The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-29 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN.

Mr. COBHAM repeated on Monday night the charac-
ter of Richard the Third. As it was our painful task,
in the discharge of our duty to the Public, to speak of
this Gentleman, on his first appearance on the boards of
the reg,ular Drama, with some degree of severity, it•gives
us pleasure to be able, on the present occasion, to bear
testimony to his improvement. Taking advantage of the
observations which were made on his first performance,
Mr. (tomtits( has divested himself of much of that bois-
terous vulgarity which prevailed his first appearance ;
and it was only when he attempted too much, that he
failed of'-success. This was most perceptible in the in-
terview with his mother, in the commencement of the
fourth act. Mr. Coattata's voice possesses considerable
powers, but when exerted above its natural pitch it be-
comes discordant. He would do well to avoid as much
as possible falling into this error. His exertions were
generally well received—but so unequal ishis performance,
looking at it as a whole, that we arc inclined to think he
never will become the great actor which his admirers,
judging from the fervency of their applause, seem to
suppose he is at present.
Madame SACIII mntinnes to astonish all who see her,
and to make every bode regret seeing her in such a place.
Her exhibition is, doubtless, the most extraordinary and
appalling that has ever been witnessed in London ; and
so much the snore so, as being that of a female, from
Wham the courage and strength of nerve necessary to
sustain 110 perilous an enterprise is never looked fbr.
Two centuries were on Tuesday completed, :ince the
death of the immortal SIIAKSPEA RE—and the Proprie-
tors of this Theatre, anxious to render to his memory
that honour which his genius demands, some:T..4l'lly ex-
erted themselves to produce such entertainments as should
be worthy of the occasion. It is a generous and noble
idea, to manifest, at stated periods, a reverence fbr the
memory of him, whose works arc the peculiar pride of
Great Britain, and the splendour of whose talents reflects
glory upon the human intellect. It is true, we, from
time to time, arc delighted by the representations of his
dramatic efforts—but, when an evening is set apart for
the celebration cf his fame, we proceed to the Thea-
tre warmed by the bright recollection of his excellence,
—we feel, more decidedly than on ordinary occasions,
that he is the benefiletor of our country—and we wit-
ness the entertainments instituted in commemoration of
him, whose works shall admonish and instruct through
all ages, with sci;satiens of ddight. The tragedy of
Curly/outs was selected fur performance; in \Ouch Mr.

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IMINI

APRTT. CM.

Is:." aLE appeared, fin- the first time this season, as the
proud, impetuons Roman. He was received on his entre
with shouts of applause, waving of hats and handker-
chiefs, toad, in short, with every species of congr;:tulaticn
which the fertile invention of the audience could devise.
This scene, so animating to the theatrical veteran, lasted
for several minutes. Mr. KEst RLE then proceeded to de-
lineate the character of Coriulanws, in the pc:Obi-mance of
which he suauls unrivalled. He appears to be somewhat
thinner than when we last saw him ; and was oecasion-
ally affected by a slight cough—but he supported the
part with great ability.
After the tragedy, the musical aflerpicce cf The Ju-
bilee, written by Mr. (4 AlirllCK, and performed at Drury-
lane Theatre in the year 1769, was revived. In the Sep-
tember of that year, the celebrated Jubilee, in ho-
nour of SHAKSPE n E was held at Stratford-upon-Avon,
and created a very great Penslttion throughout the emit-
try. Mr. fiatunca conceived that a piece, founded on
this circumstance, and concluding with a grand pageant,
in imitation of that exhibited at Stratford, would en-
' rich the treasury of Drury-lune Theatre. The piece
which was this night revived was accordingly produced,
and was performed fir upwards of u hundred nights.
In the opening part, Mr. GARRICK has given a very lire.
lv view of the bustle and confusion into which Stratthrd
was thrown, in consequence of the influx of visitors
occasioned by the Jubilee. fk has also e%Tx:sed the ri- •
diculous fears which it produced among the peasantry
—and the vile extortion which was practised on the vi-
sitors. The piece has been brought out in a truly spirts.
did style.—The pageant, in which representations are
given in dumb show of scenes fiont twenty of SHAW..
SPEARE'S most popular plays, is brilliant beyond con-
ception. Miss O'NEILL, as the Tragic Mute, and ail
the other principal performers of the Theatre, were in the
procession ; and, a:: they passed, tvt ,in dutubshew, little
characteristic touches which I.vcr, much admired by the
audience, who were thus happily remanded of many of
the most striking scenes in their titvourite Author's works.
This action was supported by appropriate machinery : in
The Tempest we had the ship—in Romeo and Juliet the
tomb of the Cset7LETS, which advanced with the proces-
sion almost to the front of the stage—and in Mactmkit
the cauldron, the apparition in it, and the filuat of Bar-
qua. Finally the tragic characters were drawn up on the
side of the stage to the left of the audience, and the vo.
thin's of Comedy tool their stand to the right. Miss
O'NEILL and Mrs. Cons, as the Tragic and Currie
MIISCA', stood to the right and left of the image of Sillik•
SYEARE, who
•

