The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-28 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

The mutations of this petit establishment have
scarcely been less varied than the fortunes and policy
of its managers have been chequered and fitful. It
has undergone all the phases incident to the stage,
being at one time the seat of burlesque, at another
the temple of tragedy; now the school of broad farce,
and anon the retreat of singers and musical composers,
but never has it been applied to so good a purpose
as it is at the present moment. It is now a sort of
kijou cabinet of English comedy, and the lessons
illustrated upon its boards, and preached by its actors,
inculcate wholesome moral truths, while they
please and entertain the mind of the spectator. Too
small for the gaudy display of burlesque, or the repre-
sentation of tragedy, it is yet sufficiently spacious
and convenient for the development of dramatic en-
tertainments as unquestionable in merit as they are
truthful reflexes of natural feelings and healthy senti-
ments. Mr. Farren has discarded the exclusive tastes
of his fellow-managers. Ile does not confine his
stage to a few favoured playwrights, nor does he rely
for success upon his own or any other individual
actor. His house is open to every aspirant for fame
as a dramatic writer who makes the least pretensions
to merit or originality, while his company is nume-
rous and complete for the purposes of English comedy.
A few days ago we had the pleasure of recording the
successful revival of two of Sheridan's best works,
namely, the School for Scandal and the Rivals, and
now we have to notice the disentombment of Hol-
croft's Road to Ruin, which seems as fresh and accu-
rate in its pictures of every-day life as if it were only
written yesterday. It was excellently cast and equally
well played. Farren as Old Dornton was elo-
quently pathetic ; so indeed was Leigh Murray
as his son Harry, though here and there he was
somewhat too violent. Mr. Henry Farren played
the prominent part of Goldfinch, and, to use the
phraseology of the class the character represents, it
was a rattling, spanking, rollicking performance, full
of spirit and energy, and making portions of the
audience echo his saying of " That's your sort."
Compton was entrusted with the part of Silky, the
canting, roguish money-lender, and capitally be sus-
tained it. It was artistic and finished to the last
degree. Mrs. Glover's Widow Warren is too well
known and appreciated to need any eulogium from us,
and was all that could be wished ; while Mrs. Stir-
ling as Sophia was the very impersonation of artless-
ness and simplicity. The minor parts were all
admirably sustained, and the reading and conception
of them perfect. The comedy drew an exceedingly
full house, who enjoyed the acting as much as the
beauties of the author, and their applause and delight
knew no bounds. We were not sorry to observe a
few of the old school of playgoers present ; they
seemed to enter fully into the spirit of the comedy,
and laughed and chuckled, cried and sobbed with
the youngest of the audience. At the fall of the
curtain the principal characters were summoned to
the foot-lights, and Mr. Farren availed himself of this
opportunity to intimate that the comedy would be
repeated.