The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-13 00:00:00

WESMlPistill SCHOOL.

Last night the second rehearsal of Nonni°,
the King's scholars, took place before an audience
as crowded, and at the same time as distinguished,
as we ever witnessed. So great was the press of
visitants, that a full hour before the curtain rose
every seat in the temporary theatre, not reserved
for the heads and conductors of the seminary and
their friends, was occupied, and it was then
found necessary to close the entrance for the
admission of ordinary visitors. A great num-
ber of individuals were excluded, and remained
stationary till the arrival of the Head Master
with hit friends. But after these had passed
in, all efforts to keep the doors closed were fruit-
less. A multitude forced through all obstacles
after them ; the pit in consequence became filled to
suffocation. and various individuals were obliged
to abandon their places there. Those, however,
who remained, were amply compensated for any in-
convenience they might have sustained by the rare
excellence of the performance. We do not in the
slightest degree overrate it when we say that its ge-
neral merits were superior to those of all the thea-
trical representations, with very few exceptions, at
which it has fallen to our lot to be present. Every
one knows that in our regular theatres, though
the leading characters may be, and usually are
played with great ability--there is yet in the per-
somiticii of the inferior ones a lamentable defi-
ciency of skill and power commonly obsetvable.
In the exhibit. which is the subject to our re-
marks, a single tart could not be selected which
had not is proportionive quantum of talent assigned
to it. The uniform correctness which was the re-
sult. pre-eminently distinguished the exertions of
the juvenile amateurs. The accuracy with which
they lecollected their parts. and the purity and
precision of their enunciation of the different mea-
sures of which TERENCE'S hues are composed.
are also models %lath we might recommend
to the imitation of " players whom we have
seen play, and beard others praise." The three
most unitising personages in the drama, two of
whom are also the pinicipal agents in working
nut the plot, Phormio, beta, and Doric), the
parasite, the slave, and the hero, were etch placed
with great felicity. Perhaps the representative of
the last, Mr. F. STEQKI. was the geotleinan who
must completely identified himself with his part.
In the accuse with Pheadria, Antipho, and Gera,
his obdurate professional inflexibility to the prayers
of Pherdria, iit vaiu imploring him to delay the
bale a l'amphila to the soldier, was admirably
counterfeited. The philosophical gravity of his
reproof of l'hedria—

Adtun' to ease incugitantem style impudentem,lda.
Ut iihaleratis diclis ducas me, ar meam duties gratis
wds truly humorous. Ills retort on Antipho. ue-
cubing him of deceiving Pherdriu, was exquisite—

--- Immo eoimvero Antipho hie me deeipil :
Nem hic me bujusmodi '64130 ease : ego hone case Wilier
eiedith.

Both passages, and several others in Mr. STERKY'S
playing, elicited bursts of applause. Mr. E.
VERNON entered very successfully into the feel-
ings and spirit of Phortnio. His description of the
pleasures of the table was a forcible illustration
of the pursuits of a class of wen, who now
exist, in the ancient sense, almost but in name—
and his explanation to Gem of the term •• Cosa
dubia, übi to dubiles, quid somas putissiniunt,"
both in the recitation and the accompanying moat
Aigollicatit
.IClOllll'9, indicated comic talent of no
mean order. Air. fl. DO DGSO ST sustained Gefa
with great judgment and considerable humour.
The ecene oldie mock quarrel between him and the
parasite for the purpose of deceiving Demipho, was
rich in gennine comic humour. The lawyers were
admirably support...l by INlessr.. EDEN, FAWCETT,
and liaoWN. 11'uot of now alone prevents us
from noticing the merits of the other performers.
The theatre was graced by the presence of many of
the fair sex. Among the noble and distinguished
male visitors on the ocean tttt were the Dukes of
Yogic and WELLINGTON, Sir Wet. GRANT, &C.