Msg•
orN, us Mary Ashford. is to sing a simple ballad
as she goes iota the pond.
Haas'sTic.—lt may form a question shortly.
whether "flue acting." or the full and complete
i.eisonilieatitio of character. will not be exliatt.
whie the Managers of our Theatre. are occupied
In rine:mini% all the daily occurrences that happen
In tin' Pill,lie streets ? tirsaler this idea. it is valid,
tli.it Ibr nee:dent which lately brief HILL DAR..
LEV. la to be brought forward. The first scene is
la represent it Gambling-house, w.th the attendant
Vim*. "Lt k. brows. wad gray." 'llve second is
II ...wawa a bramirtil represerriation of the Course
at 1164, with an attendance of .• She LEGS"
iu all direction.. The third, a high-spirited young
ratio Ir. " a mail gig," who drives over the hero of
time !neve, which closes by a " crowner" in ri full
hammed perisig, sod his associates, who quarrel
" about Crowner's Law," then offer different bets.
aria el.r.e the ulnae by s fight '•
AGRICULTURE.—The great increase of price in
The tattle 61 muck. which has been sold at all the
'6'2.1 of farm., through different puts of the
cowboy)), has 4..inerriceri the farmer* that their fears
were a....K.,411, whets tiny thought that lams
would late( NOM !MOM Oa. Will"Wi 1111".