The National Register.
London, England, 1816-01-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL

JAN. 21.

DRA ATIC REGISTER.

KING'S 111EATI?E.
On Saturday the Opera opened, for the present season ;
when a new musical drama was produced, called " Grivelda ;
or, La Vertu i,i .Cimento," the story of which is highly pleasing.
Madame Mains ille Fodor made her first public appearance in
this country. Iler voice is tuneful, though not very powerful ;
but her scientific attainments are very considerable. She was
a great favourite in Parts Signors Begri and Galli, and Sig-
nora Aarzetti and Madame Ledoni, all new from the Con-
tinent, also appeared for the first time. Their talents ate very
resrctable We were much pleased at the re-appearance of
out old favourite Naldi. The Opera was extremely well re-
ceived thr)ughout. The Divertissement was " Los Petis Bra.
owildicrs. The Ballet Mars et l'Amour" followed, in which Messrs
Baptiste, Leon, and C.Vestris, Oscar Bryne, and Madamoisclles
Milanie and Leon, &c. displayed all their wonted grace and agili-
ty. The house was extremely well filled, considering the state
of fashion in town. We do not observe any alteration in the
general decorations of the House, since its grand improvement
last season.

COVENT•GARDEN.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, SHAKESPEARE'S GENIUS, GAR-
RICK'S BLUNDERS, SHAKESPEARE AND THE PIGFACEI) LADY.
Amongst the many wonders of the Muse of SHAKSPEARE in the
Midsummer Night's Dream, which possesses more beauties of lan-
guage, more power of fancy, and nwre delicacy of versification
than Any poem we are acquainted with. It is of this play that it may
be said, having exhausted the drama of the actual world, he re-
velled in the possibilities of a new invention of his own, and crea-
ted fairies to make a new scene for the exhibitions of his fancy.
Whether it was acted with much success in the time of SHAKE-
SPEARE we know not, As a poem it is exquisite ; as a play, it must
have required in those days a great stretch of fancy in the au-
dience to give effect to the situations where, from the want of ap-
propriate scenes and machinery, no actual illusion could be effected
in the introductioa of the Fairy characters. But in those days
the i. chef in supernatural agency was current with all ranks, and
the superstitiwi of the audience supplied perhaps what was refused
tq their senses.
The attempt to revive this piece is a just tribute to the genius
of SHAKE,PEARE and the taste of the nation. It' it could tail we
Pl#9ulti condo an not the managers but the audience. We regret
not heaig Ole to witness the representation ourselves, but from a
trusty friend we are enabled to say, that the success of the repro
sentatioii was equal to the utmost of our expectations. CONWAY
!mike, well in TheseuJ, the demi-god, and delivered the beautithl
passage on the Poetic Genius, beginning " The past's eye in a fine
phrensy rolling," with a happiness which he does not t'requently
attain. He was accurdingly most loudly and justly applauded.
LISTON in the all-attempting Bottom, the Stage-struck Weaver, was
as luminous as in any character that he has lately played. In the
scene with the Ass's-head on, he was irresistably comic. Whether
this is the actual prototype of the Piglaccd Lady who has lately
made so much noise without being seen, we will not venture to say,
but it seems that all modes of being have been exhausted by the
fancy of NIIAKEAPEARE, Itlla that the wildest Lusus Arafura, if it
exist iii recent times, has been anticipated in his imaginary •1
creation.
We are obliged from necessity, our illness still continuing, to
have recourse to other reports; but we can assure our readers that
the horreriticismin a certain MorningPaper,which represented this
revival as a failure, is the mere ill humour of the critic, who must
that night have been determined to be displeased with every thing.
We shall add a critique by a brother Journalist, which we are in-
formed, front other sources, is nearer the truth, and which very
judiciously points out the probable cause of this play failing under
the mintagement of GARRICK, who seems to have fallen into an
egregious mistake when he supposed that the most beautiful pas-
sages of the first of Poets could come mended to the ear by the
ilaperfcct lisping of babies or the shrill untunable monotony of
halt' grown 1445. and
The revival of the play of the Midsummer Night's Dream creates
a sensation of the 40st pleasing kind. An attempt to give personifi-
cation to beings so deep and fimciful, as the creatures of the Poet's
imagination in this play-L-ind to illustrate on the scene the gam-
hots to which SHAKESPEARE has given such delicacy and charm in
the tcxll naturally excited the most lively int.N.vBt—frula the 0b-

TER.

