The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-19 00:00:00

This Theatre opened fast- night for the season.
During the recess several alterations and improvements
have been made in the interior ; among them are a new
act drop and proscenium, and several new handsome
chandeliers, lighted with wax, which if they do not give
so glaring a light as gas, at least'give a mellower and
more regular one. The house is also warmed with
air stoves, by which a genial and equable temperature
is kept up—no slight recommendation at this inclement
and uncertain season of the air. The performances com-
menced with Sheridan Knowles' comedy of the Love
Chase, in which Miss Taylor played the favouite part
of Constance, and played it with uncommon vivacity.
We missed, however, something of the grace and finish
of Mrs. Nesbitt, who, in this, perhaps her best, cha-
racter, never lost sight of the lady in the hoyden. Miss
Taylor has much ready talent and high animal spirits,
which carry her handsomely through many difficulties,
but she wants elegance, and, above all, repose of manner.
She appears always in a flutter, and over-solicitous to
make every point tell, however immaterial to the right
understanding of the character she impersonates. If
we except this defect, her Constance was all that could
ha desired ; the coquette, in particular, was admirably
brought out, and produced no slight impression on the
audience. Mr. Webster performed Wildrake with his
usual judgment. This gentleman is a careful and saga-
cious actor, but his manner is something cold and
hard. lie understands, rather than feels, his part ;
and, consequently, failed in some of the more
impassioned scenes with Constance. Miss Mordaunt's
Lydia was a chaste and intelligent performance, and
would have been still more effective, had not the young
lady had recourse so frequently to her white cambric
pocket-handkerchief. Tenderness may be shown with-
out the aid of this auxiliary. Strickland's Sir William
Fondlove, and Mrs. Glover's Widow Green left no-
thing to be desired. In their way, they were perfect.
After the comedy, "God save the Queen" was sung by
the whole theatrical corps ; and then followed a new
farce in one act, entitled A ll'isfor a Day. The plot
of this lively affair, which is from the pen of Mr. Bernard,
may be summed up in a few words. Mr. Eli
Tucker (Strickland), a New England farmer,
.dNy.ll:olcfo ni i tirt!ola:tdi c)a
Clifford),
V::.i(ilil:neoarfn
a rough, honest, John Bull sort of a fellow, is
sons,abTsuhred
with
tait:lhathli daily expectation
(Hill)
i r:l,(l)iar
sn
reach home just as the old gentleman is quarrelli4
and high in her notions as her husband is the reverse. On
entering the house, after an interview with their parents,
Montague, who is a coxcombical libertine spoiled—
as weak natures generally are—by foreign travel, informs
his brother Nathan, a simp:e, rough, honest-hearted
fellow, that he is married to a French opera-dancer wham
he picked up at Paris ; and that as the match will be
sure to be distasteful to the old folks, he, Nathan, must
. pass off the lady as his own wife, just for a few hours,
We are glad to find it announced both in New until her husband can arrange matters for an ecelaireise-
ment. To this Nathan, after some little demurring,
York and Paris Journals, that France has accepted
inFeedes, and hence arises all the fun of the piece. In
the mediation of Enoland for the accommodation
The Veloce, Go- (-I.eisbtcsapacity of husband he is threatened. with arrest for
of all differ gees with Mexico'Lacy).jisst
a two
contracted at New York ; is involved in a duel
the for having seduced and deserted a lady in that city ,•
French Government to Admiral BAUDIN, upon the and, in fact, gets into all sorts of scrapes, from which
receipt of which he gave the English Charge he can only extricate himself by declaring the real state
veroment steamer, brought instructions from
d'Affaires a carte blanche for negotiating with the of the case, which he accordingly does in the last scene,
Mexican Government the indemnity due to France, wherein matters are made up, after the usual fashion of
and the treaties which are to regulate the commerce farce. The whole burden of this piece rests upon
Hill, who proved himself every way equal to it.
relations can be established with the direct
of the two countries before more permanent
He is an actor
of rich, but easy and unexaggerated
humour, andis in full possession of that most valu-
In the interim concurrence of the
and p
duringarties immediately
the negotiations, the concerned, able of dramatic endowments—presence of mind.
,
Nothing appears to disturb his equanimity. He seems
blockade is to be raised—the French fleet remaining as much at home and at his ease on the stage as he
in the Gulf, and the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa to would be by his own fire-side. In this respect, as also
continue garrisoned by a body of French Marines, in his quiet manner, and the exceeding unction with
With a view to facilitate friendly negotiations, Ad- abash
; and Mr. Lister with Sir R.
miral BAUDIN addressed on the .'2oth of December, Liston. The dialogue of the piece is passable, which is
he drawls out his good things, he reminds us of
tion withi Bart.
rrtßobert Ferguson
the utmost we can say for it. Tire best point made
.was H. Inglis,
Glynne has paired off until Easter with Lord
a letter to his Excellency, the Mexican General-in- Sir Stephen
describing the red lamp over an American S by Hill, who
. . Sir Wm. Somerville paired off in favour of Mr.. Villier's mo.
Chief, then at Tam ; .
p.co, in which he condescended
Sir David Roche has paired off with Sir Robert Bateson
to i • • justify his own conduct and that of his Govern- ' bloe'd•shot." The farce was received with much favour, rural after E-Mer
I surgeon's shop-window, compared it to " a bull's eye
I.ss bust • :,_ i . 1_.,,•,,,i.L is in tr... and ii,ia attending in the rit,use of
meat, and to as,:ure the Mex;can Itepohlic rhtt ~r. ! : li,,ited—partiertlaily te,,,- eds the close—
Commons by the sudden and dangerous illness of a near relation.
nothing w f m his thoughts than toretainof l aht The house was full, but not crowded,
,as farther ro I au. er. Acheson.—March 18. .