The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-10 00:00:00

SADLER' S WELLS.

Last evenini;-cowded and delighted audience
was attracted to this very favourite theatre. Little
was it ever dreamt of, when Mr. Sadler first built an
orchestra, in 1683, for the entertainment of the crowds
of invalids who were attracted by the many super-
stitious notions attached to the waters of the "Wells,"
before the Reformation, that one day it would be the
only place in London where the works of the immor-
tal Will Shakspere would be completely represented ;
yet
so it is. The entertainments commenced last
night with Richard 111., from the text of Shakspere
—not the improved version that has so long maintained
its ground on the British stage, to the entire exclu-
sion of the original creation of the bard of Avon. To
the meritorious exertions of Mr. Phelps, in the
successful production of the plays of Shaks-
pere, in their original state, this production
of Richard 111. will add fresh lustre. This
gentleman's conception of the character of the hump-
backed Duke was excellent, although in parts he.gave
us quite a new reading. The Richard of Mr. Phelps
does not hate his victims, but they stand in his way,
and, as he does` not love them, they. perish; and,
when jesting at his mother's prayers, his delivery of
the following passages was admirable :
Madame, my mother, Ido cry you mercy,
I did not ace your grace. Humbly on my knees
I crave your blessing.
Duchess—God bless thee, and put meekness in thy
breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty!
Glo'ster—Amen; and make me die a good old man!
That is the but-end of a mother's blessing;
I marvel that her grace did leave it out.
Nothing could exceed the exquisite finish with which
these lines were given. Mr. Phelps was ably sup-
ported by Mr. G. Bennett, who sustained the character
of the Duke of Buckingham, and whose excellent
dngTohfe There the part
no deservespoint-m aokui
nr highest, n o
clap-trapcom m e n dag -
rtieoan.i
de-
clamation, but an evenness and finish in his acting
which at once proved him to be a true Shaksperien
artiste. Mr. H. Marston sustained the part of the
Duke of Richmond excellently well. Miss Cooper,
as Queen Elizabeth, Miss Huddart, as Lady
Anne, and Mrs. Brougham, as Queen Margaret,
each acquitted themselves with exquisite grace and
delicacy. Of the remaining characters we have only
space to say that they was each and all excellently
sustained. A word ortwo with respect to the "getting
up" of the tragedy—the dresses were magnificent in
the extreme, and showed that great attention had been
paid to the correctness of the style and manner of the
period. The scenery was truly beautiful, and special
mention must be made of it, especially in the last act
—the encampment of the contending armies of the
roses—the dioramic effects produced in this scene
were really beautiful. When Richmond first enters
on the field it is sunset, night gradually appears and
here moonlight effects are produced, and then succeeds
the grey of the dawning day ; these effects were so
beautifully managed that loud applause succeeded
each change. The last scene—the battle-field of
Bosworth was exceedingly grand—we never sawr e any-
thing to equal it on the stage—it was alnas tePgie eed
of arrangement. At the conclusiono
of the tra
la
the applause
Mr. Phelps was called for, and received m
comencement
he so richly merited. Previous to the
nee the excel-
Ina
of the after-piece, The Mau *ster of F
fo errmed Jullien's
lent band of the establishment. p
tat it was with
Drum Polka so effectively
we think that thehonoured audience
an encore. Altogether,
at Sadler's Wells last evening was as well entertained
as at any theatre in London.