The National Register.
London, England, 1818-11-16 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was on Monday
night performed at this theatre. The character of
for the first time, by Mrs. West. Mrs. West's powers,
and the beauty of her person and face, fit her in a pe-
culiar manner for this eltaraLier ; her performance was
highly interesting throughout, but she was more espe-
cially applauded in the garden scene, in the scene with
her nurse, in that in .wich she takes the sleeping po-
tion, and in the subsequent one in which she awakes,
Ind diswvers herself in the arms of her lover. Mr. H.
Kemble's Romeo improves on repetition. The house
was respectably filled.
_ _ _

Last Friday evening was revived the comedy of
Love mokrN a Man, or the Fop's Fortune. This
piece though reputed to be written by Colley Cibber, is
the produmion of a much older author, and merely
altered by him. Of the plot we shall say little, as
probably most of our readers are acquainted with it,
and even that of a new play is in general better
omitted ; for what goad purpose does it answer ?
Those who have witnessed the perfc►rmance will cer-
tainly not read the plot, and fr those who have not, and
intend doing so, it surely spoils the interest of the enter-
tainment. Then to what class of readers can it be inte
resting?—to those who never intend to visit the theatre?
And will those of the latter description take the trouble,
or have the cur►osity to peruse a theatrical account
We think these will not so far honour us, anlttuntefitre
shall, for the advantage of the two fist elapse:
readers, omit the fable. . . .

The piece in question k an entertainin:,
medy, rather approaching to farce, and

r same inconsistencies. 8.,.

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audience tiaroug:-. ~L wad :eel ~)-take a nap.
by any dull or heavy scenes. Nlunien was in excellent
humour awl irresistal:ly lAuglialiie. Mr H. Kemble
played the part of Cart): with consitlerable sniric. tha
fop, Clodio, was particularly we'd supported by Air.
Penley. In his scene with Dun ()marl, the duellist, he
was eminently successful, and throughout the whole of
his perfhnnance acquitted himself extremely well. Mr.
Watkinson and Mr. Williams were respectable in Dun
Antonio and Don ('haring. The female parts were also
very well sustained. Mrs. West rendered that of An-
gelina peculiarly attractive by her graceful and inte-
resting deportment : indeed, the more we see of this
young lady's acting, the more we are confirmed in our
opinion of her excellence. The parts of Louisa and
Eluira were ably supported by Mrs. Orger.
%lite must not target to bestow deserved praise on this
piece us being perfectly free from the licentiousness of
the old dramatic school, at least as it is now acted. It
pat with considerable applause from a respectable audi-
ence. In the afterpiece of Bartnecide, Mr. Cowel took
Mr. Harley's part, who is still confined by indisposition,
and supported it in a very able manner.

•-•••••■•
COVENT-GARDEN.

Rowe's tragedy of Jane Shore was performed at this
Theatre on Monday night. The announcement of Miss
O'Neil for the heroine of the piece, Mips Somerville fur
the character of Alicia, and Mr. Booth's re-appearance
in that of Gloucester, formed altogether attraction suf-
ficient to fill the house to an overflow before the curtain
rose. Miss O'Neil as Jane Shore, has, on former oc-
casions, fully established her claim to excellence ; but
stimulated by the circumstance of playing in concert
with Miss Somerville, she put forth all her unrivalled
powers, and was eminently successful. On no occasion
have we seen her mote so. In her interview with
Gloucester, in which she declares her readiness to de.
vote her life, if necessary, to the service of King Ed.
ward's children, and blesses Hastings for his declara-
tion of similar sentiments, she was forcible and ener-
getic, and culled down the most rapturous applause;
whilst her appeal to the feeling,s, in her interview with
the husband, was irresistible, and produced a visible
eficet on the audience. Miss Somerville, in Alicia, was
most favourably received, and deservedly so. She gave
a judicious and spirited picture of the revengeful, jea-
lous, designing female In her quarrel with Hastings
she displayed powers am) common description ; whilst
her remorse and self condemnation when she finds that
she has involved her lover in the ruin which she only
intended for her innocent unsuspecting friend, was
equally well depicted; and the bitterness with which
she even denied a draught of water to the unfhrtunate
victim of her revenge—the distraction of her own mind
—and the remorse of conscience felt by her for the mi-
series she had occasioned to herself and others, were
forcibly expressed, and rapturously applauded by the
audience. Her performance was, on the whole, highly
creditable to her powers. Mr. Booth, as Gloucester,
was greeted on his entree with the war►ness welcome.
The cheering of his friends, failed, however, to inspire
Waregret we are obliged to declare our opinion,

REGTSTP,R.

