The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA.

After the performance of Keolanthe, which we no-
ticed favourably on its first appearance, a cew piece,
called The Deer Stalkers, or the Outlaw's Daughter,
was produced at this house last night. The scenery
and dresses were got up under the superintendence
of Mr. Mari, and the strictest attention was paid to
them, as well for the purpose of producing effect as to
conform as much as possible to the manners and
customs of the country in which the scene is laid.
The piece was received with the greatest possible
enthusiasm, and the greater number of tie songs which
were sung by Miss Gould and Mr. Wilson were
rapturously encored. The ordinary accompaniments of
a musical melo-dramatic performance were powerfully
aided and agreeably diversified by appropriate tunes
on the bagpipes ; and, after the martial notes
of the Highland pibroch died away they were re-echoed
in feeling, although not in sound, by an English au-
dience, seemingly much delighted with this novel addi-
tion to the usual musks! iristiuments of a metropolitan
theatre. Where all the actors performed their respec-
tive parts to the entire satisfaction of the audience, and
in perfect keeping with the country and the times in
which the incidents of the play are supposed to have
occurred, it would be invidious to particularise; but we
must in justice notice generally the excellent acting and
still better singing of Miss Gould and Messrs.
Wilson and Stri tton, and make particular men-
tion of our approval and admiration of the act-
ing of Mr. M'lan, who is evidently tho-
roughly acquainted with the Highland character, and
who last night succeeded in realising, on English
boards, one of the principal characteristics of High-
land life, by giving, in look and action, expression to
that assumed simplicity which covers the covert
cunning which marked the character of the
Highlander in the days of the great Mon-
trose, part of whose adventures the play is osten-
sibly intended to represent. The musical part of the
performance was accompanied by the Highland Fling,
" Tullochguum," " Moreir Shim," and other national
tunes, which were played very effectively by Thompson,
the piper of the Society of True Highlanders. As the
piece is one which is sure to have a more than or-
dinary successful run, and as the incidents are of them-
selves, unconnected with the music, good singing and
appropriate decorations with which it is accompanied,
of little interest, we do not think it necessary to
give a summary of the plot ; but we would earnestly
recommend to those who are fond of a good song, who
can appreciate the getting up in the best possible man-
ner, of a real pleasing performance, and who wish to
encourage the representation of the manners and customs
of the sister country, or we should rather say the twin
sister of Old England, and to patronize those laudable en-
deavours which have been lately made to make the drama
pleasing to the senses, as well as instructive to the
mind, to go and visit the English Opera, and
witness the performance of a piece which,
since the production at the same theatre of
the Mountain Sylph, is unquestionably the most
attractive and gratifying play that has for some
years been produced. The greatest credit is due to
Mr. M'lan, as well for the manner in which he has pro-
duced this play as for his admirable performance ; and
the Piper did justice to the music of the land of
mountain and flood.