The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-06 00:00:00

ADLPHI THEATRE.

Yates, the Indefatigable, commenced his winter
campaign last evening. He has, during the recess,
effected great improvements in the theatre. The
exterior has been entirely rebuilt, and its handsome
new Grecian frontage is a great architectural em-
bellishment to the Strand. The approaches to the
theatre have also been greatly improved, the lobbi( s
being much more spacious, and, which has hither'
been a great desideratum at this theatre, a thorou,c
and efficient ventilation has been secured. Ti
performances last evening commenced by tl
representation, for the first time, of a drams.
entitled, Robespierre, or, Two Days of Cif:
Revolution, from the pen of Mr. Bernard. The
overture, composed by M. Pilati, is a most spirited
composition, descriptive of a Parisian emeute ; and
fro:n our own knowledge, having in cur " hot
youth" assisted, as our neighbours say, at a " scrim-
mage" of the sort in the good city of Paris,
we can vouch for the fidelity of the imitation,
for we have introduced into this overture not only
the popular revolutionary airs, but the shouts of
the combatants, the tolling of the tocsin, and the
firing of cannon and musketry. It was loudly
aulanded, and its repetition called for. The piece
opens with the festival of the Revolution, August
10th,1793, just at the period when Robespierre had
secured his power by the fall of the Girondists, and
before the horrors of the Reign of Terror had com-
menced. The interest of the piece turns upon the at-
tempt of Dumont (Lyon) to save Honore de Beauprie
(Mrs. Yates) and her father, a ci-devant Judge of
Arras, from the pursuit of Robespierre (Yates),

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who at last denounces Dumont himself, ii. lid has
him arrested at a party on the night of the festival,,
:lust as he is about to escape from Paris with Ho-
nore and her father. His arrest terminates the first
act. The second act takes place on the last day of,
the Reign of Terror, July 2S, 1794. Dumont, who
has remained in the revolutionary dungeons ever
since his arrest, is ordered for execution by Robes-
p:erra. Honore, whose father has fallen a victim to
the guillotine, and who herself has been secreted
for months from the revolutionary tribunal by
Morande (H. Hall), -a faithful old soldier, on
hearing of Dumont's condemnation, adopts the des-
perate resolution of seeking Robespierre and be-
seeching him to pardon Dumont. He consents to
grant Dumont's pardon on one condition—that
Honore shall become his mistress. She rushes
with the pardon to the Conciergerie. Dumont, on
hearing the conditions, refuses to accept his pardon ;
but at length they agree to destroy the tyrant, or to
perish in the attempt. The plot is overheard
by the gaoler, who arrests and separates them. In
the mean time the memorable debate on Tallien's
motion is going on in the Convention, which ends
in liobespierre's fall. A tableau vivant, after Horace
Vernet, of the Convention during that debate, is
most effectively managed, and was loudly applauded.
The fall of- Robespierre, of course, occasions the
liberation of his victims, and all ends happily. The
piece, which was pre-emincntly successful, is wellgot
up, the scenery was magnificent, and the costumes
critically correct. Mrs. Yates made her first ap-
pearance on this occasion since her late illness, and
was welcomed with enthusiastic cheering ; wreaths
were also thrown on the stage on her appearance.
She appeared quite overcome with her reception,
and for a time seemed scarcely able to speak.
Honore is a most pathetic and beautiful piece of
acting. Yates was Robespierre himself—a cold,
calculating, heartless despot, actuated only by love
of power for the sake of revenge—one who is so
deeply dyed in hypocrisy, that at last he plays the
hypocrite, even when alone, and almost deceives
himself into a belief of the purity of his own mo-
tives. Lyon was effective as Dumont. The comic
part of the piece was well sustained by Bedford,
Wilkinson, and Wright, who, as a revolutionary
gaoler, and patriotic cobbler, and a member of
Con-
vention, were amusing. The latter gentleman,
who took the part of Herault Lechelles, danced
the cachouca in the ball scene in admirably gro-
tesque style, and elicited roars of laughter
and applause. A witty punning address having
been spoken by Mrs. Yates, a piece of fun,
entitled the Flip:flap Footman, followed.
Wieland, who is engaged at this theatre, Night-
ingale,
the best mimic of the day, and Mrs. Keely,
sustained the principal characters, and a very admi-
rable piece of fun they made of it. It, however,
requires curtailment, and then the farce will have a
roil. The new curtain and drop scene by Telbin
arc exceedingly beautiful. We are glad to see H.
Hall has joined the Adelphi company. He is an
excellent actor, whose merits have not been properly
appreciated. The house was, as the Adelphi ai-
m ys is, crowded.