judging from the specimen he afforded us on Monday
night, that he has not improved during his provincial
tour. His performance, with the exception of his in-
terview with Jane .Shoe c, was as tame and spiritless as
we ever witnessed ; scarce one sentence in ten which he
uttered reached the audience at a distance from the
stage beyond the third or finirth row of the Pit. The
gods in the gallery, disappointed and displeased at this
dumb shew exhibition, became vociferous, calling on
him to speak louder.—This produced from others cries
equally loud for silence ; and the uproar at length be-
came so great during the scene in the third act, between
Gloucester and Hastings, that nea:ly the whole of the
scene passed over without a single word being heard.—
Mr Young played Hastings with his usual ability.—
His quarrel with Alicia was excellent. Maeready played
Shore, and made as much of it as the character would
admit of. The Ballet of Paul and Virginia followed,
and went off extremely well.

• The Comedy of The Soldier's Daughter was performed
on Wednesday, at this Theatre; when Mr. %V. Farren
appeared in a new character, that of Governor Heade.
His representation of this character was spirited and
forcible. The wann, honest, irritable, and open-
hearted old soldier tbund a faithful and able represen-
tative in him. He was loudly applauded throughout,
especially in the scene with the if Cheerly, in
which she recounts to hint the exploits of the Governor.
His exulting tone, while joining with her in the ex-
pression of—" Thus said the Governor,"—and—" Thus
(41 the Governor,"—applying them to himself, was
—fient, and drew down the loudest approbation.—
')'Neill played the If glom Cheerly. This charac-
AT no means the best suited to her peculiar ta-
is, Met:a, beneath her powers ; she cannot
• it. The pieure which she gave of the
•v, t'atui;ll not possessing the sprightliness
'ch we have seen thrown into it by its
wdan, was highly interesting.—
..
~,ectably filled.

• ~11;ced on Friday night at this
a very indifferent reception, or in
e.aisidered, we believe, as dismis-
sed from . Perhaps the title of this piece,
six Plinsiciaas 111; Patient carried ofl. half con-
tributed to its ill success; we are certain that the plot
and the dial.gue worked out the other half of the ca-
tastrophe : the idea of introducing six physicians or per-
sons in the disguise of physicians, was a happy idea; and
thaNnployment of thyin when introduced, was equal to it
in felicity : the plot, in fact, is incumhered by these
personages; and the whole business might have been
effected much better by limiting the number to two.—
The object is to carry off the ward of an old gentleman,
who, being in love with her, and anxious to keep her
to himself, adopts the ingenious expedient of persuading
her she is ill, to prevent all access to her; the lover,
disguised as one of these physicians, frustrates all the
precautions of her guardian. Liston bad a character
assigned him, but it neither possessed any merit as
character, or for the scope it Ain-ilea to the display of
his abilities. The attempts at wit or humour were
chiefly limited to allusions to the medical profession,
and were of a truly despicable quality. The fate of the
farce became evident soon after the commencement of

'Akite

the second act; and the latter part of it was rendered
quite inaudible. As no attempt was made to announce
the piece for repetition, we conclude that the managers
acquiesce in the decision of the audience; it would be
difficult to offer any plea in arrest of judgment.

A meeting of new Renters of Drury-lane Theatre
was held on Thursday, in the Saloon, to receive the
report of the Committee, appointed by a General
Meeting of their body, on the 15th of June, 1816.
The report having been read, the meeting proceeded
to elect Sir Thomas Turton and Mr. Fallowfield trus-
tees, in the room of Messrs. Houlston and Graham,
resigned. Mr. G. Robins dwelt upon the depressed
state of the Theatre, the nightly receipts of which, he
said, did not at present cover the expenees.
The dramatic veteran " Gentleman Smith," who is
now in the 90th year of his age, is still living at his
favourite residence, near Bury, in Suffolk, and enjoys
tolerable health and good spirits, but has not visited the
theatre for some time past. During Miss O'Neill's last
professional trip to Bury, he expressed a wish to be per-
sonally introduced to her, which he was by Mr. Bel-
lamy, the manager, and the interview was highly
pleasing to both parties.
Mr. Booth, of Covent Garden Theatre, conceiving
that the Manager does not duly appreciate his talents,
has offered to cancel his engagement, on being allowed
to retain one third of his salary.
Hurley, of Drury Lane Theatre, who was suddenly
seized with a fit, on Saturday sc'nnight, is now much
recovered:

We are sorry to learn from the Jamaica papers, that
some attempts were made, in the month of September
last, to set fire to the town of Port Royal.
Wednesday a Court of Directors was held at the East
India Houie, when Captain C. S. Timing was sworn
into the cemmand of the ship Bridgewater, 'unsigned
to Chins direck