The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-10 00:00:00

THEATRICAL CHIT CHAT.

Shakspeare's " Taming of the Shrew," a Comedy, in
five Acts, which has not been represented at either Thea-
tre for more than eighty yeers, is about to be restored at
Drury-lane, with all its original characters, and the addition
of songs, duets, and glees, selected entirely from the son-
nets and plays of the author. When Garrick reduced the
" Taming of the Shrew" to the afterpiece of " Catherine
anti Pctruchio," he omitted the best part of Hortensio, and
of Bianca, and the whole of Tranio, Lucentio, the Pedant,
Vincentio, and the Widow. Braham is to play Ilortensio;
Miss Paton, Catharine ; %flack, Petruchio ; Harley,
Grumio ; and Jones, Tranio. We hope a portion of the
original Introduction to this Comedy will be retained, were
it only to introduce that admirable comedian, Liston, in the
character of Christopher Sly. Bishop composes and
adapts the music.—Mathews leaves town on Wednesday,
on a professional tour to Edinburgh and Glasgow, where
lie has been long engaged. He will not return to Old
Drury for a month. Liston will likewise shortly quit the
Metropolis for a more limited period.—" The Critic,'
" Killing No Murder," " The Poor Gentleman," and
" Love, Law, and Physic," the success of which, on revival,
has been unexampled, must be laid upon the shelf, until
these powerful comic actors return, and unite their talents
with Mr. Jones, Mr. Dowton, Mr. Harley, and Mt.
Cooper, all of whom essentially contributed to the attrac-
tion of these Dramas. Peake's laughable farce, called
" The Hauated Inn," cannot be acted until Mathews re-
turns. Price, who seems to spare no expellee in the pro-
duction and variety of his Dramas, has a store of new and
revived pieces in progress. Kenney is preparing a Comedy,
founded en an old play, in which Liston, Mathews, Jones,
Dowton, Harley, and Wallaek, are to act ; there is consi-
derable mystery in regard to the source whence this Co-
medy is derived, to prevent anticipation and rivalry.
Poole is nearly ready with his Drama ; and the Comedy
by Sheridan Knowles, the popular author of " William
Tell," has long been in the hands of the Managers. Con-
siderable advances have likels ise been made by Stanfield,
the scene-painter, and the machinist of the theatre, in pre-
paring for the Easter new spectacle. Covent Garden has
• experienced a decided hit in the engagement of that unri-
valled ballad-singer, Miss Stephens. C. Kemble has had
the good taste to revive those Operas and Comedies, with
songs, in which Miss Stephens originally acted, and in the
performance of which this lady is without a competitor.
Kean is nearly recovered from his severe illness ; his attrac-
tion continues; it has amply repaid the Management of this
house for the large suns given to him—we understand 501.
every night he acts. Kean's engagement for this season is
drawing to a close; before it terminates, it is said he will take
a benefit; and his son, by permission of Mr. Price, who is
the most current and kind friend Kean ever had, has
granted the younger Kean his permission to act in the
nay with his father; this will, no doubt, be a very inte-
resting treat to the lovers of Tragedy. Young is returned
from Manchester; he had a full house on his benefit night,
notwithstanding it occurred on the very day when nearly
forty bodies, drowned by the recent accident of the launch
of the ship, were lying on the bank of the river. Young
will shortly resume his performances at Covent Garden,
where, in every department of the whole management,
there has this season been complete success. Morton,
who, as an author, has seldom failed, has adapted (our
suggestion) the popular French piece, called " La Femme
Soldat," under the title of " The Invineibles," with com-
plete success; and Planehe's " Merchant's Wedding,"
with the fine acting of Charles Kemble, Miss Chester, and
Mr. Farrel), must continue to attract. Miss Kelly is fear-
fully effective in the deep-toned character of Ernes-
tine, the orphan, in the '' Somnambulist, or the Phan-
tom of the Village." Farley is again busy with his " Eas-
ter-offering," under the guise of Spectacles : we wish bins
success. Peake has a new Farce at this Theatre,—The
Minor Theatres abound with novelty. Yates, its the
absence of his partner, Terry, is the sole director of
the Adelphi. Ile produced, last week, a new piece,
called " Presumptive Evidence," founded on the story
named " Card' Drawing," from the recent publica-
tion of The Munster Festivals, which, owing to
the excellent acting of Mrs. Yates and T P. Cooke, and
Yates himself, in the character of a Wild Irishman, lies
been eminently successful.—Elliston at the Surrey Theatre,
aided by Master Burke awl Rayner, certainly the, beet
Yorkshireman on the stage, continues to collect profitable
audiences. His neighbour the Royal Coburg, acts, night
after night, the regular drama without interruption,—
Tom Ditislin, the most prolific of all the dramatic writers
of the day, takes his benefit at Sadler's wells this evening.
His industry merits reward—we hope he will be recom-
pensed by a bumper.—At the King's Theatre, Laporte,
the manager, is unremitting in his endeavours to please the
high class who patronise this expensive establishment,
though it is sadly borne down by exorbitant salaries paid
to a few individuals. The company, however, is so com-
plete in its detail, especially in the prominent departments,
that we trust the season will end profitably to the deserving
lessees.—Ainold is playing a sure game with his French
of AroilTertele's t Comediesat have
the head of
them.
Dramas, at the English Opera House. His active mind
produces infinite variety, and the manner in which each
piece is got up is highly creditable to his taste. What is
called the Fashionable World, at the head of which seems
to he the Duke of Devonshire, fill the private boxes each
night of performance. The pit, likewise is generally
ic)reoewn crowded.
here.e Thethis season, moat popularon,with
o

SONTAG, we rejoicc,to learn, positively appear.
after Easter.--Literary Gazette.

yo"lornoislimentl,, who, from her infancy, has
re 4
lady of extreme beauty of person
d n mentaltd a u
~n
inclination for the stage, is now, and has been
f
some time, under the tuition of an experienced actress,
.everal years retired from the profession ; the expellee is
defrayed by a manager of one of the Winter Theatres. The
lady will not appear until next season.
:i end
raAi

given en "Deeper
Thirty years ago BRA ILA Al was in treaty with
the Directors of the Ancient Concerts, but the treaty was
broken off in consequence of Mr. BRAHA3I wishing to
eaenp eirnafenrdi
inferior
adeeperitist s. t i l IB,"RsAv
Hh iAcl:thad e previouslyrrorm
ed at been
k',oncert, for the brat time, last Wednesday, and gave, with
treat power and effect, " Deeper and deeper still," the very.
air he was originally anxious-to sing.

SHARP, the celebrated historical engraver,
used to say of the present LORD CHANCELLOR..." Ah !
that son of CorLET's 1011 be at the head of his profession—
mark if what I tell you come not to pass."

Mr. BEHNES has just finished a bust of the
Princess VICTORIA.. It bears a striking resemblance to
•he countenance of the present King, when a child, and
will, we understand, be one of the attractions at the ap-
iiioaciaing exhibition of the Royal Academy.