The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-17 00:00:00

FOR THE St N.

:- . BENEVOLENT THEATRICALS. ,
.. Isle of IVigist, Jan. 16, 1224,
IYIR. EDITOR.—Da. JOHNSON, in the tribute he 1
paid to the memory of GABstecx, lamented that the great 1
Leader of one source of ,4 harmless pleasure" was no more.' more
: The
Gentlemen of our garrison have lately sliewn how a stet
honourable epithet may be added to that amusement, by the
Purposes to which they have directed it, under the
liberal supmunificentport
of our benevolent little island; and, on the
14th of this
month we had the humane satisfaction, as wen as
t,:
c.Pleasure, of seeing them perform, and in an ad-
NewPqrt, manner, the much-admired Cm T Comedy of he Rivals,
benefit of a eespectable company of Comedians at
ad-
mirable a:
ba
forfie an
tha rational
but who, like most of their travelling brethren of
Then's at this season of the year, need warmer coats than they
can always provide for theinsoZves. That such an example may
excite similar benevolence in other Military Amateurs of the
Drama, this little sketch of the performance is transmitted to
THE SUN.
The Characters in the Play Were cast as follows :--Sir An-
thony Absolute, Mr. GrrEorua,
92d Regiment Captain Ab.
solute, Mr. GILL, 50th; Sir Lucius O'Trigger, Captain
C " 81st ; Falkland, Ca ain, ;
ptain CAZIPBELL ; Bob Acres,
Mr. TUDOR, 69th; Fag, A
pavirs, 35th ; Coachman, Ala,
Ir. CAMPBELL, 32d ; David, Mr:
i REDMAN.
It has not n general been deemed fair to compare Amateur
Performers with those of the profession.—but most of these
Gentlemen might very well stand the test' in running a parallel
with some of the best in London : Mr. GIFFORD, in Sir
Anthony, reminded us of
.MUNDEN, but rather in the style
than as a copieet ; his manner being quite original, and in no
degree exaggerating the character, pourtrayed the humorous
affectionate, passionate,
with his son, Captain 4bsolvt.,
old Baronet to the life : all his scenes
evident ease to (sustained by Mr. GILL with
himself, and like a Gentleman). set the house
in a roar,—the contrast between the apparent ungovernable
wrath of the one, and
the perfectly respectful nonchalance of
the other, being irresistible. Bob Acres (Mr. TUDOR) was
inimitable ; and had LISTO: himself been present, he must
have found pleasure in shaking this Amateur rival by the hand.
Sir Lucius 0' Trigger (Captain CAIRNS) might have had a
character better adapted to his talents. Darid (Mr. DaeviEs)
was all genuine comic humour. Fag (Mr. CAMPBELL) we re-
greeted as too short for the merits of the enactor ; but those who
had seen Mr. C. in Tangent, a few nights before, easily recog-
nised the object of their former eulogium. Captain CAMPBELL
gave us Falkland with all the morbid sensibility of that pecu-
liarly irritable lover, and added to it an interest, besides, we do
not remember to have felt before for that torturer of la belle
pass"eoll.
To the Play was appended the laughable Farce of The Mayer
of Garratt,—and all was absolutely fatiltless. .31ejor Stur-
geon, the perfect fisherman in regimentals; Jerry Sneak, the
poor, creeping, snivelling, henpecked- hneband„—impOssible,
except by the power of dramatic metamorphosis, to suppose
personated.by the same Gentleman who gave us Capta;it Abso-
lute. Brother Bruin *as Urea Major ; and Heel-Tap, the
drunken Cobler, surpassed even:his Datid.cf the Play, which
we had thought was not to be equalled.
But the hearts of these benevolent ornaments of our garrison
were in the whole buSineta from • beginning to end ; therefore,
we need not be surprised at so general a proof of excellence,
when the generous zeal of Charity kindles the genius which
enlists in her cause. • '• - a n FIUMANITAS.

'r.b.--2,lay we hope that these laudable exertions of talent
will be continued ; and there cannot be a doubt of the humane
and judicious inhabitants of ,our Island giving their liberal
patt °nage.