The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-07 00:00:00

I'LOT.

" The piece opens with a dialogue between Mr. and Mrs.
Pickleton (BENNET and Mrs. C. JortEa,) a retired grocer and
his wife, from which the audience have an opportunity of team
ing that. Harriet Pickleton (Mrs. l'a,YEs) is betrothed to a
military officer, with the very romantic name of Hector Mango
(PENI.EY), and that Clarissa Mango (Miss 1. PaToN) is
about to be married to a Mr. Wander, (Lzierox). The ar-
rangement is not approved of by Mrs. Pickleton, whe desire's
that her daughter akould be married to Wander, whom they
have been expecting for some bouts to arrive. • At length
he comes; and it turns out that the delay has been occa-
sioned by his getting into a wrong coach when half way
on his road, and thus unconsciously going back to London.
His conduct accords with the expectations which such a com-
mencement is calculated to raise. 11e hands money to Mrs.
Pickleton to pay the post-boys instead of to his servant, and
commits a score of other extravagancies, which he carries to
their climax, by entering Mrs. Pickleton's bed-room instead
of his own, and putting on Mr. Pickleton's dressing-gownl
and. his wife's night-cap. The consequence is the universe
uprousing of all the inhabitants of the house, and in this ge-
neral' confusion the Act ends. In the second Act he is urged
by Pickleton to write a letter. to Clarissa to atone for his
epparent neglect. He sets about it with much earnest-
ness, and completes it, after having wasted some time in dip-
ping the pen into the sand instead of the ink ; but no sooner
is it done than he empties theink-stand over it, and renders
his composition illegible. He begins again, but unluckily Pic-
kleton, by way of passing the time, reads aloud one of his
while Wander is writing, and the consequence is a ridiculous
mixture of sweets intellectual and sweets substantial, vows of
passion with pounds of treacle, and professions of love with
lumps of Sugar. This interview over, Wander is involved in
new difficulties. Harriet determines to appeal to his generosity
to promote her union with Hector ; and alarmed by the approach
of her mother, she conceals herself in a closet. Clarissa next ;
enters, and after sonic conversation, in order to avoid Hector,
she takes retnge in the very same place. The denonement is
now at hand. Mr. and Mrs. Pickleton and Hector enter, the
young ladies come forth, and Wender's miseries are at their
height. An explanation succeeds, and the three ends according
to established custom in the contentment of all parties."
This farce may be entitled a monodram, for
it seems wholly intended to display. the talents
of LISTON, whose absent mind leads him into a
variety of mistakes and blunders, as mentioned
in the preceding account of the plot. The ori-
ginal design is taken from _Boo vcnc, and a
translatiou appears in The 'Spectator. It has
been the subject of two former pieces, entit-
led The Absent Man, one written in the year
1764 by Mr. third., the benevolent Founder
of TIIE THEATRJEAL FUND, a good actor,
a man of learning, and a truly respe-ctable mem-
ber of Society. It is strange that in the anni-
versary festivals of the THEATRICAL FUND, this
Gentleman's memory is wholly omitted, though it
ought to be a standing toast. ilhe other Farce, en-
titled The Absent Man, was written in 1768, by
the wretched BICKERSTAIT. The first was re-
presented at Covent-garden,and the second at
Drury lane. The latter was chiefly successful.
inol.gathering, the Farce of last night, was not
less amusing intrinsically than the former two,
and has the advantage of Linos for the hero,
one of the most ludicrous and original Actors
that ever appeared before the Public. lie
was admirably diverting on this occasion, as
usual, and the piece, having the additional sup-
port of Mrs. YATES, Mr. W. BENNETT, and Mrs.
C.JONES could not fail to excite a favourable re-
ception, and will probably be one pl. the chief
comic props of the seasoo,

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