The Sun.
London, England, 1822-01-08 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

CorENX-GaauEs.—The chief attraction at
this Theatre- last night was the' return of Miss
STEPUENS,-WhO, for the-first time of her appear-
ance this season, came forwarctas,Polly in Tits
Beggar's Opera. She was received by a numerous
audience with all that Warmth which should always
attend. distinguished' talent', united with exem-
plary conduct in private 'life -"Such is the case
with Mis:s StiettENS. -Her-talen4 entitle her to
public admiration; and a -liege portion of her
pecuniarY acquiSitinns are,- We understand, ap-
propriated to. acts of relative liberality. The
songs of 'Polly were given with all that science
and -sweetness - which have always marked
her musical -ekertions, and she sustained the
part with truth and - feeling. it is hardly
necessary to add, that many of the songs
were encored. Miss HALLANDE on this occasion,
for the first time, assumed the part of Captahl
Macheath. We join with a judicious Morning
Critic in entering our protest against the assump-
tion of male characters by females. It is the
object of the • Drama, for moral ptirposes, to de-
lude :the imagination into kternporary belief of
the reality of its exhibitions, but that object is
thwarted when the imagination cannot be de-
ceived.—lt is sufficient for the Stage that fe-
males should appear "in those characters in
which the fable requires that females should
-assume the virile habit, but not otherwise.
Miss_ TALLANDE is a very pleasing singer, and
,has remarkably; improved as an. actress. Her
,performance of Macheath displayed a full con-
ception of the. part ;.• she supported it with
ease and spirit, and she warbled the songs with
..taste and skill ; but no female can.possibly give
dice effect, to the part. One of the best that we
have seen was Miss BLAKE, who _appeared in it
with success at the Haymarket last season.—
According to all reports of the manner of
WALKER, the original performer of the character,
he gave the airs with manly firmness, such as a
gay convivial spirit was likely to display, and not
with the unseasonable graces. of the Italian
school. Surely such a representative of the cha-
racter can be found among the present race of
.male performers ; if not, it is the duty of the Ma-
nager to endeavour to find one.

SURREY THEATRE.—Mr. T. DIBDIN, 19110,, as
well as his brother, evidently possesses a large
portion of hereditary genius, last night, with his
usual rapidity and skills brought forth a new
drama, derived from The Pirates, the last pro-
Auction of the " great Unknown," as he is styl-
ed, the author of_. the series of. Scotch Novels,
which have become so popular. Mr. DIBDIN'S
piece is a melo-drama, and is entitled The Pi-
rate. We regret that want of room prevents our
doing justice to the merits of the piece; but we caa
confidently say that Mr. DIBDIN has shewn great
judgment and taste in the selection of scenes from
the original work, which are calculated to excite
a very. strong interest in the audience. The ce-
lerity with ;vhich he has brought forward this
work has really. not .precluded a. most judi-
cious
.selection, and : the piece derives all rel.
quisite advantaaes from the scenery and the
acting. Mrs. GIOVER, strangely excluded from
the Patent Theatres, though. one of the very
best of
.our comic actresses, appears to great ad-
vpntage in this piece. BENCOUGA and TINN are
also powerful props. We were glad to see a
crowded audience; and the merit of the piece al-
together is likely to render the example of last
,bight, in this respect, a precedent during the season.