The National Register.
London, England, 1818-12-06 00:00:00

'THE NAT! AT. REGTSTEIt.

;('fits DRA.II.I.

1)1011:ZY LANE 'fHEITRE.

A new tragedy, called Brutus, or The Fa!' of Tar-
quin, wasproduced at this theatre on Thursday night
—Ott second title wilt immediately explain to all who
anzsiu tiro ieay. conversant with liotnan history, that it
is the fortunes of Attkoiler Brutus which form the sub-
jeCt of this drama. I'he piece is o.: a very extended
scale, including nearly ali that is memorable in the lith
of that illustrious individual: but we are doubtful if the
' author has nut excluded a regular dramatic interest, and
converted his scenes ia Lc) a series of historical paintings,
nut retaining a sufficient connexion with eueh other.—
The pay Lsitutuences with the aatautnA idiotism offentias
-.Brutus ; contains tile whole story of Lucretia, the in-
eiAnation of Brutue at the eanduct ofSealu.r Tarquinius,
hi,: rousing Um-Roman people to revolt, and the conse-
quent expulsimi of the tinnily of Tarquin ; the elev a-
tiosi of Braille to the Consulate, and the whole of the
memorable transaction mitiotely detailed, wherein, Lite
feelings of a eitix..,n overcoming those of a father, he
condemns ais sun Titus to drat h. Independently of these
events, which every one knows occupy as histury a lung
series of years, an epis.kle is introduced, Harmed out of
as attachment supposed to exist between the son of
Brutus and Tarquinia, a daughter of the reigning ty-
rant—an episod• , by the way, which thews occasionally
no slight obstacle to the progress of the story : to this
tire to he added, the fortunes of Tullia, the with at' Ta.-
quin, who is left by her husband Regent of Rome during
hip absence at the.iiege of Ardca: this flagitious wo-
ma', after Rome is fallen under the dominion of iiruius,

is, in perfeet consistency with the superstition of the
age, made, to terminate her days by being struck with
horror arthe sight of her murdered father's ghost.—
These form the tnaterials, and they are evidently ample
in quantity, on which the present drama has been con-
structed. Consitred .as acting-for the performers
must always partake largely in the success of a new
piece,-the great attruction is the Brutus of Mr Kean,'
which certainly will not suffer by a comparison with
the wmet perfect histrionic aims within the recollec-
tion of the present generation : we Illive seldom seen
this great actor more nappy, or more completely success-
ful: his peculiar powers seem indeed to have been care-
fully studied by the writer of this tragedy. The open-
ing scenes, where he dissembles f►tuity, while his real
.character, like a volcano, seems every moment on the
point of bursting the shell that cove* it, were con-
ceived and executed in the truest and most masterly
style: the scene where &zees, by a very fortunate
thought,is made to reveal to him the outrage committed
on Lucretia, was not less happy: while listening to the
art-Jail' tale, his hands moved convulsively, every
muscle of his frame and of his countenance was agitated
with passion, till at length, unable to resist ally longer,
he rushes with clinched hands en the monster before
him, and seems ready to extinguish him in his wrath.
Mr. Kean's silent acting is, perhaps, the finest the world
.ever saw. We are inclined to censure the manner in
which the celebrated judgment scene has been wrought,
and think it not only too long, but that the actiou is
embarrassed, and even ruined, by the introduction of

Tarquitra ; but it abounds with instances (lithe power
just mentioned. We recollect no instance of an actor

who could stand silently on the stage tbr minutes to-
gether, and calling up in succession all the skittles and
degrees of passiou on his countenance, move his au-
dience tossilcnee and to tears of the truest sympathy.
Mr. Kean does this in the judgment scene of 13ruius.—
The rest of the play suffers, we think, by the style of

the performance, with the exception of the Tahiti of

1 .
Mrs: Glover, and the Y'arguinia of Mrs. West, both
which were excellent. The author of this tragedy is
said to be Mr. Howard Payne : it experienced a very
favourable reception. The prologue was delivered by
Mr. U. Ketuble, and the epilogue by Mrs. Glover. We
subjoin au extract from the latter, in ridicule of " Tile
Dandies," which will perhaps :muse our fair readers:
Hat, bless me—what two nondextipts together!
The Sht—a pile of ritEind, straw, and feather,
Ilex back, a pillion—all above, and on it,
A chundibell e cradle? tower?—no, 'faith, also:met;
Ayc, antlan actual woman in it--able,
Rouse but her tongue, to make that tower a Babel.
Now for the Ile, the fellow nondescript—
Whence has that mockery of titan been shipt ?
Have alba or liuclhui hraught him to console
Tne Quidnunc; for the psasage to the Pule?
While on her iceberg howls some Grectila...l squaw,
Hoblitl of her pretty monster—all hest tins*
No. l'aris iii, tile honour, " oh, qa:: vli."
" AA/44"—We air, grace. Cuing, smell of Paris!
France gate his stcp trip, his tongue its phrase.
1114 heatia. per ilt.., aad his ws..t its stays !
The thing is contraband—leis crush the trade;
Ladies, twist on't—all is laat nonte mode !
All Britisii—from your shoe-tie or your ran,
Down to coat ne.ies.sary titans:. called—man I
Nuw for the co.hround cr,ator.i—lirst the wig,
With every itiZAIC itellgelieg to look big!
On the roug'd vii.ek the mail •tlyed whisker spread.
TOe thousandth way oftlressing a Call i hued !
T.c neckcloth neat—where starch and whalebone vie,
To make site siavo et !talking pillory I
The uot.tet '4l ho.nnl—x, ye =vying fait,
How little dream ye of tlia stair toast% there!
What straps, ropes, steel, the :wiling ribs compres3.
To make tie t)ar.dy beautifully less
Thtu fails, their rilial SLUM: 01 folly curt.
.Dy instinct. to straight waistcoats conic at lag !
Moy4k4h3).; shmkapeare.—tins estnip'd time eye.
Fur thei4.l oh; brvar air WA the Tianc wor: die: