The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-28 00:00:00

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

A new piece in two acts, called Hush ! or Secrets at Court,
was produced at this theatre last night. Ladislas Radzin-
ski (Mr. Cooper) a young lieutenant in the Polish army,
with more gaiety than money, and more frankness than
discretion, arrives, after a journey from Warsaw, performed
on foot, at the Russian capital, with the romantic project
of paying his addresses to the Countess Braniska (Miss
Taylor) the niece and sole heiress of Prince Potemkin (Mr.
Warde). At the time the action of the piece commences
the latter fills the post of Prime Minister of the Empress
Catherine. The young and mercurial Pole, whose knight-
errant-like propensities have led him so long a journey, he
merely having on one occasion waltzed with the Countess,
encounters Potemkin almost on the instant of his arri-
val at St. Petersburgh, and with a degree of communi-
cativeness very often represented on the stage, but very
seldom exhibited off it, makes the Russian courtier,
till then a perfect stranger, the confidant of all his pro-
jects, his great aim being to gain the good graces of
Potemkin's niece, and a stepping-stone to that, to obtain,
if possible, the situation of secretary or under-secretary, to
the Prince himself. Potemkin does not disclose his name
or rank to his new acquaintance, and, leaving him to his
reflections, amuses himself by laughing with those he meets
at the effrontery of the adventurer. The tale, however,
reaches the ears of the Empress. She is quite struck by an
act of devotion so nearly allied in character to those per-
formed by the paladins of old ; and her curiosity being
once excited, a Lady of Honour, the Baroness Guilderstein
(Mrs. W. Clifford), becomes the convenient medium for its
gratification. Presents, and letters appointing assignations,
which the enraptured Pole attributes to the Countess, who
is surprised and offended beyond measure at his pre-
sumption, and to rid herself of his advances actually pro-
cures him the command of a regiment ordered on foreign
service, show that there are parties, as high in rank at least
as the Countess, who are not insensible to his merits. Po-
temkin's jealousy is awakened ; his unconscious rival is by
his orders seized, hurried to a chapel, and allowed only a
confessor and a quarter of an hour to prepare for death.
But there is many a slip between the cup and the lip.
An autograph order arrives from the Empress, in which
Potemkin is desired to present Radzinski at Court that
very evening. The intended execution is accordingly
stayed, and Potemkin, acting apparently under the full con-
viction of the truth of the maxim that marriage and hang-
ing go by destiny, determines, as his prisoner has escaped
one noose, to secure him by another, and, as a proof of his
niece's devotion to him, demands her assent to an imme-
diate union with the young Pole. She complies, the knot
is tied with a most praiseworthy despatch, a minute suffic-
ing for the operation, and Potemkin's fall and humiliation
are averted, as the penchant of the Empress never was
known to extend to married men. This is the out-
line of the plot, which, as will easily be seen, does not
afford sufficient scope for that variety of situation and
incident which is essential to the success of a dramatic re-
presentation. In good truth it was very dull. The audi-
ence grew impatient towards the conclusion of the first act ;
and, soon after the commencement of the second, the dis-
approbation became so loud that it was doubtful whether
the piece would be allowed to proceed. However, Mr.
Cooper chivalrously came to the rescue, and assured the
audience that the piece was the production of an author
, who had very often laboured successfully in their service,
and he therefore hoped that they would give it a fair and
patient hearing. This address restored order. The author
of Hush, or Secrets at Court, may console himself for his
present ill fortune, by dwelling upon his former triumphs.