The National Register.
London, England, 1814-12-04 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE.

On Tuesday last a new afterpiece, called The Ninth Statue,
.sor Me Irishman in Bagdad, was produced at this theatre, and
itas since continued .to enjoy the favour of the public. It is
taken from the story of Prince Leyn Alasnam and the King a
the Genii, in the Arabian Night's Entertainments, and has
received from the liberality of managers, the talents of the
painter and the skill .of the machinist, all that can give a
.momentary reality to the wildest wonders of Asiatic enchant-
ment.

The story is undoubtedly too well known .to require that
more than its outline should be noticed, together with the
alterations which it has undergone.
Prince Alasnam, Sultan of Balsora (Mr. Wallack), having
,exhausted his father's treasures a few months after ascending
the throne, is on the eve of falling a victim to the indigna• '
Lion of same injured individuals, when he is rescued by
Ki/roomy, an Irishman (Mr. Johnstone), whose daughter
Nora (Miss Kell)) had previously been conveyed to
his Seraglio."' On finding that his deliverer, whom ,
he appoints the' captain of his guards, is father to his
love, he preposes to dismiss all his other women, and to
marry her. The delicacy of the Irishman, however, will not
allow the Pritice to contract a marriage which must lower
him in the eyes of his periple. Disappointed in his tenderest
affections, and tired with reading the useless petitions of his
.eubjects, he falls into an uneasy "sluthher, in which the spirit
of his father appears to him, and reveals a- secret passage
-which leads to hidden treasures. On wakitm, the Prince
realises his dream, and descends into a suhtei:raneous palace,
containing ;rases full of gold, and eight statues enMi.osed of a
single diamond. The ninth pedestal k empty, but a scroll
informs him that he can obtain the Ninth Statue which sur-
passes all the rest in value, by applying to aforabee (Mr.
(;attie) one of his father's ancient servants. Accompanied
by Kilroony and his daughter disguised as a boy, Alasnam
'repairs to Morabec's, who invokes the king of the Genii.
The latter appears, with a degree of fanciful magnificence,
which really does not seem to be the creation of man. He
promise: the Ninth Statute to Alasnam, provided he brings
him in twenty days the most beautiful and perfect girl in the
world ; and that he might find her mit. he gives him a mir-
ror, which will grow clouded when outward appearances
deceive him, and will remain unsullied, when it reflects the
form of real virtue as well as superior beauty. The second
ct consists of the various attempts of the Sultan to fulfil hi,
promise. Sixteen hundred and thirty seven ladies at his own
court, having stained the purity of the glass, lie determines
to seek to repair to other countries, as fie will not
allow Nora to make the trial, lest it should succeed.
and he should be compelled to give her up to the
:King of the Genii. She cOntinues to atte►rd 11;m,
however, as a boy, with her father, and rescues them bOth
at Bagdad from the vengeance. of the daughter of the Grand
Visier• (Miss Boyce), who, irritated by the failure of her trial,
wished to-destroy them, arid whose dress she assumes. Under
this disguise she loOks into the'fatal glass, which remain sun-