The National Register.
London, England, 1808-11-06 00:00:00

DRURY LANE.

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Mr. Russell hag-, on Monday night, the pleasure of displaying
a most ridiculous picture of co semnbical vanity, in the part of
Tom Shufflelon. in the Comedy of John Hull, before the most
overflowing Audience which this Theatre can boast this Season,
The character, as drawn by the Author, may appear a burlesque
on fashionable extravagance, although it he in reality little more
than n faithful copy of the manners and morals of those vicious
runts commonly called Beaux : but Mr, Russell determined to
tarn it into a caricature. Originality seemed to be his aim,
and certainly be was the most original Coxcomb weever beheld.
Fashionable folly, however ridiculous, does not exclude a
certain degree of elegance and gentility. Mr. Russell's levity
wns that of an idiot, w ho welcomes every person, and listens to
every speech, with the sante vacant grin on his countenance.
it 14 ientility consisted in his dress, not his manners ; and lest he
ennitnit the unpardonable fault of imitating. or run the
dar.,,er o being- thought in his arting like Mr. Lewis in the same
part, he iciOy banished animation from his features, sivacir,
fross his gestures, and if he resembled anything, it was a vulgar
Quaker assuming the dress, and apiNg the manners of a Heatt,
without being able to conquer his natural stiffness and serious

Inanity.
The character of Dan, in the Fame Cotnedy, was performed
by Mr. Decamp. The hint, told us that it tins for the first and
lost time, and our judgment hick its ask, why he should not
continue to 611 a part in n hick he hos diTla)r,l no small degree
of talent. Unlike the preceding Centlentan, tA,h07,,.. proud :Tint
spurns at the imitation of his betters, Air. Decamp, without
-*faking into a servile copy of Mv. Ilmery, stole his genera: man-
ner of acting and a spark of his gtiii

Mira Duncan Furpassed all her predecessors in the Fart of
14(14; Caroline; and the contrast of her excellence with the
ridiculous vulgarity of her inamorata formed a striking picture
of conscious talent and blind presumption.
.101Instone, liernever, was the hero of the night. lie was the
focus that collected ail the rays of attention, auul his e‘ertiiin,
were. proportionably great, and deservedly tucces,fol. We had
uever Pena him display more consummate excellence. lie was

enthusiastically applauded, and compelled. alien the Play was
over, to come forward and gratify the Public wit:► the Epilogue.
Bannister was full of blunt gondnat ore and fecling iu the part
of Job Thornbcr9; set, though he equalled, ae do not think
be surpassed Fawcett in the same Character.
Mrs. If. Siddons represented Mary witi► the most delightful
simplicity-. She really looked like timid Innocence in the garb
of youthful beauty.
Last ni„i►t Mudie appeared for the sec►uul time in the
part of Mrs. Bath r,in The Stranger. A:- want of room pre-
vented us from noticing her the firm time she came before the
Public, we trust our remarks, though longer than a second ap-

pearance requires, will not be deemed superfluous.
Notwithstanding the immorality of the play, and the impro-
priety of its representation at a time n lion our courts of justice
re-echo almost incessantly with the complaints of outran.led hus-
bands, and when adultery has taken too deep a root in our island
to need the fostering sunshine of dramatic incentives, the part
Haller is rendered so interesting by the circumstances
1g her crime, her remorse and humiliation, that any
however deficient iu superior talents, is sure whilst

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of Mrs.
attenclini
41.
artless,
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