The Sun.
London, England, 1814-11-30 00:00:00

THE THEATRES, &c.

DRURY-LANE.—The Camedy of The Hypocrite
was succeeded at this Theatre last night by a new
Melo-Drama, or mixture of dialogue, action,
spectacle, and music, under the title of The Ninth
Statue; or, The Irishman in Bagdad. The Fable
of this Drama is taken from a story in The Jra-
bian Night's Entertainments, which is too well
known to need any detail from us, except to no-
tice, that there is_ the addition of an Irishman
(Jon STONE), Who has saved the life of the
Prince of Balsora (tiraLLacx), and that the He-
roine of the Piece (Miss KELLY} is the Irishman's
Daughter, who has been confined in the Prinee'S
Harem, but who has not been made a sacrifice to
his pleasure, because he respects her virtue, and
is anxious to eleate her to his Throne. By the as-
sistance of the Irishman an insurrection is quelled,
and by the aid of the King of the Genii time Prince is
at last put in possessio.i of the Ninth Statue, which
proves to be his beloved Norah, the- Irishman's
Daughter, who, after the illagic Glass has demon-
strated the impurity of all the other Ladies who
had submitted to the ordeal, is proved by the
clearness of its reflection to be without a mental
stain. Such is the. alteration which has been made
in this favourite story of our earlier days ; an al-
teration which relieves the grave progress. of the
fable by.the intervention of sonic degree of whim-
sical character and humour.—But it is evident,
that the main purpose of the Managers was to
present a picturesque and ma.:nificent spectacle,
and it must be acknowledged that they have suc-
ceeded admirably
The scenery, the magic changes, and all the
effects of supernatural potency, constitutes one
of the most splendid Exhibitions that has been
presented to the public for a. long period. The
appearance of the Genius, tq indicate the dream
of the Prince, was strong and striking—the se-
veral local views, the interior of the Palaces and
Garden, bat, above all, the tie,icent of the Genius-
of Fire' and %Vetter at the close, to, consecrate the
marriage of the Prince. and Nord:, were highly
splendid and impressive. The music was ori-
ginal, except two Irish airs sung by JOHNSTONE,
and does credit to HORNE. The piece was very
warmly applauded by a crowded house, and was
well supported by the Performers, particularly
WALLACK, MISS KELLY, and JOHNSTONE. Alto-
gether, however, the drama requires retrench-
ment, which will no doubt be maie, as the first
performance may be deemed the last rehearsal.
COVENT-GAM/FN.—Mr. KEMBLE last night re-
sumed the part of Richard the Third, and his per-
formance was one of the most vivid, correct, and
energetic efforts of the Art that we have ever at-
tended. The subtlety, arrogance, determined
spirit, and we may add the sarcastic humour of
the character, were all rendered peculiarly pro-
minent and effective. The audience were power-
fully impressed by this masterly and animated ;IS-
sumption, and were abundant in their applause.

We seldom pay tnueh attention to the less re-
gular Exhibitions, which exist for the innusement
of this great metropolis:. there are, however, t►vo
or three novelties at present, which seem to de-
serve our notice, as the brief Chroniclers of the
Times

_
An ingenious pictnresque and mechanical Spec-
tacle, similar to that which the Mechanist PtElute
has so long established at Paris, is now among
our attractions. It consists of a series Of Views,
with various objects introduced, whose motions
are in general surprisingly true to nature. But it
is in representing the effects of light that this
Exhibition
.excels : the rising sun, in a View of
the Environs of Reggio, and of the setting sun,
in a View of Marseilles, are really managed in the
most illusive and agreeable manner.

6AIINERIg, whose des-cent in a parachute asto-
nished ;Ind alarmed lte population of London in
1802, has opened an entertaining and somewhat
novel species of Exhihiticin, in Spring-gardens,
consi:ting of various experiments in Natural. Ph-
ilosophy, particularly in Electricity, and a Phan-
tasmagoria ; the latter, however, is inferior to
that exhibited some years ago by PHILLIPSTHALL.
His experiments, however, in Electricity arc beau-
tiful, and to those who are unacquainted with the
Phenomena, must be really astonishing. His
appratus is the most magnificent we have ever
seen.

A German Professor, SPURZEIM, is also giving
very ingenious . Lectures on GALL'S System of
Craniology. He produces models of the Skulls
of almost all the Heroes and Sages of antiquity,
and thence deduces his .conclusions. We wonder
where•he procures them so correctly as to be able
to establish any certain philosophical principles
on their formation. There is, however, a great
deal or amusement in.the theories which this in-
genious foreigner endeavours to illustrate, and
his Lectures awl Experiments arc very en to r-
taining.