The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Pizarro was performed here on Monday for the benefit of a
Mrs. RIVERS. The part of Rolla was sustained by a Mr. SYD.•
NEY, a gentleman well known in the theatrical world as an
antatear who has acted with great SUCCISS at several of the pro-
vincial theatres. His conception of this arduous character is
clear and strong, and his delineation of it, if not all that could
he wished, was in many parts striking and in some it approach-
ed excellence. The celebrated address to the Peruvian soldiers
was delivered with peculiar animation, and the effect was such
as might be expected at the present awful crisis, when every
heart glows with detestation of the cruelties cormnittcd by that
power to which Rolla's expressions are intended to apply, and
with admiration of the patriotism and energy displayed by that
gallant nation, whose sufferings and exertions are hardly paral-
lele•d in the annals of the world. In the scene where Rolla con-
veys to Cora the last wish of Alonzo, Mr. SYDNEY was emi-
nently happy, but where he begs the life of the Child, and sub-
sequently snatches it from the soldiers he was every thing that
could be desired, and hardly second to Mr. Klause' in the
same character.

This Gentleman, though entitled to much praise, has, never-
theless, considerable defects as an actor. These however, I must
in justice obsr,rvc., appear to me to be such as time and atttotion
may obliterate altogether. Nature has been very liberal to I'm,
as, in addition to a good figure, he boasts a voice strong, rA
flexible and capable of expressing all, or nearly all, the various
passions with more than common felicity. He would, in my
opinion. do well to avoid throwing his head about with a sort of
vapouring air, as he did in some of the scenes. This may result
from cxcessive feeling, but it has, in some measure, the appear-
ance of affectation. Where the action of a performer is unne-
cessarily violent, it seems like feeling travestied. This hint, as
it is thrown out in perfect good nature, will, I hope, not be
thrown away ; and, I trust, the good sense of Mr. SrDNzv will
enable him to repres; such extravagance for the time to come.
The characters of Pizarro and Alonzo were very indifferently
sustained. The physical parts of each of the parties who appear-
ed in them were overtasked, and the consequence was each
made himself the laughing-stock of the House, though ;n a dif-
ferent way. The former was actively, the latter passively ridi•
culo us.

Several of the minor parts we e exceedingly well supported.
Las Carus deserves particular notice. All his speeches were
delivered with great judgment and feeling, and ii do not remem-.
her ever tkeing the character made more prnmhtent.
!'he female parts were most deservedly admired. I how-
ever could have wished Elvira to be more hauylity. Cora wa4
sustained by the young lady who performed Lady Elizabeth ou
Mr. Pu PE. night. The character was never in better Li: hands.
With such attractions the play, notwithstanding the faults of
Pizarro and Alarm, went off tolerably well. Th • entertain-
ment was less successful. After several abortive efforts to get
through with it, the curtain fell in the middle of The Critic,

amidat the hisses of the audience.