The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-02 00:00:00

TILE THEATRE':

.•
- ENGLISH OPERA llOUSE.—ThiSrTheatre, which
is- fertile in dramatic novelties;,prOduced a new
Musics) Farce on. Saturday- night, under the
title of Gretna_ Green.:- The pint:irises from the
intention of Mr. Tomkitis .(BE.N.NA), to compel
his ward, Emily-(Miss C.AnEiv),i-to marry him-
self. She, however,. thuseS-.:anbther lover, Lord
Lovervell.(PEAnht. and elopes., with him to
Gretna Green. TheGuardianimmedlately pursues,
and. gets there before them, offering to Larder
(Power), the Keeper of the Inn, 501. if they
arrive at his house, and be gives tinkly informa-
tion to prevent the marriage.. Jenkins, a valet,
(WRENCH), assumes the name of Lard Lovewell,
and Betty Finnikin (Miss KELLY) that of Lady
Wilhelmina Wilson,. and this pair also hasten to
Gretna Green
.to be married. Larder, however,
recognizes them-both as old•fellow-s,ervants. Thus
detected, Betty, overhearing the negotiation be-
tween the Guardian and the Landlord, ap.
prizes .Lovettell and Einily of the bargain between .
them. The lovers, therefore, put •on humble
attire, and-contrive to get- married while Jenkins
and Betty.are locked-op, and supposed by the
guardian:tO be the Lord and the Lady. After a
squabble between Jenkins. and Tomkins, in which
the latter challenges the former, who flies in tre-
pidationAOM the spot, Betty explains the whole,
and the guardian makes a virtue of necessity, and
resigns Pnay. and her fortune with affected satis-
faction. Such is the plot of this piece, which is
full of bustle 'and- variety of incidents, and is so
well sUPPOrted, by the_Performers that it was
received with universal applanse by the audience.
TO Mr BEA2LEY, the author of other successful
pieces,: this farce is attributed, and it is a proof
of humour and dramatic ingenuity.—lt is some-
what strange, hOwever,, :that he should have
chosen the 'name of Gretna Green, -as a farce
with the "very same title was brought forward and
successfully represented at the Haymarket The-
atre, many years ago, Written by the late Mr.
CHARLES STEWART.

Mr. Jowl KEbbBLE is going to quit his llel-
vetic hermitage on a short expedition to Italy.
The list reports represent him to be in good
health, which the public will be glad
.to hear, as
his talents contributed so much to amuse them,
and his taste has so highly improved the costume
of the British Stage..
Mrs. SIDDONS is at present enjoying compara-
tive retirement_ with good.: health at Malvern,
having resisted invitations from numerous private
friends.-

Tie_, veteran Dramatist REYNOLDS has pre-
sented a new Comedy to Drury Lane Theatre,
of which Mr. KERN is to be the Hero.--rOf course
it. will be a mixture of the ludicrous and the
terrific.

MISS CLA 11.%. FISHER, a juvenile actress of more
genius than most of the female veterans of the
stage, is to be brought forward in a new. drama at
Drury Lane Theatre, purposely written by Mr.
COLMAN.

• It was lately reported that Mr. his.ToN, the
actor,was likely to retire from theatricallife, and to
haVe succeeded to a large fortune and allaronetcy.
If this report be well founded, Mr. LISTON must
have' great humility in not revealing his exalta-
tion-to the public, but continuing.to gratify theta
by the exertion of his talents.
Mr. DECAMP has taken the Theatre* Shrews-
bury on terms liberal on.hoth sides, and has been
promised a powerful support by the chief inhabi-
tants of the town and neighbourhood.
Dowl'm's,. one of the very best comic actors of
the day, is expected to join the Covent Garden
company in the'ensuing season. 'Mrs. 17.:.irrats is
also mentioned as one .of the additions to that
company, but we hope, for the: `credit of the
drama, not to appear in male characters,
Alterations, it seems, are making -at- Covent-
Garden Theatre, as well as 'at Drury-lane, but
not upon so large a scale as the latter. Among
the alterations at the former Theatr is the re-
moval of what is styled the Basket, :the boxes
behind the dress-boxes in front.—This removal
is very proper, as the place was the high mart of
prostitution.