The National Register.
London, England, 1809-07-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL tIEGISITR.

46!

who persists in seclusion, and yields up his soul to the mad-
ness of remembrance, during eighteen years of-the prime
of his life, may be a very good modern dramatk character,
but is scarcely a human being-. Should same perstins d.
sirous of detracting from the merit of our author, asser.
that they have known real instances of this grief, we an-
swer that we have also known many individuals subject
weaknesses and deformities of 'character, who have affect
ed us a ith pity or disgnst, but we know not how to ex-
press our admiration of the boldness of the modern drama-
tist who eudeavours to raise our esteem for imhecillsys
and to interest our sensibility for unmeaning- extravagance.
roar Young who performs this high-finished character, is
sometimes driven to contortions and wildness of gesture,
sts truly contradictory to every natural emotion, that we
'really felt for the man. whose powers of expression might
suit the obsolete dramas of .v•lzakesisear or but are
far tn?neath the romantic theatricals of the present (lAN.
We advise him not to dispute the palm of superiority irt
this hue with Jones, gyre, lnd Farley, who are wonderfully
improving in this species of sublimity, and do not meal%
" tear a passim to rags," but throw the very fragment.i
of a passion above the clouds.
The grotaal work of this drama is for the first two acts
aimplicity iiself. The end is seen at the beginninaa .
modern dramatist never depend.; on the gradual trufoldiags
of a plot bps natural incidents for the interest he means to
sustain in the expectation of his audience. No, if he can-
not keep up a more powerful interest by romantic and im-
possible incidents and situations, he must neeesatrily be
damned fur a mere mortal. The :lather of %he
of the Forest 13 a man of .Modern Genius, and therefore as
far above mortality as modern romance is above common
sense. With a skill that excels even the most curious of
his cotemporary competitors, he terminates all the common
interest of his plot at the end ef the second act, and by
coup de Thca!re begirs a fresh—hangs on a third act, like
a kettle to a cur's tale, and keeps his actors ratting hroua.l:
all the shifts and tricks of a perplexed pantomiraa There ,
were some human beings with common feelings roip
plat'- understandiags who ventured to sheaf co:oink-a-able
dissatisfaction at this. But. the sense of the hoosa was :le
cidedly against them. The romance refuters hid and
this foundb*ng of modern genius was supported a ash re-
iterated applause.
Mr. Dimond is the author of this successful ;iiece. (ler
readers will perceive what: sort of merit it possess;, froia
what we have already said. A slight survey of the 0,1
and characters s vita shew that we have riot proisrd it too
highly. The Count de Valmont (Mr. Youag), had entrusted
his nephew the Baron Longuerilic (Mr. Eyre), with the
protection of his wife and infant son, on his ieparte re from
Langutiloc during the Iltyaenot-wars. This nepia... is one of
the mast consummate villains that the stage ever di-all veli.
He is actuated by avarice; arid. in hopes of Rectally); the
sessions of his uncle, he suborns Bertram (Mr.. tar ha') to
fire his uncle's chateau in Languedoc, and to murder the
Countess and her child. The Coont returns tliaing that
dreadful transaction, and witnesses the apparent destruction
of all which he held dear in the world. In a neighboariva
forest, through which he wanders in his daspair, he fiads an
infant. This child he rears to manhood, and then &termitic,
to marry to ;,his neiee Geraldine (Mrs. Gibbs). Hot;
Geraldine and not the Baron is to inherit his es•ates the
author has not informed us; but it was necessary that vie
should see a little more Villainy, and therefore'that the
Baron should have a new impalsa. Love' and avarice
together instigate him to 41cstrub Florian, the Tow!d!ing
(Mr. Jones). It happens that norianis returning from the
wars where he has gained great reputation. Strange
as it may appear, the protege of the Count de Valmont
returns alone and unarmed. A French soldier in the six.;
teenth cen; ury, without a sword, was rather an tineo-aimaa
animal. But the modern drama delights in areozimoon
anus ; and we should not be surprised at hearieg that
Ir. Harris 40 made an cagagehient with rideock as

. • '

JULY lg.

a'ell as with Calalani for the new unrivalled national
theatre. The murderers employed by the Baron traced
the l'oundliag to a cottage in the forest, where he
has lakett refuge from a tremendous storm. The Cottager
(Mrs. Davenport) has afforded shelter to a wretched fe-
male maniac for many year; past. This mai:lac rushes be-
tween the murderers and Florian : among the murderers
!s Bertram, who is startled at her appearance ; and, repen-
tant before, now desists from his purpo:ie, for he recog-
nizes in the maniac, the Cou'utess elc Valmont (Mrs. Glover.
It is now apparent that Florian is the ,on of his preserver,
and R th ri Vern a ins but the natural termination of the piece,
! vile suggestion ! A natural termination to a ?nor:ern
drama !—No.—Mr. Dimond knows better the ta....te of the
public. From Nature he flies as if he was afraid of her,
lad, as we have said before, contrives to tack a truly PIO --
icor third act, without the least trait of natnral interest in
.:s composition. Of the actors, we thought YonnT and
Mrs. Waver much too natural for their parts. If they
continue to act in that chaste and elegant manner,
panning Theodore will absolutely set them down for
naturals. Farley is a line 7.49tiern actor : he ranted out
the ravings of rcintr..c in th;-- iTwest st‘ To of impassioned
"Npression. Jones :;t,zret: throegb tha ranndii..:g as if he
imagined it syns ri,...rc.ssary to ...s lac found
:d
za v.! Hni the idea of Peter theWild-Bo; and
'e really lo:•ked that character extremely well. Lis!pa's
i‘nrt was a very sli:!ht sninalc of the modern comic and Al i-r;.
Liston's stilt /egg, ifwe r:-:rept some expressiens bordering
upon bald, ; flash. ',qrs. Davenport's pail was played with too
much nature for the ir..-*rn drama though she certainly
poasessas some squr:r!s iii !ler tonei r,f e.:clamation, which
human tialcre Iris cell aHiy nothing to do with. Tho
music by Kelly -,-as exactly conformable to the character
of the piece.