The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-07 00:00:00

VICTORIA.

The fame of the " Hibernian Roscius," Master Brooke, aged
fourteen, as announced in the bills, but whom we should take
to be two years older, induced us to pay a visit to this house
last night, for the express purpose of seeing his Virginius.
The public will naturally conclude, as we did, that to attempt
such a character with an unshorn chin is a more conclusive
proof of Master Brooke's youthfulness, than were the Manager
to produce the solemn attestation of the young gentleman's
supporters at the baptismal font, or the copy of the registra-
tion of his birth, extracted from the blank leaf in an old
family bible ; but, like us, the same public would change
its opinion had it occupied a seat in the Victoria last
night. If there were moments during his performance of
this very difficult character, in which his audience had
their deeper feelings shocked by the unexpected ludicrous-
ness of associations, the defect was one which no degree
of excellence on his part could remedy. Thus the recital of
his parental recollections, during his touching interview with
his daughter before he leads her to the forum, has an unpleas-
ing effect, coming as it does from the mouth of a very youth,
who* only claim to manhood is the precocity of his talents ;
though at the same time it ought to be mentioned, that his imi-
"teflon of the working of passions peculiar to man in an ad-
vanced state of life, would be thought not unworthy actors t
high repute, whose age would render the right entertainment
of a father's feelings at least probable. There was less of the
school-boy in Master Brooke's performance than we
ever witnessed in the acting of an youth of his years. He
rants a little too much at first, and in the scene where
Virginius vows the downfall of the tyrant, and sup_
plicates his friends to join him in delivering his coun-
try, he wants collectedness, firmness, and that fulness of high
and holy feeling which ever lights the countenance and raises
the bosom of the stern patriot. In all he is but the father,
and in all he only seeks revenge for a wrong of the extent of
which he is then ignorant. This is evidently, in so far, a
misconception of the character; for Virginius had resolved
upon the downfall of Appius Claudius before any attempt was
made to violate the sanctity of his household gods, or pollute
the person of his daughter. The dungeon scene was gone
through much more to our satisfaction. The extreme youth-
fulness of the principal performer considered, it was all
.but perfect. We confess, much as we were pleased with
the appearance of Virginius in the first act, we were not
prepared for any thing equal to the masterly impersonation of
the maniac kneeling on the dead body of Claudius. The
glimpse of reason which led to the strangling of the tyrant is
gone, and with it the passions by which it was directed, and
the unhappy father is seen kneeling on the breast of his de-
ceased enemy, perfectly unconscious of where he is, or what
has happened. We repeat, that this part of the performance
astonished us, from the very extent to which it surpassed our.
expectations. The great fault in Master Brooke's acting is a
want of consistency with itself. He also makes too frequent
use of his hands, though his action is generally graceful, and
his demeanour modest and respectful, yet firm and self-assured.
But he has much to learn and to study, if he would preserve a
reputation which it might be dangerous for him to regard,
as resting more on the intrinsic merits of his acting than
on the predisposition of the public to be pleased with the
efforts of so youthful an aspirant for histrionic fame. Neither
ought he to be ambitious of appearing in characters unsut-Lie
to his years--an ambition which has been the bang: of all the
juvenile Rosciuses that preceded him, by tb..
acquirement of bad
habits, and an indocility of disuot ion arising
gence. The man hewn-- enraged on sing from early du -
discovering that the
applauded acting o 1 the boy is not attended to, or if the con-
trary, witnessed with indifference or disgust, and immediately
begins to rail against the public taste, forgetful, all the time,
he, and not the public, is changed.
We congratulate the manager on the changes which he has
made in the interior arrangements of this house, almost as
much as we do on the strength of his company. The concen-
tration of the lights in the centre of the house, the tier of
boxes in the rear of the dress circle, the glass curtain, and in
short the whole appearance of the house has a very novel im-
proved look, in which an air of roominess and comfort is
added to pleasure and admiration. We wish the manager all
success.

FITZROY.
This Theatre opened last night upon its winter campaign.
The house has been painted, gilded, and newly decorated ; and
whilst the prices of admission and the adaptation of general
conveniences must suit the public in one sense, the stage per-
formance will elicit approbation in another. The activity and
spirit of the theatre were evinced last night in three successful
new productions, upon which we have only to enter our pro-
test against some indelicate double entendres in th Fancy Fair,
and against the general length of the entertainments through-
out the evening. The piece that attracted most applause was
a melo-dramatising of the reign of Nero, which, although not
historically correct, was made to produce many fine scenes and
actions favourable to stage effect. We should notice as pecu-
liarly deserving of favour the banquet of Nero, where the
fountains poured forth the purple stream of wine, and the gla-
diatorship, which, with the exception of some extravagant
sword-playing, was almost the best we ever witnessed. This
Theatre is well adapted to gratify youth.

ROYAL PAVILION.
The play of the Stranger was produced here last night, for
the purpose of introducing Mrs. W. West to an Oriental audi-
ence, in the character of Mrs. Haller—and the purpose of the
manager was answered, for it drew a crowded house. Cob-
ham personated the Stranger with much feeling and discri-
mination, and was frequently applauded. Forde played Stein-
fort ; but we saw nothing of the Steinfort we were wont to
see. Saker and Graham, as Solomon and Peter, were re-
spectable—and this is saying a great deal in their behalf, as
these characters are too often caricatured. After the play,
Miss Forde sang the ballad of " Kate Kearney " most delight..
fully, and was rupturously encored.

Lord Viscount Ebrington has left Castle-Hill, for
Summerville, near Waterford, on his annual visit to his Irish
tenantry—North Devon Advertiser.

Incendiarism has again made its appearance in the
hundred of Launditch. Monday night a fire broke out in the
large home barn in the occupation of Mr. Rix, at Pittles-hall,
containing about 20 sacks of wheat and barley which were
entirely consumed, little but the bare walls escaping. This
is the second incendiary fire on the above property, which
belonged to T. W. Coke, Esq. --Norwich Mercury.
COMMERCIAL WISDOM.—A specimen of the wis-
dom of the French anti-free-trade system has just been men-
tioned to us by a steam-engine maker of eminence in York-
shire, who has recently returned from France, where he has
been employed in setting to work some of the steam-engines
constructed by his firm. According to this gentleman's state-
ment, a pair of steam-engines of a given power, made in Eng.
land, cost 8001., while a pair made in France, of the same
power, cost 1,400/. ; but the French laws, in their great wis-
dom, impose a duty of aoat upon the importation 6f the Eng-
lish engines, and in that way raise the nice, with the carriage
and cost of travelling to set "
them cost mad. -- em up to work,Qo as to make
eno4”-- atm" e
much to the French manufacturer as the
sof his own privileged engine makers. This is _.,g
-"'
way of upholding the manufacturing interest of France.
Leeds Mercury.