The National Register.
London, England, 1811-07-21 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA.

'

An heroic, tragic, operatic Drama, which had long been in
preparation, was performed on Thursday at the Lyceum, callel
Quadrupeds, or the .Manager's Last IC;ck ; partly founded on
ancient dramas, and applied
.to modern events, with old scenes
and nett, animals (being their first appearance on that or any
:,tage.)!!!"
This Drama, we are given to understand in the piece itself,
is brought forward by a Manager to •gratify the prevailing
rage for four-footed performers, and because he finds
the attractions which his 1 heltre had boasted till now, those
of human nature, wit, and humour, would draw foil houses no

longer.
All this is so feelingly stated, that I cannot help thinking there
must be a something in it. I really conceive it to be probable
that the author while writing it, really thought it was true.
The fact I believe to be, Mr. ARNOLD (who is said to have fur-
nished that part which is given as original), found his theatre
rather thinly attended. .111171E111 nature, ivit, and hu»unir (in
The Americans) were all disregarded by the tasteless multitude
for the horses at Covent-garden. It was to no purpose that he
performed that beautifid Opera, the last production of his muse,
for a whole fortnight; such was the degenerate state of the
public mind, that even that failed to reclaim them, and though
ail reflections on " that respectable class of persons the Quakers
were carefully done away, still that sacral ! instructive ! witty
natural drama! was unfortunately performed to empty benches.
In this state of things the Manager of the Lyceum thinking he
had to complain of a kick from the horses, determined to have
a rut at them. With this feeling Mr. A. is supposed to have
up his pen for the purpose of turning the laugh against
the Covent-garden Managers. aquitever may be said of the
execution of this plan, it is certainly impossible to give too
much praise to the deign of the bald Satirist for his laudable
e'Aleavours at reforming the public taste, and for his intre-
pidity in thus nobly opposing the tide of popular folly, for the
I.urposc of putting those out of countenance who bring forward
such silly pieces as Blue Beard, and Tirnour, at Covent-garden'
that the lovers of the drama might again he taught to enjoy such
classic performance's as The 4,nericans, the Maniac, and Up
.A%ht, at the Lyceum.
The piece thus produced, opens with a scene in which the
Manager, Prompter, &c. of a theatre are introduced as being
in great distress. A bailiff enters in the disguise of a country.
man to arrest the Manager, but he is presently put out of tfie
way by a stage trick. A number of duns next wait 'on him, to
whom, as he knows not how to escape them, the MaHagtr
offers his person, or the profits of a plan which he has in his
head. His plan is, to introduce Honkies on the stage, and to
bring them forward in " The Tailors—a Tragedy for Warn;
Weather." His creditors agree to wait the result of the experi-
ment. Several observations are made with respect to the pro-
priety of getting up this piece, and some compliments are be-
stowed on the Tailoring profession to guard against giving Of-
fence: to the members ,of that fraternity. This scene goes off
very well, and the concluding mock pageant has a very good
effect.

" The Tragedy for Warm Weather" is then performed. Some
of the scenes are emitted, and a number of songs are introduc-
ed. It i only the close of the tragedy which can boast any im-
portant addition. There the whole strength of the Theatre is
called forth, and the stage is covered with horses, mules, and
donkics. The strange appearance of these creatures, thus brought
together, is heightened by some of them being fantastically
painted so as to give them a caricature resemtiance to the Co-
vent-garden horses. These animals are mounted by the hostile
Flints and Dunp. A dreadful battle talus place, in which the
last sccne of "Blue Beard" is very successfully travatiel The

combatants fight with brooms, shovels, spits, and crutches, in
a vt•ry striking manner. Turnips, cabbages, and carrots fly like
hail. The martial accompaniments supply all the grandeur of
theatrical war, and the glorious uproar and confusion are only
terminated by the fall of the curtain.
After the above general description, it is unnecessary for me
to trespass on the reader's patience. The Tailors, a Tragedy for
Warm Weather, is so well known, that to enter into any dis-
quisition on its merits would be useless (not to say impertinent);
and it would be hardly worth while to go into the question of
who was its author, at any great length, merely for the purpose
of declaring at last, that though it might have been written by
FooTE, or it might not, still it appeared clear that it had been
written by somebody, but by whom nobody could poc-itively
say. The After-piece, upon the whole, is amusing enough, and
will probably please for some time. The idea of ridiculing the
getting up of Blue Beard with horses, by getting up The Tailors
with asses was a very good one. The manner in which it is con-
ducted is creditable to Mr. ARNOLD'S talents as a Manager.
The songs he has introduced do no injury to the piece, any far-
ther than as they lengthen it out too much. In some instances
it is but justice to say, they heighten it considerably, and convulse
the house with laughter. The public are pleased at having a
whimsical entertainment restored to them with new attractions,
and Mr. ARNOLD deserves praise for having brought forward a
piece of merit which had been long neglected, and there is cer-
tainly a promise of improvement in him as an author, seeing
that a performance like this, though accompanied by much of
bis writing, is not absolutely spoiled. G.