The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-17 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATBE.

The performances at this house last night were for the
benefit of Mr. George A. Webster, its present tenant, the
speedy close of whose short term of management is thereby
intimated. The chief attraction of the evening was Sir
Edward llulwer Lytton's play " The Lady of Lyons,"
in which the principal character, Claude Melnotte,
was played by Mr. Leigh Murray, who joined Mr.
Webster's company for a short engagement last week.
nr. Leigh Murray has not been seen in London in any
part of this order or weight since his earliest appearance,
his SUCCCS3 in the lighter walk of comedy and in certain
character-parts having wooed him from this early direction
of his talents. It is well that such was the case, for it is
highly improbable that he would ever have achieved or
maintained so Ligii:aloosition as a tragedian as he has won in
his present less lofty aspire ions, not that the power of con-
ception or mental calibre of this accomplished actor are
inadequate to the "swelling theme" of Melpomene, but the
limited extent of his physical capabilities decidedly pre-
cludes him from the successful execution of characters in
which stern vigour, deep passion, and fiery energy are requi-
site. For this reason, though Mr. Leigh Murray's Claude
Melnotte is a graceful and natural impersonation, full of
quiet and refined touches of poetical feeling and even revela-
tions of deep pathos, it is deficient in that strong impulsive
dash—that headlong impassioned vehemence which is
necessary to convey the true conception of the part—
we do not say the character, for of that there is liitle or
none. The long inflated tirades with which it abounds can
only be effectively got through by one well practised in the
hackneyed devices of tragic declamation, and with a power
of lung that will enable him to rant, and soundly, too, when
occasion serves. The set speeches of Claude Melnotte are
laid out for "stagy" emphasis, and depend on the amount
of force with which their points are delivered to be ren-
dered truly telling, and it is one of the clevernesses of this
clever play that such is the fact. There is so touch easy
grace in Mr. Leigh Murray's deportment, and so much un-
affected truthfulness and delicacy in his bursts of sentiment,
that if he was not all Claude Melnotte should be, be won the
favour of his audience very rapidly and very unmistakeably,
and kept it to the end of the play, when he was called for and
appli!udedwithenthusiasm. The Pauline Deschapelles of the
evening was Mrs. C.Young, who acquitted herself with credit
of a part considerably beyond her reach. Of the remaining
characters nothing needs to be said but that they attained
more or less a respectable mediocrity. The succeeding pieces
constituting the evening's entertainments were the farce of
" The Two Potts," in which.d
celebrity, made his audiencebrelSal break into Wlintomdaieninb
manyof S
hearty
laughurrey
by his grotesque antics ; " The Man who follows the Ladies,"
a sketch written by Mr. Howard Paul, and played by him
and Mrs. Howard Paul; lastly, the farce of " Good for
Nothing." The house, with the exception of the pit and
stalls, presented but an unsatisfactory appearance, seeing
the nature of the occasion.

Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Woron-
zow and family have arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Paris.
His Excellency the Count Apponyi left the
Austrian Legation on Sunday evening for Germany, on
terve of absence for a few weeks. Count Katelyi, who bas
rteontly returned from the Continent, acts as Charge
d'Affaires during the conge of the count.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have
le`t Alnwick Castle for the Lakes, Cumberland.
The Duke and Duchess of Manchester have gone
to his grace's seat in the north of Ireland. The duke and
duchess go shortly on a tour of visits in Scotland.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde have
left town on a tour in Germany.
The Marquis of Salisbury left town yesterday for
Liverpool.
The Marquis and Marquise cl'Assche have arrived
at Fahren era 's Hotel from Brighton.
T
Earl of Lonsdale is at Lowther Castle. His
lt.rdship is expected in town in
Grey
tenday
The Earl and Countess have left Howick
The Countess of Caledon has arrived at Caledon
House, NorthumberlaNd, on a tour of visits in Scotland.
Hill, county Tyrone, from a tour of visits.
Warring-
ton returned to Lnville Hall, Staffordshire, on .
bad
The Earl and Countess of Stamford and ivfonday
from Stayley Moors, Cheshire, where the noble earl
three daps' excellent grouse shooting.