The National Register.
London, England, 1817-12-22 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

Dittms--I,vcr.
The new comic Opera of Outivi led at Last, whide
has been for some time in preparation here, was brought
out on Saturday week. It set out very auspiciously, and
ended very flatly. In the beginning there was a pair
of happy lovers, and a couple of very pretty songs by
Miss Cubitt and Miss Byrne, the latter of which was
sung with much spirit, and the former with correctness,
and both of them were encored ; and there was also a
duet and n dance between Harley and Mrs. Alsop, (as
an intriguing serving-man and an arch waiting-gentle-
woman), which was encored no less deservedly and
cordially. Both of these performers are exceedingly
gay and lively, and are always greeted by the audience,
on their first coming on, because they themselves seem
glad to claim acquaintance with them once more. •
We dare swear that Harley in particular is always
sorry when the play is over ; he plays with the same
good will as if it was for his own benefit every night.
Mrs. Alsop bounces on and off the stage, and trundles
her little person about with so much vivacity, that she,
becomes filseinating from her very awkardness, and
" makes defect perfection." Oxiierry, too, allowed
off to some advantage by the very singular airs he gave
himself as an insolent affected fup of a servant. But
here our encomiums must end. The rest of the play
was down-hill work. l'ope moralized. Harry John-
ston was ranting, but not without pathos Powell
dressed in black, preached over an executorship. Mr.
T. Cooke clipped his words too much. l)owton was a
Commodore, and little Smith was his Boatswain.
Enough ! enough ! We are heartily sick of sentiment
distilled from salt water ; we have no sympathy with
the tender sighs of these hearts of oak. Wo to the poor
author who relics on such worn out common places.
The piece was given out for second representation on
Tuesday with marked ovposition. The music of this
opera is evidently the work of a man of taste and
considerable experience in composition ; in the har-
mon), he is correct and efficient ; and his melodies
which appear to have been composed for the most part
with a view to dramatic effect, occasionally rise into
the higher qualities of imagination and invention. His
great failure has been in contrast, and in what regards
unity of design ; by attempting too much in the first of
these points lie has injured the second, in resolving, fur
the sake of contrast, to give two movements, a slow
and a quick one, to the greater number of his songs,
he has not always, in making the transition, consulted
the sentiment of the words ; he has made a musical
contrast, but he has no license from the poet to show
for it, and in so doing he has lost sight of unity and
consistency ; hut tiis is an error of easy correction ;
and if' Mr. G. Lanza will also condescend to give us a
little more of his cantabile style, lie will no doubt
be an acquisition to the musical department of thia
theatre.
Mr. Kean, after an absence of nearly six weeks,
owing to serious indisposition, on Monday night re-
sumed his professional duties at this theatre, in the ar-
duous character of Richard the nird. He was received
on his appearance with all that warm greeting and en.
thusiastic applause, which are perhaps the highest metal
of histrionic talent, and which are unfailingly called
forth by this distinguished actor, after every suspension,
however short, of the exercise of his art. .The expres-
sion of good-will was increased, we think, in the pre-
sent instance, by the recollection that the titivation was
caused by illness, and that it was possible the stags
might have been deprived of one of its greatest orna-
ments. The acclamations, the waving of hats and hand-
kerchiefs, continued for some minutes. Mr. Kean looks
somewhat thinner than before his indisposition, but be-
trayed no deficiency of power; on the contrary, on ac-
count probably of our having for some time past been
doomed to witness very inferior performances, he ap-
peared to surpass himself. He exhibited all that energy
and discrimination, that faculty ei identifving, himself
with the character he represents, which is to be ranked
among the greatest efforts of human talents ; he realized
our conceptions of a being whose soul
" Not Fate itself could awe."

The fine passages of this piece of acting are well
known to the public : to quote them would be to
extract the whole play. The conclusion of his career
was marked by nearly as much applause as the com•
mencement. The theatre was filled, notwithstanding
the extreme wetness of the evening.

Mr D. Fisher, to whom the public has latterly
become inure favourable during his theatrical trial in
the great characters of Macbeth, Richard, and Humid,
is engaged at Drury-lane theatre, and will resume his
avocations tL•ere as soon as lie has completed his fn.
g,agements in the country We re;oil-e at any acres-
si.m of strength to the tragic establishment of this
theatre.

Extract of a Letter from Milan, dated Nov. 26
" The I'mcess of Wales received yesterday, by a cou-
rier dispaLched from I ondon, the deplorable news of
the death of her helovi-1 daughter the Priueess Char-
loate. This cruel event made such a prothund impres.
sion upon her, that site fainted away several times suss.
ceasively."