The National Register.
London, England, 1812-11-22 00:00:00

739,

DRA M A TIC REGISTER.

COVENT 11I1.)EN.

dome of the daily critics have thought proper to contro-
vert the position which we felt it our duty to lay down when 11
speaking of Mr. Brrry's first appearance at this theatre.
We then stated that it was not fait. to expect to rind in Mr.
BETTY a finished actor, and contended that he was entitled
to that patient indulgence which on ordinary occasions new
performers are accustomed to expect. To this the reply is
" No,—Mr. BETTY is entitled to no such forbearance,
because—he has .FIFTY POUNDS per night," With alt clue
submision we beg to say, that Mr. BETTY'S engagement is
between him and the managers, and has nothing to do with the
public. It surely must be admitted, that Mr. BETTY has a ,
right to make the most of his talents; and it is for the
managers, and not for the public, or the critics to complain,
if he rates their value too high. If the managers make a
foolish bargain it is but fair to laugh at them, but it is the
height of injustice to persecute an actor for their folly. It,
is not common to require the terms in consideration of
which a performer gives his talents to the public, before it is
decided whether or not he is entitled to favour ; it is there-
fore as unprecedented as unjust to deal harshly with Mr.
BETTY because his exertions are amply remunerated; nor
is it liberal to treat him with scorn if he is not found equal to
a KE7:IBLE or a YOUNG, or wise to defend such conduct by
throwing "Xity pounds a night in his free."
On Tuesday Mr. BETTY performed the character of
Alexander the Great in LEE'S Tragedy of that name; and
whatever difference of opinion may exist among critics on
the met its of various parts of his performance; he had the
satisfaction of extorting thunders of applause from the
audience. Ilis delineation of this character is much more
equal than his acting in Douglas. In the first scenes his
deportment was unusually free from embarrassment, and
snore animated than on any former night. The character,
however, is such that no acting can here give it much of
interest, and certainly the audience in the elrly part of the
evening were not in a humour to be prodigal of their ap-
plause. Mr. BETTY was honoured with frequent marks of
approbation in the progress of the Tragedy ; but it was not
till the fourth act that those cheering acclamations were
heard which usually give eclat to his exertions. In the
Banquet scene, after the death of C/ytw, he was particularly
happy in his lamentations over the warrior, and
.his censure
of Ly;imachus and Hephes!ioo, for not drawing their swords
and opposing his wild rage by force, as C/yius " would
.have done for them," was delivered in a tone properly
subdued by the emotions of anguish and temorse, yet suf-
ficiently audible to be heard distinctly all over the house.
The air of anxious affection eager to guard i:s object front
.danger, with which he started from the remains of the mur-
dered Cistus to fly to the re:ief of Siotira, was much
admired. In the iat -cone where Altvander is mad, he wa•=
enth.:siasticaily cheered by all parts of the ilothe. His
hysteric laugh had not on us all the effect which other actors
have produced in site ar scene:,, and his voice failed him
greatl3.. These defects, however, were overlooked by the
audience, or reprded as beauties; and throughout this dif-
ficu:t scene, which concludes the play, he was applauded to
the skies.

Cis performance of this character is in our estimation
fully equal to any thing we have yet seen of Mr. iILTTY.
tinles a want of impoi twice was felt, and in some of the
love scenes he may be said to have failed. The censure,
however, which might be merited here, ought to be equally
di% ickd between the actor and the author.

N 0 V. 22

On Friday a pleasant nonsensical trifle was performed at
this Tireatre,•mrder the title of ',act-, Law, (qui P.'orisic.
In a farce we are not accustomed to expect much attention
to he paid to probab!lity or natate. All that is aske4 „f
such a piece is, " Is it laughable ?"—" Ilas it much cf
drollery and, fun %"--" Does it afford good scope to the
ralZ:nts of the comic petrol-: iers ?" These questions
can be most satisfactorily aw,wered for Lo .e,
and Phnsic. It is throughout ludicrously diverting, anti
harmlessly entertaining. As a literary production it i, n6t
entitled to much consideration, and it is Lot conducted in
the most skilful manner. The scenr..:i we unconnected with
each other, and instead of being made subservient to One
particular purpose, have for the mist part nothing bent their
respective merits to stand on. The business, however, is
distinguished by its whim and huitle, al:d when made sfunc,
what shorter, the farce will become a favourit'. It ‘vai
announced for a second representation without one di!.;-
sentient voice.

Mr. KENNY is the author of this afterpiece. Ire is mch
indebted generally to the actors for their• exertions. It is a
pity he could not give BROADHURST a better song than he
has here put into his mouth. This actor is not much at
home in the Captain, but in the song, and that unfortunately
is worth nothing. It was mournfully ludicrous to see hi►n
scrambling across the stage in a military dress, with all the
awkwardness of a fresh-caught bumpkin. His whole appear-
ance reminded us of-Nipper/chi in disguise, so strangely were
his reg;mentals put on : among other things equally cha-
racteristic, he wore his belt over his sash. We have not
heard of that order from the horse Guards, which sanctions
this practice. That pleasure is perhaps to come.
Before we take our leave of Love, Law, and Phycir, we
beg just to hint to Mr. KENNY, that we do not see the wit
or the humour of making every character in this farce
repeat the word " hoax" a dozen times. It was excuseable
in THEODORE HOOK but we never heard that Mr. hi..ssy
was suspected of the Berner's-street business.