}1•

vious difficulty of the text, and from the recoHection that aH former
efforts of the eind had failed. In 1763 the play was brought out,
altered by (sweetest, at Drury-lane, and was performed but one
night. '1 he same aiteratioe, with some slight difference, was also
nought out at the alaymarket, without success; and at that time
Mr. COLMAN, finding it was imputed to him, vindicated himself
from the imputation by stating, that he was only the harbinger of
the piece to the public ; the alteration having been tiositisely
made by (Audis:. The cause of its failure in attraction, as a
drama, was probably owing to the Fairies being consigned to clii,-
dren, through whom the beautiful dialogue and music could Lot
come w ith that delight to the mind, which the reading of the poetry
is sure to produce iu the closet—and also because it was nut eui.
beilished by spectacle and the elusion of scenery.
The present exhibition is of a very different cast from the former
attempts, Titania, which we remember to have seen personified
by the sweet littie sister of Miss FA RR EN (afterwards Mrs. KNIGHT)
is now assigned to Mrs. FAUCIT ; Oberon is Mr. Den user, and Patle
is Miss Borrrh, The Fairies by such songstresses Mrs. Lis rosi
Miss MATHEWS, Miss BURRELL., MISS MACALPINE, tVe. 1 here
are songs also selected or composed for Herm%_a, Ic.'ai.P.MS, 9, , eja,
in which Miss STEPHENS, Mr. SINCLAIR, auil others display
vocal talents; and upon no previous occasion has Miss STEPHES
distinguished herself more than in a beautiful Polacca, the coat-
position of Mr. BISHOP.
The decided success of the representation on Wednesday nig%t
proves, beyond all question, that the atuy effective way of emend f,
lug the conceptions of SHAKESPEARE !Rims delightful piece, upoo
the modern stage, is to unite them with all the attractions of spee-
tacie. It may be said by some, that SHAKESPEARE is thus, se soma
degree, sacrificed ; but enough of his magic is preserved to give a,
colour to the whole illusion, anti we recognize his spirit in every
scene. Some, perhaps, may also imagine, that by giving ttre fairy
parts to men and women, the illusion would be impaired; out
tact is, that the great charm ofthe scene arises from these ehara-c
tern being welt played. No one, for iustance, could witness, with-
out being highly delighted, the sprightly actiug and facmating
playfulness of Miss BOOTH, iii !'trek, or Robin Goodfellow; none cuulit
listen, without high sensations of pleasure, to Ore warbling of the
fairies, represented by Mrs. LISTON, Miss MATHEWS, M:Ss Bea,
REEL, and Miss MACALPINE. Every one must have feit fully
gratified in hearing Mr. DeneseT in Oberon, and witnessiug this
performance ofMrs. FAvcrr, in Titania. One great charm of this re.
presentation, unquestionably, consisted in su well and so pleasuigly
embodying this tally creation, which associates itself without. Ideas
in childhood, and leaves behind a pleasurable sensation, that is
afterwards easily excited. Another class of characters in this
charming drama, consisting of !lotions (the weaver), by Nr. LlsToN;
Quince (the carpenter), by Mr. ENs RRYJ Flute (the bellows-mender),
by Mr. :•.fINISIONS Saoat (the tinker), by Mr. BtAxenents; and the
others of this description, were most ably represented. :is much
of this part of the original was preserved as was, perhaps, con-
sistent with the plan of the newly-modelled piece, and suthcieut to •
preserve the essence of the humour, which is so exquisitely pour-
trayed. LISTON, in Bottom, was admirable : his appearance with
the ass's-head on, and his acting with that appendage, tueether
with the sudden affection for nun imbibed by Titan:a, had the.
most ludicrous effect that can be conceived : time audience were
convulsed with laughter.
IR the remaining cast of the characters, Theseas(Duke ofA thefts)
found a very adequate representative in Mr. Coews.v ; Lysander,
• was ably supported by Mr. AtHloT ; and in Demetrius Mr. SINCLAIR
displayed, in the airs allotted him, his well-known talons to the
greatest advantage. Miss STEPHENS delighted the audience in the .
character of lierinia; and Miss Foote, as ticiena ; and Miss Loe.ve,4
as Hippolila, ably supported the parts assigned them.
So much of the strength of the House was cast into this piece,
and it was so judiciously distributed, that a failure was se acely
possible. To insure, however, complete success, other requisites •
were necessary, which were to be found iu scenery and spec Upon these the Managers have largely drawn, and they certaiiilx have combined magnificence and taste in a very superiur degree.—.-
The last scene, with a procession descriptive ot, and combining
emblems of, the triumphs of Theseos, was particumany grand and
'striking. There were sonic other heautifin scenes; and the
greatest pains appeared to have been taken to get up the i. ieee in
a good style. The Managers, we have no doubt, will he amply re- -
paid
for the expence which they must have incurred. Some of the
admirers of SHAKESPEARE may perhaps regret that more of our
immortal Bard is not preserved in this, which is one of his produc-
tions calculated; in the rgading of it, to inspire so much delight;
but most of these who have watched the public taste, and obsei ved
the opinions of modern audiences, wild probably think that the

