The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-14 00:00:00

HAYMARKET TH t-ATRE.

, Moore's tragedy of Tke Gamester, the earliest and
certainly the best of our domestic dramas, was re-
vived here last night NN ith the following cast
Beverley. . Mr. C. Kean.
Stukeley Mr. Creswick.
Lewson Mr. Howe.
Jarvis
Mrs. Beverley ....Mrs. C. Kean.
As has been justly observed by a contemporary,
the character of Mrs. Beverley is one which shows
to very great advantage a principal phase of the ta-
lent of Mrs. Charles Kean. In the portrayal of in-
jured, gentle, meek, and loving womanhood, she has
no rival near her throne. Affecting and effective as
these delineations are, there is in them no straining
after effects no evident and elaborate trumping up of
the feelings, no artificial piling of the agony. To
Mrs. Charles Kean pre-eminently belongs that
art which conceals art ; she sinks the heroine
in the woman. Infusing just enough of ideality into
her pathetic creations to redeem them from the charge
—if it be a charge—of not rising from the mere
prosaic realm of domestic misery into the more purely
spiritual kingdom of tragedy—Mrs. Kean places her
trust in an absolute truth to nature, elaborated and
displayed by the most subtle refinements of her art.
She is, if we may use the phrase, the least theatrical
of artists; yet she is one of the most dramatic. She
never exaggerates, yet she is never tame. To her,
in fact, it has been given to find that oft-sought but
rarely discovered line of art which is dramatically,
effective from the very depth and openness and hearti-
ness of its truth to our common nature. Nothing
could be more exquisitely touching than her whole
portraiture of Mrs. Beverley—it was so graceful and
feminine, so tender and so true. The confident, the
assured, the disdainful, yet the thankful unbelief
with which she meets Stukeley's insinuations of her
husband's faithlessness, was beautifully summed up
in her delivery of the short, and seemingly trivial,
phrase, " I don't believe it ;" and the intense burst of
inarticulate anguish in the dying scene, was the very
consummation of art. The part of Beverley is one of
Mr. Charles Kean's best impersonations. He played
it last night like a true artist—thoughtful and
manly id his remorseful struggles during the earlier
scenes, while over the latter part of the play he flung
an intensity of dramatic energy, and a deep sense of
utter desolation, which were painfully powerful. As
a whole, the play was steadily and conscientiously
acted. The unpleasant part of Stukeley is not
unfitted to the peculiar character of Mr. Creswick's
style, and he rendered it with a sustained and gloomy
power, which, though sometimes harsh and dry, was
always telling. Mr. Howe, as Lewson, played with
energy and effect, giving the passionate speeches with
a hearty vigour which was not lost upon the audience;
while Mr. Rogers, a very painstaking and often suc-
cessful actor, gave the small part of Jarvis with
unction and pathos. The applause was hearty and
unanimous at the fall of the curtain, and, after Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Kean, Mr. Creswick was summoned
to receive the congratulations of the audience.

ADELPHITHEATRE.
Slasher and Crasher, a new farce, which was pro-
duced here last evening, is from the pen of Mr.
Madison Morton, and is better even than the Box and
Cox of the same author. It is more original in its
construction, and more uproarious in its fun, and it
consequently met with the " screaming" success
which is the true triumph of an Adelphi farce. The
opening scene of this farce represents the closing
scene of some unknown predecessor, in which (Slasher
(Alr.Wright) and Crasher (Mr. l'aul Bedford) are seen
holding the hands of Rosa (Miss Emma Harding), and
Miss Blowhard (Mrs. Laws), the first the niece, the
second the sister of old Blowhard (Mr. Lambert), a
vet •ran trumpeter, who having made two pairs of
lovers happy, is about to speak the tag to the audience,
when he receives a letter, from which he learns
that Slasher has submitted to be kicked
without demanding satisfaction, and that Crasher
is president of an anti-duelling society. De-
spising such "muffs," he declares that the matches
shall not take place, whereupon Slasher and Crasher
determine to get up u pretended quarrel, and fight a
pretended duel, in order to deceive the old gentleman.
To describe the fun that ensues would be impossible.
There was Wright cowardly at first, but becoming
gradually warmed into a prodigy of valour that
actually tt rritied old Blowhard himself. There was
Paul Bedford endeavouring at first to infuse valour
into Wright, and et length being terrified at the
Frankenstein he had raised, until at last old Blow-
hard consents to the matches, and is about to resume
his tag, when he is interrupted by Wright, who assures
the audience of the readiness of Crasher and Slasher
to thrash each other every night until further notice.
The farce was admirably acted throughout. Not
only were Paul Bedford and Wright Lull of the
broadest fun, but Lambert threw into the
part of Blowhard a bluntness which was most effective,
and Miss Emma Harding acted Rosa with a vivacity
and gaiety that contributed not a little to the success
of the piece. The audience was in a roar from the
rising to the falling of the curtain.

