The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-08-31 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA.

,~.

A comic musical Circe, entitled, Amateurs and
Actors, was produced oil Saturday eveiiiiig. The fol-
lowniK mu descriptive caloloKue of the characters : •
Davia Deflect, Epq. a Musical Dra-
_

nalerr

Mr. 0. P. 'bottle, a P•ovincial Manager,
engaged by Dulcrt to supertntend

'2u.sste-privaie theatricals

- - .
Elderheiry, a reiireit Mannfacturer,
utterly unacquainted with theatricals, Mr. BARTLEY.
Mr. Wing, a satirical at roller—ill-
'furnished wish wearing appsrel, and
.egnally Jeannie of ability—hut nos-
sawing an immoderate share of as-
anrance Mr. WILMICIL

Geoffry—a man-looking Charily Boy,
With an excellent appetite, but very
little fond, his mistress baying nu
bowels of compassion.
Mr. Berry—a Gentleman engaged by
Bustle to play the serinns basun-se . Mr. RICRILIIIDSON.
Tunkins—ibe factotum of Elderberry,
and quite worthy of bis muter

Mary Hardsere—the ward of Elder-
berry, eloped with Dulcet Miss Lem.
Mrs. Mary GUllrfil, alias Ms. Wing,
the runaway wife of the stroller, an
actress worthy of her wish, though
net of her meat. .

The plot of this farce may be described in a few
sentences :—Daeid Dulcet, a young gentleman, af-
flicted with a violent love of music, and " such like
dultet diseases," has become enamoured of Mary
Hardaere, the rick ward of b!derberry, who has
recently 'given up the profitable trade of tanning,
and turned Gentleman—a character very often as-
punted of late years—but, in many instances, indif-
ferently supported. Dulcet, after some musical
rapture'', inducer Mary to elope with him. The
parties are pursued by Elderberry, who traces them
to the limier occupied by Mr. 0. P. Bustle, *lin is
engaged in getting up some private theatricals for
Dulcet. This is the scene of action. Mr. Bustle, in
addition to the amateur performers, finds it neces-
sary to engage a few regulars. Mr. King is the first
who appears. Heis to take the lead in tragedy—and
declares that he is an " admirable Romeo, although,
from his uppearatice, it might be supposed that lie
would make a more striking figure in the apothe-
cary," an observation, in the truth of which the
audience, wrought upon by the ragged habiliments
rod wolul countenance of Mr. WatttcH, fully
coincided. Mrs. Mary Gourd is next announced
—and Bustle requests diet she and Mr. Wing will
furnish " a taste of their quality," by going
through a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Nu
sooner, however, have the representatives of the an-
cient houses of Montague and Capulet had a
glimpse of each other, than they start " like guilty
things." Poor Wing recognises, in the person of
Mrs. Goneril, his " truly wit...," who had recently
eloped with the Harlequin of the company to which
they were attached. Neither of them owns the
connexion—mod • pleasant use is made of some
Passages winch they recite from the garden scene—
the direct speeches being of a very amorous nature,
while the observations, aside, are indicative of the
utmost hatred and contempt. Elderberry now arrives,
and 14 mistaken, by Bustle, fur the person whom
lie had solicited to undertake the serious business.
A good wrote of equirogise is produced by the mis-
underetanding—and at length the old gentleman is
induced to fancy that he has got into a private med-
house—an idea that is strengthened on hisolaerving
whips and fetters amorigat the theatrical proper-
ties. Wing, who has been directed by the Ma-
nager to study a song, next enters—and, believing
Elderberry to be the composer of it, addresses him
in such language as convinces him that he is in a lu-
natic asylum. Bustle takes advantage of his em-
barrassment to facilitate the escape of Mary and
Dulcet, who retire in disguise. Some further
eyniroyrie takes place between Elderberry and
Itieg, the latter im 'Riding, from certain expres-
sions used by the old guardian, which relate to
Mary Hardaere, that lie has been on terms of fa-
miliarity with his run-away wife—but the mystery
is cleared up by the entrance of Dulcet and Mary,
who have, at a very short notice, got up the co-
'turfy of Mats and Wife. There is so muds lively
point and amusing equiropie iu this little piece,
that we were inclined to attribute it to Mr. T.
DIODIN, in whose peculiar style it is written—we
understand,however, that it is the production of Mr.
R. PEARS. The fable is extremely circumscribed—
but this defect is more than counterbalanced by
the 'pleasantry of the dialogue, the bustle which
pervades the scene, the spirit wills which the cha-
racters are touched, and the ludicrous nature of the
error into which the principal parties are betrayed.
To excite laughter is the only object of farce—and
that object the author has perfectly obtained. All
gravity must give way, when poor Elderberry ap-
pears, plungiug every moment into some fresh er-
ror, and trembling et once fur the safety of his
ward arid of himself. The irctiog was excellent.
We never saw a piece more ably supported, iti all
its parts. Mr. HARLEY'S Bustle is every way
worthy of his acknowledged tektite. It was fraught
with the most animated comic humour. In the
course of the performance lie introduced an
imitation of Mr. MATHEWS, of Mr. IlLaNciatiau,
and of Mr. BANN 'ma. The first fettle e111C0111.4
snooty near the original. The character of Elder-
berry is quaintly draw,.. It was well played by
Mr. BANTLEY, and is clearly one of his best
comic efforts. Mr. WeENCH, as the Strolling Hero,
afforded much amusement—and the dry humour,
immoveable countenance. and awkward gait, of
Mr. WILKINSON, rendered Geoff., a great fa-
vourite with the audience. Mr. PBARMAN, in
the part of Dulcet, whose head is • sort Of music
shop, was called on to sing innumerable neaps of
songs. unaccompanied—is task which lie retreated
most Erlicatonsly. The little which was allotted to
Miss LuaE, also appeared as Mary Harilacre, she
performed 111 1111 interesting inasinet.
Ilse house, which was crowded, received the
farce wills twelaniations.

