The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-17 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

MISS WOOLGA It'S BENEFIT.
In the Times of this morning we find the following
tribute, as graceful as it is just, to the merits of the most
accomplished and most versatile (or, as Bulwer would
phrase it, comprehensive) of English artistes, Miss
Woulgar:—
" Of all the actresses who belong, properly speaking,
to the present day, there is none who has more fairly
and honourably worked her way to a high position in
public favour than Miss Woolgar, who took her benefit
last night. First becoming celebrated as a performer in
those rhymed burlesques which now-a-days constitute so
large a portion of the English drama, she has since ap-
propriated to herself a sphere so wide that it is hard to
define its limits at all. We might say that her general
tendency was comic, embracing in that category every
sort of character, from a duchess in a French piece of
intrigue to a chambermaid in the broadest tarce—to say
nothing of the host of male exquisites, whom she dresses
up so neatly, and whom she colours with such pleasing
foppery. But this limit is far too narrow to define her
range. She will quit farce and comedy without the
slightest compunction, take a leading serious part in a
drame, and astonish by her force and intensity. Her
acting of the Gipsy boy in Flowers ol the Forest will
long be remembered as one of the most striking per-
formances of the sort to be seen on the modern stage.
Then, though not a professed vocalist, she can sing well
enough to make a musical drama effective, and the bur-
lesques in which she first acquired her fame are still il-
lustrated by her talent.
" And it should be added, that the various characters
which belong to this boundless range are all performed
well. In badly-managed theatres, when the company
is weak, it is common enough to see the same persons
fill every conceivable part. But the Adelphi is no
theatre of this kind. It has, for its purpose, the best
company in London, and one great talent in the ma-
nager consists in the power of discerning and applying
the peculiar capabilities of each individual artist. It is
the last theatre in the world where an actor would be
made to shuffle through what another could do in-
finitely better, just for the sake of saving an engage-
ment. Strong casting is the very principle of Adelphi
management, and if Miss Woalgar's department is most
varied, it is on account of the variety of her talent.
" Looking through the several forms which this ac-
complished actress assumes on the stage, we shall find
certain important characteristics which enable her to
shine in them all. In the first place, she has a quick
intelligence. She sees in a new part, not a mere com-
bination of words to be uttered, but something capable
of iudividual expression, and she at once sets about to
detect what can be made of it. No part, for instance,
could be made more utterly insignificant than that of
Lelio in Good!light, Signor Pantalon, which she selected
as one of the pieces for her benefit yesterday evening.
Thereis nothing in the dialogue, nor has she the best
situations, and yet the youthful vivacity with which she en-
dows the young.lover gives him quite a distinct existence.
Carefulness is another characteristic. What she per-
fectly understands she endeavours thoroughly to express,
and the elaboration of her by-play, and the well-consi-
dered adjustment of her emphasis, show that her atten-
tion is never slackened for an instant. Let us add a third
and most valuable quality—that of perpetual good hu-
mour. Miss Woolgar always conveys the impression
that she is pleased with her occupation, she acts every
part as if she liked it thoroughly; and when it is in it-
self none of the best, she shows a hearty resolution to
make the best of it. With these qualifications, with
great personal attractions, and with admirable taste in
dressing, it is no wonder that she is one of the most
popular actresses in the most popular theatre of the
metropolis.
" Last night she appeared in three pieces—the Road
to Ruin, the School for Tigers, and Good Night, Signor
Pantalon. We will not say that this was on account of
her benefit, for there are few nights in which she has
not undergone similar exertions. Her versatility was
displayed to the utmost by her selection, and her popu-
larity was demonstrated once more by a house crowded
to suffocation. She was enthusiastically received; and a
hearty welcome was likewise given to Mr. Webster, who,
in the character of Goldfinch, made his first appearance
in London since a severe indisposition."

FRENCH PLAYS.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

The performances at this fashionable theatre were
last night under the immediate patronage of her Ma-
jesty, and were for the benefit of Mr. Mitchell, to whose
taste and enterprise we are indebted for the naturaliza-
tion of the French .drama in this country. The new
one act classical comedy of Horace et Lydie, from the
pen of M. PonEard, was produced for the first time in
this country, Madlle. Rachel sustaining the part of
Lydie, and proving that she is as true to nature, and as
artistic in the delineation of the fascinating, graceful,
coquettish, jealous, refined Roman lady of the Court of
Augustus as she is in the intensely impassioned Ca-
mille of the early days of Rome—her performance of
which lust night followed that of Lydie, and as usual
created a furore. The house was crowded to suffocation.
Mr. Mitchell's benefit st as last night attended by the
Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, Prince
Troubetekey, Baron Koller, Marquis and Marchioness
of Drogheda, Earl of Kilmorey, Earl Granville, Earl
Munster, Earl and Countess of Bruce, the Countess do
Salts, Lady Blanche Dupplin, Count Louis do Noailles,
Lord and Lady Trimleston, Lady De Dtmatanville, Lord
and Lady Reidhaven, Lady Williamson, Lady Russell,
Lady Gr. y, 11:13. Sir Edward and Lady Butler, Hon.
Julian Pane, Hen. W. Stuart, Hon. Miss Stuart, Lady
Quentin, Lady and Miss Palmer, Hon. George Smythe,
Mi!rs Burdett Couts, Mr. Montagu Gore, Mr. Trelawney,
Mr. Spencer Drummond, Major Martyn, Mr. and Mrs.
Goldsraidt, Captain Lovell, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Alston, Mr.
Akoona Mrs. Trelawny Brereton, Mr. and the Misses
niece, air. iNeta,ati a,acciorlld, Mr. Edward Blign.
M
Miss Watkyn Wynn, Colonel Tierney, Mr. Cosine
Gordon and Miss Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanford,
Mrs. Brunel, &c.