The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-22 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

DRURY LANE.—Miss LAWRENCE, whose per-
formance of Juliet we noticed with the com-
mendation which so unexperienced an actress
devrved, has improved in her representation of
this difficult part on every successive :Appearance.
She was much applauded last night, and indeed
fully deserved the very favourable reception which
attended her.

Co VENT-GA It EN..—The interesting piece called
Clari was to have been performed last night at
this Theatre, and Miss PATON was, for the first
time, to have appeared in the character of the
heroine. her indisposition, or some unexplained
reason, however, occurred, and the piece was not
represented ; the first drama, therefore, was the
Merry Monarch, and Messrs. K E LE JONES,
DUlt US-ET, and FAWCETT, supported it so well
that it had all the effect of novelty upon a nu-
merous audience. It was followed by M. MA-
zunt Ell, the Man-Monkey, whose agility is sur-
prising, but we consider his Polichinello as much
more so, and much more entertaining.

LIGHTING THEATRES.
The beat means of lighting a Theatre has for a
length of time formed a subject of great consi-
deration to our Manetgers ; and we believe we
speak the opinion of the Public in general whet►
we add, that the present system is far, very far,
trot]) that perfection which might be obtained.—
In point of costliness it is, perhaps, the best ; but,
in point of effect, and the judicious spreading of
the light through all parts of the house, it must
be owned that it is no better certainly, aw►d per-
haps not so good, as when die chandeliers with
wax lights were suspended round the Theatre,
in front of the different tiers of boxes.—
The point to he attained is to diffuse the light
generally, to blend the rays together as if they
all emanated from one point, so as to enlighten
the house brilliantly and at the same time pre-
vent the casting of deep shadows by projecting
cornices, pillars, &c. &c.

The following admirable method has lately
been adopted in Paris, and we strongly re-
commend it to the attention of our Theatres
in England. A large opening is formed in
the centre of the ceiling, and hung round
thickly with lamps, each lamp is furnished
with a parabolic reflector, and each reflector
is united to its neighbour all round the circle.
By these means the light would be thrown down
into the theatre, was it not checked by the pre-
sence of a system (purge magnifying glasses (an
systeme de Terre lenticulaire). That is a number
of glasses of a foot diameter each, all united
and forming one solid mass, and fixed beneath the
lamp., and covering the opening. On looking at
it from the pit it appears like an immense burn-
ing globe. This light appears to be sufficient,
and is more equal, more soft, and greatly less
dazzling than the ordinary lustres.

Mr. Er.r.wros is so much recovered from the
late alarming state of his health, that there is now
some hope of his being able to resume his station
ors theatrical boards.

Mr. IlAmßus, who made a very favourable
impression in the part of Hamlet, at Drury-lane
Theatre, and has since acquired much provincial
reputation, is gone with his wife to America.
Mrs. HAMBLIN, who is a very good actress, is the
daughter of Mr. BLANCHARD, the respectable
veteran of Covent-garden Theatre.
Mit. QUICK, TUE ACTOR.--It is to be hoped
that, as Dramatic Biography seems to be the
taste of the times, this once popular actor, who
is alive, and in full possession of his mental
powers, will add his copious store of theatrical
anecdotes to the general stock. Ile lived iii
GARRICK'S days, the AuuusTAN AGE of the
British Stage, and enjoyed a well-earned estima-
tion for his excellence in serious as well as in
broad comedy. His Memoirs, therefore, might
be expected to contain most valuable information,
as well as candid and judicious remarks upon
the merits of his contemporaries.
A new Play has been read by Mr. CHARLES
KEMDLE, in the Green-room at Covent-garden Theatre, writ-
ten by the late Miss LEE, author of" Canterbury Tales."
BISIIUp, the Composer, is employed in prepar-
ing for representation, in a style of unusual magnificence and
splendour, Aladdin. The music is said to possess all the
beauty and variety peculiar to the talents of this justly popular
professor.
Madame CAnAnoar ALLAN is returned to
town, after a very successful provincial excursion. She will,
however, give a concert, at Cambridge, in the course of next
week, and from thence proceed to fulfil another country engage-
ment, previously to her return to the King's Theatre.

b'EuvILLE has been detained in Paris beyond
his o-iginal intention, by an accident. He is, however, reco-
vered, and is expected in London daily. It is still said the
Italian Opera is to open the 17th of December, and with a new
ballet, invented by this ingenious artist.
DRURY-LANE THEATRE is about to have all
extraordinary musical acquisition in the person of a young man
of very diminutive size. The history of his engagement is
rather singular. Mr. Bitten, an eminent coach-maker, some
days ago gave a dinner to his very numerous establishment in
his workshops, and he invited Mr. Dunn, of Drury-lane Theatre,
and Mr. Smith the bass singer, and some other gentlemen, to
be of the party. Nearly 100 sat down to dinner, and after some
of the usual glees and songs were sung, suddenly a voice of
surpassing sweetness was heard in the room, but from whence
it issued was not discoverable. The company stared at each
other in astonishment. Every one declared that he never heard
such tones except from the throat of Catalani. The applause
at the conclusion of the song was such as might be expected,
and after every one had expressed his admiration, there arose a
discussion about the sex of the melodist. The almost universal
opinion was, that such tones could come from nobody but a
woman. George Smith was of a different opinion. He said he
believed the voice to be that of a young man, and soon after-
wards the body of a coach which lay at the upper end of the
workshop was opened, and out stepped a male dwarf, about two
or three-and-twenty years of age. The qualifications of this
little person were at once made known to the managers of
Drury-lane Theatre, who immediately, union the recommenda-
tion of the professional men who heard him sing, engaged him.
His voice is, we understand, in all the upper tones, precisely
like Catalani's ; and in the lower, it bears a close resemblance
to Mrs. Bland's. Mr. Birch had accidentally heard him joining
in a glee with two other poor ragged creatures in the street, and
humanely determined to give him a chance of bettering his
condition. It is intended, we believe, that he shall sing without
an accompaniment on the first night of his appearance._
(Morning Paper.)

HIBERNIAN JOINT STOCK COMPAN Y.•--A meet-
ing was held yesterday at Batson's Coffee-house, to consider
the affairs o£ this Company, previous to a general meeting,
which is to take place in Dublin on next Monday week ; but
owing to the badness of the day, or some other cause, there
were only present four proprietors. However, in order to make
up for this deficiency, there were Arc newspaper reporters; but
the proprietors thinking that even so formidable a body would
not justify them in adopting any measures, the Meting w s
adjourned until a future day.