The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-21 00:00:00

THR THEATRE.

ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.--'Phis Theatre has
been fertile in novelties during its present short
season, and last night it added to the number in
a musical farce entitled 7'he Bashful Man.—The
following is an outline of the Plot :
" Mr. Blushington (Mathews) is sent by his father to
Oxford as a poor scholar, where he is to make his way by hard
reading ; but in consequence of a large fortune devolving on
him by the sudden death of a relation, he quits college and his
books, and prepares for his entry' into polite life ; but never hav-
ing been accustomed to it, he is quite at fault, and his mauraise
honte renders him completely ridiculous. He is invited to dine
with Sir T. Friendly (Bennett), with whose daughter Dinah
(Miss Povey), it is proposed to bring about a match, having
been acquainted with her brother, Frank Friendly (Broad-
hurst) at college. At dinner his bashfulness and awkwardness
are sadly conspicuous, in overturning the soup upon himself,
and eating hot pudding, and afterwards, in his retreat from the
scene of such exposures, in drawing the tablecloth along with
bins.; indeed, the whole of this scene was highly ludicrous.—
Young Friendly then suggests to the family, to invite them-
selves to dine with Blushington, anti by the example of their
ease and gaiety, to cure him of his failing.- They accord-
ingly come, much against the wish of their host, who, during
his entertainment, gets very tipsy, and then forms a determina-
tion to assume courage. In the end he takes heart to solicit the
hand of the fair Dinah, which is readily yielded, she already
confessing a penchant for him, notwithstanding that he lacked
the wit to find it out—and thus the piece ends."
The popularity of Mr. M ATHEws, and the
versatility of his talents, ensure success to every
piece in which he appears. But the piece of last
night, notwithstanding the variety of his scenic
transformations, actually placed him in a new
point of view. He has long been celebrated for
characters of dashing spirit and extravagant ec-
centricity, in which he certainly has no equal,
but he last night proved that he is equally capa.'
ble of representing those of a modest,. timid, and
retiring description. Blushingtou is of this de-
scription, and he was not less successful it,
displaying the awkwardness and the blunders re-
sulting from such a character than he has hitherto
been in those of a quite opposite nature. his
acting was excellent, and if we can suppose that
a disposition of such extreme bashfulness ever
existed, when blended with education and know-
ledge, it would doubtless appear just as it ap-
pears in the excellent acting of this popular fa-
vourite. His drunken soliloquy was peculiarly
striking and natural. It is needless to add, that
he was the main prop and vital spirit of the Piece.
The rest of the characters which we have men-
tioned above had the merit of giving respectable
support to the whole. This whimsical Farce is
ascribed to Mr. MoNcatcy, who so successfully
expanded and dramatized the popular Tale of
Monsieur Tonson, and whose name is well known
to the Public by many entertaining productions,
which have appeared at most of the Minor Thea-
tres. The Farce of last night was so decidedly
well received by a numerous audience, that as
lung as it is supported by MArrums,and hardly
any body else will probably venture to undertake
it, it will retain its attraction till the close of the
season.