The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-20 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

This house opened last night, and immediately the
doors were unclosed it may be said that every seat was
filled, so that, even at the reduced prices, there could not
have been less than 4001. taken. This is a " fair commence..
ment," but whether it will have " an answerable segues-
tration," is another question. The lessee has certainly done
wisely to lower the admission at once, because if he had
waited until the emptiness of his benches called for such a
step, it m'ght have been too late, and the experhuent as
before been tried in this way with no avail. It. 'is said that
the nightly expense, including everything, does not exceed
1.50/. (we doubt if it be so much), and an avera.o.e of 2001.
houses during the season would therefore ,?B''e the lessee a
considerable profit. The performaneo were Hamlet, and
The Miller and his Men, but ber.„re they began the curtain
1"...te company arranged on the
rose, and discovered the w
stage for the perforniance of " (od save the King." Next
followed an addresy f,-.•
e the o3casion, written by we
know not wh.z,m,
and expressing we know not what.
Miss Taylpis
'3'
spoken it .etivered it, and no doubt would have
audibly and well, had she been allowed, but
4;613 this period a disturbance was commenced, prin-
c*-,,a11y in the galleries, and we are sure that not a syllable
penetrated farther than about the first six rows of the pit.
The malcontents were few in number, but persevering in
their efforts, and the tragedy commenced under many dis-
advantages ; for those who wished to bear defeated their
own end by exclamations for silence. C. Kemble came on
in the „second scene, and, after an absence of three years,
was received with every proof of admiration and respect,
which he acknowledged with a very manly grace. How-
ever, he could only be heard at intervals, and at last the
clamour and confusion became so great, and the calls for
" manager" so general, that H. Wallack stepped forward
(urged perhaps by a gentleman who leaped from the boxes,
and passed over the stage to confer with him) and enquired
very courteously what the audience desired? No distinct
answer was returned, and he added that if the pit, or any
other part of the house were too crowded, the doorkeepers
had orders to give those whp liked to retire, admission for
another night. We do not believe that a Single person
went out ; but order was pretty well restored while
Wallack stated, that if any persons unkindly and unge-
nerously came there to oppose the object and design of
the lessee, officers were stationed in various parts of
the theatre, and he hoped that they would do their
duty. This information produced a general calm, and
the tragedy was permitted to proceed without inter-
ruption. C. Kemble has recently played Hamlet at the
Haymarket, and not only then, but on various other occa-
sions, we have given our opinion regarding his execution of
the part. We see no reason to alter our opinion, for al-
though he is unquestionably a great actor, he fails to satisfy
us in conveying a just and full notion of the morbid condi-
tion of the mind of Hamlet, and of the great purpose to
which be is devoted. The tragedy went off with great ap-
plause, although some of the other parts were filled below
their merit. Dowton's Polonius was the best, and we
were glad to see him so attentive to the claims of the
author; he was warmly greeted on his entrance. Mrs. W.
West was the Queen, and we were glad to see her again,
a 3 in theSe times her services will be valuable. She played
Ravina in The Miller and his Men, which followed the
tragedy, and on Thurs lay she is to apnea • as Lady Mac-
beth. We ought not to omit to mention, that the interior .
of the house has been re-painted in very good taste, to the
abolition of the spots of crimson which formerly disfigured
the fronts of the boxes. A new drop-curtain has also been
prepared, the effect of which is novel and elegant.