The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-09-22 00:00:00

rmiAtßai

.
• ..111141111111
A new operetta, entitled The hendesooiss, was
last night produced. It is, we. understand, written
by • Mr. EATON. The following are the circum-
stances of which the plot is composed :—A whim-
'icel old country gentleman, the father of Lucretia
and uncle of Sophia, is anxious to provide proper
busharids for those near relatives. With this intent
lw sets out, at night, for London, contrary to the
advice of his pervant, Simms, who is dreadfully
a' ~ined lest they should be 'Attacked by robbers.—
The two young ladies have, however, already sup.
plied themselves with a pair of lovers, whom they
wish to introduce to the house, the moment
the old gentleman has departed— -but they
are afraid to break the secret to each other.—
They, therefore, mutually apply to /lose. a
smart chambermaid, for her assistance, which she
readily promises. By her contrivance Captain
Boldisg, the lover of Lucretia, and Charles, the
lover of Sophia, are safely conveyed, •unknown to
each other, into the house, and placed by the young
ladies in adjuioil,g closets, where they are desired to
remain until supper is ready. Rose has also a
sweetheart, in the person of Jolla, the servant of a
neighbouring gentleman. who enters the house by
a window that opens auto the room to which the
hiding places of the to hector are attached. • The
lovers, tiled with waiting for their mistresses,
leave the closets, while Joh* seeks concealment
under a table. Bolding begins to sing, for the
purpose of attracting the attention of his 41-
ciaers, and, to his utter astonishment, is answered
by Churl's. Supposing him •to be * rival, he
attacks him in the dark, but the young gentleman
contrive* to escape, sod the prime., in the con-
fusion. get into wrong closets. Sophia, iuteniliiig
to let nut Charles, is frightened when she beholds a
dashing oilleer —and Lucretia is equally sato-
nished. when. opening the closet tit which sue
bad placed the Camilla, she discovers Charles.
The two young ladies are now liaptiv to find,
that, as they are alike under tie .iitiuroce of
the tender possinu, there is no fr, of their se-
cret being betrayed, and they proceed to supper.
At this moment, the old gentleman dud Suitors re.
turn, havii,g been frightened by the appearance of
two travellers, tin a neighbouring heath, whom
they mistake for highwaymen. Th sov,•rs again
seek reiuge in the close.slilMi,. while Sisson and
his owlet are iiiseoursiutc about the d*,_ger trey
had escaped, they risileisiour to steal oni. They
are uh.. reed by Mama. who, pear( tly convinced
that they are robbers, falfs on his bier, rn example
which his master promptly follows. While they
are in this situation, Capsule Bolding, Charles, sod
Jolla, escape by the window—but, deteatiiiited to
avail throw +l.e. of the peon: of /into* arid Ins mas-
ter, th-) numediaitlymog with violence at the gate,
awn, befog admitted, they declare that the house
had really been entered by thieve*, whom they had
pursued and drivel, away, and thus disappointed of
their hopes of plunder. For this imaginary service,
&Mime and Charles drinmiti the consent of the old
grioleman to the union of his daughter and niece
with mein—a proposition to which he immediately
accedes.

The success iS the piece depended 'vilely on the
'seri nl i.f• 'tie performers, and to them the author is
under lIIU most obligations. They curried the •
operett.. iliiiiugh its trial, and it was no easy task,
Ter) triumphantly. Aliss KELLY, whose health,
we are rejoiced to say, seems to he perfectly re-
established, supported the character of Sophie—
being her first appearance since her lamented ill.
nos.. Site was received, on her entrance, with fer-
vein and long-continued applause. The character
is that of an arch, but apparently simple young
11,4—whose simplicity does not. however, pre-
vent her from selecting a handsinue lover. Miss
KELLY played the part with her accustomed
ta.r spirit. Mr. HARLEY, as SilBo4, a cow-
ardly servant, imitated the fear and folly of the
character, with much ability. Mr. W. S. CHAT.
ILRLEY's old man partook of the obsimacy and
which are generally supposed to ihs.
ttiliitali advanced years. Miss I. S rsvcisson's
Rose was sufficiently animated. Mrs. W. S.
unatrzamr, so Lucretia. deliveitd she lofty
..nomads of the immaculate damsel, who would
Inn be thought a perfect map-hater, with a great
""t 01 humour. Captain Bolding and Charles. the
Lavers, were respectably filed by Messrs. 880 AD.
ut use sod J. Jona.
The music, composed and selected by Mr. Palm
is highly creditable to that gentleman's taste and
genius. The overture is by far too good for the

Inv which it preeeciev. Atrio, between Mew&
NoAmman, J. Jontv, dud S•LILII, iv a very
orvaug eumpositivir.