The Sun.
London, England, 1813-10-06 00:00:00

11-tt TfIEATIM2S.

,DHURY-LANE.—Mr. S.:TtPHENKrat s last night
performed the character of Shylock At this theatre.
He appeared in this part some years ago; at the
old tionse-, and acquitted himself so well that
the Managers have induced him to assume it again,
though be came to London for the purpose niere-
lY of representing Rasta''. There is such diffe-
renee in the two characters, that an actin' who
came :even _with tolerable suceesi, pourtray the
facetious humour of the one, ,and the deadly ma-
lice of the Other, chews a versatility of powers
which entitle him to critical respect. That Mr.
KBEt i 4 deserves this respect, the applause which
he received last night will' fairly attest; Than ;h
he must— be well acquainted with, MAcKLIN's
manner' of representing 'this nit ,part, yet
there was nothing like servile imitation. 1-le
seemed manifestly to play from his own con•
ceptions, and the. performance was certainly
marked by judgment throughout. The scene
with Tubui displayed considerable skill in the al-
ternations of savage triumph with which lie heard
of Antonio's distresses, and rage at the extravagance
of his daughter. In the trial scene the " Jodg'd
hate and certain loathing" were manifested by a
cool determined spirit of revenge •that was criti-
cally just .and very effective. -A Morning Paper
says, that he permitted the bond too readily and
unsmipicionsly to pass not only out of his hand,
but out of his sight. But it should bemhserved„
that Skylock does not part with it till he has rea-
son to believe that Portia is favourable: to his
cause, having said, in answer to Bassaaio, who
urged her to wrest the law in order so wive

" It must not be ; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established :
'Twill be recorded for a precedent ;
And many an error, by the same example
Will,rush into the-State : it cannot be."
To have been reluctant therefore to partwith the
bond to so favourable an advocate, and one in whom
his confidence was cotnplete, would have shewn
an 'unreasonable distrust,' and Shylock may he 'sup-
posed to be too conning to rtin the hazard of
offending, him. Here, therefore, we conceive that
Mr. KEMRLE was more correct than his predeces-
sor COOKE, who is commended in the same paper
for. clinging to the instrument with " unceasing.
tenacity."' 'But we conceive that 'Mr. Keivttme
should 'have displayed a mixture of surprize,
and anxiety
,when Basianio required a violation.
of the law.' Upon the whole, his performanee
.was masterly, and perhaps may be more admired
by the higher order of critics than his fidsint-i
Miss Ssivrtt Made her first appearance for the
season in Portia, and was well received. Love.,
GROVE was very IHIMOUrOIIS in LarlitedOt. RAN
was respeetable in BaSBMiO; The play was well
supported by the scenery and other decorations.
CoveNT-Gattpew.—A neut piece, we belieVe a
musical farce, was brought fOrveard last night at'
this house, and suffered condemnation. It was
called the Nondescript', and either from its dente-
,
rits or from the manner of its reception, it certainly
must remain a nondescript for ever, as . not more'
than one-third of it was audible. Many Cirettm-
stances combined 'to produce the early qui in of
reprobation, which, terminated the existence of
this. piece. In. the first place, what we heard
of it .was destitute of that character which is
calculated to ensure success. Secondly, a broad
farce comes to be tried by too severe a. test when
pushed forth as the first entertainment at a regular
Theatre. The audience are not in temper for that
species of humour till later in the evening.----.
Thirdly, the characters were ill cast.—And,
fourthly, some of the performers were indifferent.
about their task,- and failed to exert themselves,
which it was their duty to do, though we are far
from thinking that any effort could or ought to
haye saved the peice. The satire of this production
was levelled entirely at a class of persons sviia do
not possess consequence enough' to be struck at
even by the humble darts of farce—the etrentinate
haherdashers and men-milliners of the metropolis
who ape gentility in their afternoons amusements.'
They are too contemptible for ridicule, except
what might he incidental to the pursuit of other
objects. more worthy of the pen of a dramatic,
writer, .'SOme 'insipid jokes and small-wit coat-
pieta the claims of the Nondescript to its tate,
in so far as the Author was concerned. In addi-
tion, however, to these pecnliar to the
Poet, it „was his unluckY'''' lot to have' Miss
BOOTH put into a part which requited her to
make, a noise After the fashion of singing.—.
Has this excellent little actress no friend to
Vise her against suel4dangerous exhibitions
fairness, to the other performers, Ave ought to
say that Or. EMERY 15 the person to whom we
lude, when we complain of want of exertion.—,
A comic song, on which ive dare say the. writer
rested sorne of his hopes,
.was given .I.)y, this per-
former in a way.which:Was enough to eourt• the
loudest kisses of the auditors. No doubt he was
dispirited .by the unequivocal symptoms of disap-
proval previously manifested, but We have seen
plays fur Gone retrieved by the .abilities of such
actors as Mr. EMERY,. and he owed it fo his pro-
fession to have done his utmost, ,Wltich he did
not do.

In the end all was tumult and uproar. The
not:Ks with four apertures for the limbs were,
produced, and we were in expectation the sum-
mary justice was about to be done on the Author
and the Jllanager for composing and producing
this work ; but the matter concluded with settling
the innocent haberdasher (Mr.LtsToN) in thi• en-
chanted castle, where he bat very patiently, while
the House roared "OW! oil I"

A patent hearing was bespoke by Mr. *JoNE',
and denied ;- abd, in, conclusion, the Non‘iescript
was declared to be tedh4ruten by dm Manager,
Mr. FAWC,ET whom the Gods ,144.. m see.
lug, to have his vica vice assurance of this de-
sirable fact.
Seth wand Azor. was then revived with great
beauty,:spjendour, and effect ; and the entertain!.
IlleilLS prbeetttlett to a cluSo in peace and quiet..

Wand
The RusstAN AstaAssmnoa gave a Ban
and Supper on Monday night, at, the Star and
Gartarlon, Richmond-UHL:to all the fashionahies
now Ui tokrn, and in that part of the conntryt