BATTY'S AMPHITUEATRE.—Mr. Batty has an-
nounced this as the last week of the performances of his
talented company in Edinburgh, and we trust this an-
nouncement will not be forgotten by those who admire
the brilliant entertainments of the circle. Novelty
and variety have hitherto nightly drawn crowds to
his amphitheatre, in which many of the most cele-
brated equestrians in the kingdom exhibit their clever
and intrepid feats. In the whimsical department Messrs.
Adrian and liochez excite much laughter, especially
amongst the young; while the chair tricks of the latter,
and his standing upon a pyramidal pedestal of bottles,
insure to him the hearty approbation of the spectators.
The disposition for the marvellous is here abundantly
'ratified, and amongst so many feats, it is" as difficult to
discriminate as to decide. The Ladies Fete, introduced
last week, proved an excellent combination, and thein-
tricate and beautiful movements of the steeds was only
equalled by the spirit and graceful deportment of the
raters. It will be observed that several morning per-
forsnances are to take place this week, chiefly intended
for v:sitors to Hallow Fair, which opportunity we trust
will be largely availed of.—Caledonian Mercury.
JOSEFII Any ENJOYING SOMETHING TO HIS " AD.
VANTAGE."—This notorious individual, who has sent
thousands of letters, intimating that he " knew some-
thing to the advantage" of those whom he addressed, is
snared at last. Friend Joseph is now an inmate of
Tothill-fields Prison, where he is confined for a debt due
to the Postmaster-General, for the postage of returned
letters.

AIELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—OR Thursday last,
as some boys were amusing themselves by skatiug on the
corn-mill reservoir, Airdrie, the ice suddenly gave way,
and three of them were instantly immersed in six feet
water. Assistance was speedily procured, and with the
aid of a rope two of the boys were rescued from the im-
pending danger, but we regret to add that the remaining
one, son of Mr. M'Lauchlan, sheriff officer, despite every
exertion made to save him, sunk to rise no more.—l ert-
fretrahire Reformer.
LOCHGELLY.—The Earl of Minto, with Viscount
and Viscountess Melgund, recently visited their estates
at Lochgelly, and took the opportunity of examining the
ironworks recently erected by the mineral tenants,
Messrs. John Hennerson and Co. They examined mi-
nutely the process of raising and calcining the ironstone,
and melting it into iron. Lord Minto also selected a site
for ~:chools. which are much needed from the increase of
population, and agreed to give an acre of landgratui-
tously for the building and play-ground, and alto join
to
with the mineral tenants in the expens3rc
efoefeurry.
erecting them
and supporting teachers.—Caledonian
CHEAP NEWSPAPERS.—The proprietors of the
Dundee Advertiser, after a trial of three years, have
found it necessary to advance the price of their paper,
belling papers for less than their cost price not having
answered their purpose.
DrELLING Ili AMERICA.—The four midshipmen
..ho were concerned in a duel, at Annapolis, a few
inimths since, have been dismissed the service.—New
York Observer.

" Even in the drama," says Frederick Douglass
(North .Stur), "when the poet presents the Moor of
Venice as an African, the refined sensibility of American
taste can on'y admit him to be played white!"
PAIR PLAT.—Early one morning the shout of a
female was heal d, and all ran to the spot. When they
arrived th, y saw a man and a bear engaged in combat,
hip un thigh, up and down, over and under, and the man's
wifo standing by and hallooing " fair play." The com-
pany ini,ted on parting them. "No, no," said the wo-
man, " let them fight; for its the first that I ever saw that
I didn't care which whopped !"—Life in Kentucky.
A SIGN OF TILE TIMES.—On Sunday, the sth of
November, a Popish processional
cross was, for the first
time since the Reformation, carried through the streets
of Halifax, accompanied by a Romanist priest and bis
clerks.—Halifax Guardian.
The Rev. Lewis Parkin, of St. John's College,
Oxford, and curate of Wem, Shropshire, was instituted
to the rectory of South Kelsey, by the Bishop of Lin-
culn, on the Bth thotont, vacant by the death of the Bev
Samuel Briacoll.