"wearing hi. immortal wreath,"
uppeaml nearly in the centre, surrounded by the appro-
priate trophies of the Drama. The effect was excellent,
and the performers were severally greeted with shouts of
applause as they came tbrward. These they very pro-
perly forebore to acknowledge till the custain was abont
to descend. Miss O'NEILL, Mr. KEMBLF, Mr. Tulin v,
Mr. CONWAY, Mr. BETTY (who represented
Mr. FAWCETT, Mr.JONES, Mr. LISTON, and Mrs. Gine:,
were particularly noticed by the audience for thus coin-
ing forward to do honour to him,
" who was not of au age, but for all time."

The House was crowded in every part.
On Friday evening Mr. KEMBLE played Sir Giles
Overreach, in Aem 11.-ay to Pay Old Debts.—His per-
formance has the merit of a finished picture, chaste and
correct, without that exuberance of execution, which 14
to be found in a coternwary. artist, between whom and
himself a small party seemed disposed to make invidious
comparisons. Bursts of well-merited applause, however, ,
completely overpowered every puny eflirt of opposition,
and the curtain fell amid loud expressions of approbation.

Mr. Fawcett, we are glad to hear, has no intention cf
withdrawing himself from the management of Covent-
garden Theatre. The report to that efleet was totally
void of foundation.

The Humourous Lieutenant, with considerable altera-
tions, is under consideration at Covent-garden Theatre.
Jones, it is probable, will be the comic hero.
The Debate on the Weights and Measure Bill is likely
to give rise to a very heat y discussion in Parliament.
It is expected that Lord Althorpes motion respecting
the taxes upon leather, will ultimately tend to put the
nation on a better foo/ing.
Among the disbursements of the Irish Treasury appears
an item of thirteen thousand nine hundred pounds, for secret
service, in detecting treasonalile conspirtwies.
On Friday, a publican of York, who brews kis own ale,
sent the beliman about the city to announce that he had
reduced the price to per pint. His house was soon
overflowed with customers, and before nigh the declared
he had sold SOO gallons.
The Mite Stocking Club is revived; and the ronverzn-
tiones are enlivened by puns and riddle-merees brought
by the ladies in their ridicules ready cut and dried. The
following were sported at the last Assembly near Berke-
ley-square, with eclat!--I.ady Elisabeth S.-- asked,
" Why are Lord P—rs—m's dashing pautakons like
two foreign towns?—" Because," replied the Hun. Miss
B—, " they arc too lung ( Toulon) and too loose
(Toulouse)!" The same lively Countess sported an-
other, viz.—" Why does a wailer resemble a blood horse?'
—Gen. T—n instantly exchtianed—" Because he rues
for the plate!"