The National Register.
London, England, 1816-11-11 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

DRURY-LANE.

Tuesday night a new Comedy, under the title of.
The Guardians, was performed at this Theatre for the-
ism tine. The Dramatis Persona were as folhrw

Lard Pillagrea Mr. R. Pesky.
:Mr. Barton Mr. Mira,
Mr. Seagram Mr. Wallet&
Mr. Wavelet' - Mr. lise.
runts.„ Mr. Harley.
Lady Lovegrove Mr.. Daviroat
1 .ady
I;o=rie Mra Plarkir.
Mil/ MN. Mow

?PM FABLE.
The faith) of tho pleee pamegairs ne .seer y. Mr. Ilisrtrds,
sir honest country gentleman, formerly prartisiwg as a Soli-
eitor, and Steuart( to the du ceased bfr. hatimmore. but beet
TeA Guardian to the son awl daughter of Isis eicreasad ants-
eV'lQ eoujuuctioa with Lady Nightshade, their aunt, a lady
tif ftwhion, re•ltling in imam. the proprietress of a I'haro
Bank, and deep/y emb a rl iu her circumstances. The
nephew apd niece having beret brought lip with their aunt,
the (..rnier has iroldbed many of her failings, and deeply in-
valved bit fhiptisac long previews to his haying beeollloe pen
teamed of it- NW fitaardian rffierton), however, basing eiosely
welched his comfort, has intervened between bier and ride ;
and, wilder disgeiso, as a Jew meney-lessiter, advanced hint
loam at erlsirammii lateresas till he has eompktely got his es-
tate lerte his power, avellimilly mimes Marie be:minted ;- is
horn by thus retiorrimi Mtn to the extremity of distress, to
eoemet his errors and recoil bins boa le the paths of recti-
tude and honour. While the brother is tints &Winding hie
patrimony. Linty Nightshade is farming strimme• spout the
ftwhinv of her nitre and hit catered into an agreement with
ellsairated aid nosed Noblemen, Lord Filleeree, by whir*
ft is wrgellated, that Ms Lordship Is to marry Miss netigmore;
and en the marriage taking plagg Lady NighWhatte is to re.
ceive .4001 part el her *'fee's formed. The better to ac-
compile% this scheme, lOW SIP4IIIIOIre is betrayed into the
power of Lord Pillegree; and when ea the point of becalm-
ing*, victim of this plot, she is emceed Waveley, to
whom she Is attached, and by whom she is fondly behsved.
Wastetey is the nephew, of bat , a votary also to fashion*
Lie fillfea; and wise, Nike Iris friend Scripture, has become
deeply indebted to his uncle. in his assumed character of
Levi, the Jew money-leader. Ultimately hots Serlgnsore
and 11 avert tee arse at the mit of Oweems, who, Haying
thus violinist:4 them, is induced to forgive their errors; and,
Laving by his exertions presemed his Ward, Miss Sedgmore,
from the Schemes of their other Guardian, Lady Nightshade,
he bestows the hand of Miss Seilimore on Wavelet,, and
wnierayeang Sedignsom to Lady Lovegrove, to wheat he is
fondtrattachml, and by whoa he is winch betoved; hut who
hashitherto hems ten/wrest from marrying bias by hi. attach-
ment to gaming.

Suet is the outline of the plot of " The Grardisnu,"
which is mid to be the offspring of the pen of the late
J. tohin* Esq. When first we heard this piece announ-
ced as one of tte posthuntotut productions of this Author,
we, felt mut* inclined to doubt the truth of the state-
ment. Our doubts, however, have been much shaken hy
witnessing the represcutatiou of " The Guardians," whia
eatrks upon the face.of it the stamp of Tobin 's genius ;
and eta doubts i.fetVC *en to astoniabatent, that a gem
so valuable, in this throe of dearth in the dramatic world,
should have remained so long in obscurity. The Giar-
dina{ is, without exception, the best Comedy that has
beet reduced for several musette at either Theatre.
The plot, though by no means novel, is well wrought up,
and the interest is well kept up from the first scene to
the last. The, dialogue is spirited, and the wit chaste.
The characters are strowly drawn; and the censure on
the vice of gaming, and the modern practice of duelling,
is excellent. Many of the sentiments were loudly and
cnthusiastimlly applauded, and the interest did not floc
up to the hut scow. The merits of the piece met wit)*
a stoonf and able support in the exertions of the perform.
era. Do toton's enactment of the Honest Strained and
Guardian was exeallent. Rae gave full force to the re-
presentation of nitwits, a young man brought up in the
fashionable world and tinctured with its vices, but whose
fitildes were corrected and subdued by the goodness of
his heart. Wallack was loudly and deservedly applauded
for his representation of the dissipated, though not depra-
ved, man of fashion. Mrs. Davison gave it fascinating
picture of the amiuhleand lovely woman of fashion. Mrs.
Hatlowe and Mr. S. Penley did full justice to Lady Night-
shade and Lord liiingrse ; and Harley in Hints, a
wholesale male slenderer and murderer of characters, did
lull justice to that despicable character. Mrs. Horn
loolkea lovely as Julia Sedgutore. The Prologue was
well delivered, and loudly applauded by the audience ;
as was also the Epilogue, in which were some happy
&lesions to the revival of Tinton, and the exclusion of
Ladies front that Piece. The Play throughout was re-
ceived without a single dissentient yoke; and its an-
nouncement fin. repetition was loudly cheered by a very
crowded audience.

In ‘607. an appropriate Prologue wax written by bliss
Benger 11.. she Comedy, whir b, after the 'spec of many
:moo, is now happsiy psesmaatird to the public. This
little composition does not 'contain mort than about 30
Inns, but they deserve to he rerordetl both fur their
inetical taste and their moral feeling.
llse Cowie W. 1.. may, !Ike her sister, claim
A actions object and ii aim ;
Fiona tiny now* entwines Huila .1w draws,
And now t 1 tt lien vier r%tortx spotauxe.
TI -night, the set tae tontiihN to view the crimes
Ti at stain the annals attar modern times?,
Crime. that the shrine ark-goner psutanc,
Where v,i)pnii oodles and virtsse ought to reign,—
Crimes that in sordid isissi.ms fast Largsti,
Au,tl sink the social to the savJge man,
TI e gamester fur no ;e'er part designed,
4, curse 14,1141(,, lit es but to curie andukind