The time is at length flue! for Miss O'Nxit.i.'s
engagement in Nod«lk. Osi Friday next (the 4th
of Septeinhei) she commences at the Yarmouth
theatre: unit on Tuesday. the bolo, sit Norwich.
She mole.' her first afiierrunce 011 the hoar& At
each in the 'character off' Brkiderb.

msyrvooo, or Drury-lane Th..tre, is about 1.3
follow IVAi.i.Ack to the tistitrof Stutet, of Awe-tit:a,
wilterr the Littler of the fernier, sorile 'eat, oir,
ptut:ti-ed at u ritysicisA.

TTIE . •
CUERRIER AMERICAN FRIGATE.

We have noticed the departure of this vessel on
Tuesday last from Cowes, with his Excellency
George Wasterigton Campbell on board. Tl.is
Gentleman is appointed A mhassacZor from America
to Russia, and has on hoard with I several cases
of presents from the President of the United Stwes
to the Emperor Alexander ; after landiog which, at
.Cronstarlt, the (harrier will proceed to the 111.
terrorless', to join the American squadron there.
This skip has a clumsy appearaiice; her lower an.osts
are short, and of large circumference ; her yards
not very square, and her blocks are large ; her
tonnage is 1,550 by measurement ; hut her equip-
merit is inciat complete and effective fur the pur-
poses of defence or aggreaeion. She is remarkably
clean, but nothing appears to be made fur mere
Phew : her bits are extremely large, and every
rope is led through a separate block—each has its
own bela)iiig pin. She mouton; on her main-deck.
thirty long 24-poutitiers; on the quarter-deck fort:-
teen forty-two-pontider carronades, and two long
twenty-four-pounders; and on the forecastle six
forty-tsvo-poutider csrronades, and two long 24-
pounders. She has seven Lieutenants and 415
men on board, of %shorn about three hundred
are ll:disk-born suqeels. Thirteen of bier inen
deserted while she remained here, two of whom
have since entered on board one of the Sloops of var.
at Portsmouth; and they hold out no very flatter-
ing inducements for our seamen to cross, the At-
lantic. In this ship the most extraordinary atten-
tion has beeu paid to her warfare qualitu a : attach-
ed to every gun is all the apparatus, including lan-
terns, swords, pikes, and hoarding cups ; the tack 1. s
are rove through very large sheaved blocks, which
considerably I.gliteris the labour, and reiolers the
guns capable of being worked much quicker than
in oar ships; the trucks of the gun-carriages are of
larger diameter, and the axle-trees are much long. r,
and effectually prevents the gulls from up.ettiog.
Most of the principal visitors in the Island went
on board of her during her stay, and the officers
most readily allowed the ship to Ire viewed. She
passed through Spithend at between right and nine
o'clock at night, by which all saluting of the Ad-
miral at Portsmouth was avoided.