The National Register.
London, England, 1813-12-19 00:00:00

DRAMATIC _REGISTER.

COVENT GARDEN.

In this age of revolutions, which have inverted the ranks and
conditions of men, and placed the lowest born on the most exalted
thrones, the stage itself has not been spared. There ismovation
also performed its work, and mimicking the vicissitude of the Con-
tiuent, farces have dislodged the lawful monarchs of the sceoe, mid
proudly filled the place which Comedies and Tragedies were wont
to hold. Hinnble attendants, where they now iiitrude as principals,
they were originally intended to amuse ifs 'after we hod 'been in-
structed. Bat modern comedies having changed their nature, and
ceased to be a vehicle fur instruction, it is not astonishing that this
*ovation should have crept in almost unobserved, and, indeed,
the only ditlio ence which now exists between our races and comedies
is the number of the acts of which they are respectively composefl.
Wednesday night pr. diced at this Theatre an instance of this
new •draniatic usurpation, in the production, as a first piece, pf
" For Englund, Ho !" A musical eiltertainment, digisificd with
the name of a " Melodramatic Opera." Notwithstandirg tte
importance thus attempted to be conferred on this trifle, the
Author haS taken care that it should not extend beyond
its title, and for that purpose has revived a plot of escapes
grown hackneyed by the sectessive appearance of the Water Car-
rier. 7eksli, the Fortress, the Wanderer, the Siege ef .St, Quentin,
and other*, and has not relieved it by any particular ingenuity ;n
the platy err excellence in the dialogae. The name of this piece, as
well as the time at which it was produced, created an expectation
that, like Orange Boren at the other house, it was a political sketch,
abiding to time circumstances of the moment. It, however, keeps
entirely clear of politics, and instead of showing. us France sinkire
before the confederacy headed by England, displays both cd.rintriss
in a strte of amity, and the French people, especially, in the snort
attractive colours. The scene is in Normandy, and the plot is
founded on the love mid escape% of Enrico Altieri (SINCL/1110, who
thinks he has killed his rival Holstein (11ninticron) in a duel, and
is prosecuted by his family. S ;ved and harboured by the humanity
and haspitality of a French soldier, Guillaume (PARLEY), anti his
u ife, Lisette (Mrs. H. Jon is min). anti closely pursued by the mi.
litany mid police, lie is at last able to reach Dieppe, yr here he en-
vaues with a British seaman, Tom Tough (I.lmEnT ), to take him to
England. His pursuers, however, trace him there, and he mice
more effects his escape through the ingenuity of Guillaume, Lisette,
and Tom Tough, and is broneht to the house of his mistress, 31 Ags
Arundel, an English Lady, who resides near Dieppe, where he is
ultimately discovered and taken by the soldiery, who arc, however,
on the point of being overpowered by the British sailors under Tosa
Tough, when it is discovered that the Commander of the soh:tiers is
no other than !holstein, urging under a false name, mid with forged
orders. Enrico Allieri is, of course, voluntarily liberated and n.
signs his fetters to Holstein. Them is a kind of underplot. consist-
ing of the courtship of Sir Francis Fuddle (JuNEs), a British log,
who thinks it elegant and fashionable to leave out the letaer It in
conversation, and to move as though his limbs were dislocated, with
Mi.; Arundel's maideii aunt (Mrs. Das- Ex Pon t ) through Tons
Tesitges mistake, who gives her a letter intenied for her niece. The
inte,view between these two ridiculous parsoutges, though possess-
ing little novelly, is not barren of comic effect.
tch is the table of this piece, which is enlivened with agreeable
music and a lively representation of the vintage i.m Fralice. :d-
-eems 'ed with the dances with which that light•hearted people vele-
, Itrat.! that festive season. to these, Mr. LE CUERCQ a"4 Mis‘
Gints made their first appearance at this theatre, and dis-slayed
mirei agility, skill, and grace. The general character or the dialogue
is mAiocrity. occasionally relieved, however, by hum,:urous ewes-
siols. The sentiments ate good ; but it appears about as reasomi-
ble to bear a French. peasant descaut on time unequalled happiness
and :ITellorn of England, as it would be to find a British tar ex-
a tollisg the superior courage and ability of time Gallic navy. Why
the author gave such names as Enrico Altieri and finlstein to French
characters, we are also at a loss to conoeive, especially as at the re-
. rio.l at which the action of his piece is placed, neither Italy nor any
part of ( iermany were yet
.WlOllllOl in the French empire.
' Upon the whole, though devoid of originality, this ...rifle is moot
tutpleasino, and as an afterpiece will probably continue to attract
the approbation with which it was received at its first represen-
tation.

DRURY-LA vr.
.Contrary to our expectation Oran; t BAres tt 11 continues to be
rammed ; this we think mutt be' attributed to the loyalty of
sued folks of this nietropo! Et which is hank in invest

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