age

mode, as adopted, of getting up this piece was the only way in
Isinch it could be rendered effective. The audience testified the
highest applause. The House was crowded to an overflow before
the curtain drew up, and no piece could have gone off with stronger
testimonies of approbation. We have no doubt it will become a great
favourite with the public. The music is very pleasing, and the airs
in general tastefully arranged.
WATERLOO :110,N U M ENT.

Friday a meeting of Noblemen, &c. was held at the Thatched
hlouse Tavern, in St. James's-street, to take into consideration
further measures to be adopted respecting the Monument, or'
c:Aumn, to be erected upon the highest point of Blackdown
Hill, which forms a part of the estate purchased by Parliament
for his Grace the Duke of Wellington, to record the honour of
the splendid victory gained by the illustrious Duke at Waterloo.
On the motion of W. Dickenson, Esq. M. P. seconded by W.
A. Sanford, Esq. Lord Somerville was unanimously voted to
the Chair.

His Lordship commenced the business by adverting to the
projection wf this lihcral and patriotic undertaking. It appeared,
that a meeting was held early in last autumn, at Wellington, in
Somersetshite, to consider of the propriety of erecting a column
on that part of Blackdown Hill which forms Li)rd Wellington's
rsrate ; a subscription was at that time entered into, which has
since been seconded by the approbation of his Royal Ilighness
the Prince Regent, and those distinguished persons named by
Parliament as trustees, to carry into effect the marks of especial
public gratitude conferred on his Grace. Among other sup-
porters, Field Marshal Prince Blucher will be found in the list
of subscribers. The spot chosen for the purpose is a proper
situation to keep alive the recollection of the splendid victories
gained by the illustrious Hero, and at the same time to per-
petuate the invincible courage and skill of those who fought
under his command. It will moreover form a splendid leattne
in a part of Engtand already renowned by the pillar erected in
honour of the late Fail of Chatham, and by the tower built to
distinguish the spot where Alfred the Great first erected his
standard.

We can assure our readers, from the highest authority, that
the late reports of a war in India, and the capture cf Poonah,
have not the least ft initiation.
The Prince of Orange arrived at l'etersburgh on the 22d ult. I
The marriage with the Grand Duchess Ann l'aulowna was to be
celebrated speedily.
Mai &hal Davoust has been sent into exile, anti Augereau has
received a letter from the Ministry ; stating, that his conduct''
has ben submitted to the King, who has thought it proper to
deprive him of his government and his appointments. Other
Marshals are to sha e the same fate.
Trial by Jury was, for the first tittle, established at Malta, in
December last.
After the admirable performance of Mr. Kean on Friday, se'n-
night in the character of Sul CI I.Es OVERREACH, which made
so strong an impression on the actors as well as the audience, we
understand that his brother performers resolved to present him
with a Gold Cup, in testimony of their admiration of his talents.
A subscription was immediately entered into for the accomplish
rnent of this object. Mr Oxherry was the proposer of this
measure, which was entered into with an enthusiasm creditable
at once to those Mho give and him who receives. In less than
one hour above 1701. was raised: of which sum Lord Byron
contributed 20 guineas.—Mr. Hamlett has offered to make the
cup fur the cost price of the gold.
The following anecdote will rather surprize our Readers: we
nannot vouch for it, nor explain it ; and we suspect that the Bullion
Committee will be equally puzzled. Perhaps the difficulty may in
part be solved by observing that the story is of Irish origin, and
may be a national mistake :
" EXTR AOR DINAR Y FALL OF GUINEAS.-It is a singular fact,
that, notwithstanding so much has been said about the deprecia-
tion of Bank-notes, a Gentleman yesterday went upon Belfast
'Change, and could not obtain English Banknotes for Guineas, ex-
cept at a discount.—Belfast Chronicle, Jan. 13.
A great depreciation having taking place in the price of hides
and tallow, the Public will expect a consequent reductiou in
te prices of leathers boots, sisocis soaps an d candles.