The Sun.
London, England, 1824-11-08 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

CoveNT-GAnnEN.---The Tragedy of Venice
Preserved again introduced Mrs. SLOIKAN, in the
character of Belvidere, on Saturday, in which
she fully confirmed the, favourable impression
which she made on the audience by her previous
performance. Indeed her previous success gave
her more self-possession, and she appeared to
greater advantage. We observe that some of our
contemporary critics refer to Miss O'Neil, as the
best Belvidera within their recollection ; and one
of them says, 'c it is only once iu about a century
that such an Actress as Miss O'NEIL appears, or
is perhaps born." lies the Critic totally forgotten
Mrs. SIDDONS? We know that Belvidera was
the favourite character of that great Actress, and
in our opinion her performance of it was the very
perfection of acting. But perhaps the Critic
thinks Mrs. SIDDONS and GARRICK stood at such
a height as to forbid all competition, and if so, he
thinks rightly; but still it is not just to pass over
in silence a Belvidera which OTWAY would
doubtless have viewed with wonder as well as ad-
miration. Mr. C. KEMBLE and Mr. YouNo, in
Allier and Pierre, again exerted all their powers
in those characters, and again divided the general
applause. The Afterpiece was a revived Farce,
called The Escapes, which is so amusing as to
have merited an earlier re-production. FAWCETT
is the chief prop of tbis Piece, but It was also in-
debted to the exertions of PEARIKAN, KEELY,
and Miss HAMMERSLET.

DIRURY.L AN E.—The Maid of the Mill, one of
our good old English Operas, was revived here
on Saturday,after a retirement of the fair heroine,
as the bills announce, of ten years. This notice
implies an imputation on the taste of the Mana-
gers, for having sufDred the piece to remain on
the shelf so long. The story is interesting, and
the variety of characters which it comprizes ren-
der it very entertaining. The characters were
in general well assigned. Hoax was Lord Aim.
worth, BEDFORD Giles, KNIuSIT Ralph, Mrs.
BEDFORD Patty, Miss POVEY Theodosia, Mrs.
W A YLETT Fanny, and GATTIE and Mrs. HAM..
LOVIE, the heads of the Sycamore family. Hosts
sang well, but he introduced songs not in the
original piece. We. protest against this practice.
Our old native Overas ought to be presented as
they originally appeared. The music of this
Opera was composed and compiled by Dr.
ARNOLD, a Composer of whom this country
uught to be proud, as he possessed genius, taste,
and science in no ordinary degree, and was in
the earlier part of his life a pupil of HANDEL.
'Vito works of such an admirable musician ought
not to be subject to capricious interpolation.—
Mrs. BEDFORD is a pretty woman, and Patty is a
gentle character, but Mrs. Benvogn is really too
tame in her acting. BEDFORD'S Giles was manly
and easy, but he does not content himself w ith
giving the airs in a plain unaffected style, suitable
to the character. It is observed in a Morning
Paper, that the music " is somewhat gone by,
but Mr. Bistwe is at this house now, and a few
additions from his genius might render the Opera
interesting and attractive." We admire the ta-
lents of Mr. BISHOP, but the genius of ARNOLD
needs no additions. Too many liberties are taken
with the legitimate Dramas of this country, and
they ought to be secured from obtrusive innova•
tiou.