The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-26 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

Dauer-LaNg.--Last night Hamlet, :was per-
formed at this house, for the purpose of intro-
clueing a Mr. PELBT, from the Boston and New
York Theatres, as the Danish hero. Mr. PELBT
is a promising young gentleman, about five feet
seven inches in height, light made, ,walks
and appears to know the business of the stage.
His greatest difficuilly was to measure the size
of the. house to suit his voice, which is distinct,
though not powerful, and in its rapid declama-
- •
tory powers more musical than its lower notes.
Hu commenced the arduous task with much cau-
tion, but towards the close of the first act the
audience testified a-consciousness of his improve-
ment by
,general plaudits. In the grand scene
with Ophelia he was excellent, and repeatedly
cheered : in this his voice became round, and
exhibited more power than we expected. The
soliloquy was measured and monotinous2 inclining
to a drawl, but when he forgot the restraint
naturally accompanying a first appearance, his
powers became at once visible, and in the closet
scene with his mother he admirably depicted the
enraged Prince. His confidence never forsook him,
and in the two last acts he sheaved considerable
histrionic Science. In the fencing scene he rose
very high in favour, and met with an equal re-
ception to any debutaut we have seen for many
years. DOWTQN, AncliElt, &E., were as usual
excellent, and Mrs. WEST more powerful than
we have seen her. HARLEY was the Grave-
digger, which he went through, and promoted
the usual mirth incident to that scene. Though
last, not least, %se must pay u sincere tribute of.
approbation to the Ophelia of Miss GRADDON,
who chewed she could act us well as sing ; she
wont through the songs with case, taste, and
sweetness, and was deserved)y and rapturously
applauded. The Pantomime followed, and went
off, as usual, mitt) applause.
(AproTnEit ACCOUNT.)—Last night Mr. PELBY,
from the New York and IlOston Theatres, made his first appear.
ance to a London audience in the arduous character of Hamlet—
thus proving, that of whatever description his talents might be,
his ambition was of the very first order; Accustomed as we
have been to see " the rose and expectancy of the fair state"
sustained by men of the brightest talents, we are not acting with
injustice towards Mr. Pelby, when we say, that he is fur, very
far, removed from that class. lie was, we think, rather to blame
for attempting, with his slender powers, a character, in the per.
formance of which the excellence of John Kenthle, of Young,
of Kean, and still more recently of Charles Kemble, was uni.
venally admitted—excellence which has made a deserVedly
deep impreesion on the memory of those who pay attention
to scenic affairs. Mr. Pelby's qualifications for the stage are
of an ordinary and common-place kind. Ile is short in stature,
but well formed. His features are sharp, and tolerably ex.
pressive. His voice is exceedingly objectionable. It is weak,
tremulous, and inharmonious. The general style of his elo..
cution is of the conventicle kind—drawling and affected ;
and when he ventured out of that beaten track—when
he attempted passion—he became a mere ranter. Mr.
Pell)), Is well-tutored in the business of the stage. He
treads the boards with a bold and unembarrassed air, like one
who was well used to them. His action is free, and often
graceful; and he makes his exits and entrances with skill and
effect. That he has seen and studied Kean, must be obvious
to the most casual observer. He has caught some of the pecu.
liarities of that individual's mode of acting, but not a particle
of his inspiration. He delivered the soliloquies without appear.
ing to feel the beauty of the sentiments which they disclose ;
and where the dialogue required the most energy,. his manner
was, almost uniformly, cold, even to apathy. The play-scene,
and the closet interview with the Queen, were very tamely
played, although they are two of the most animated scenes
in the tragedy. We could nut help smiling at the perfect
nonchalance with which Mr. Pclby, after Hamlet has slain
Polonini, put the impatient and impassioned interro-
gatory, "Is it the King ?" He could not have asked the
most ordinary question with less manifestion of feeling or
emotion. The reply to his mother, when she laments the
" bloody deed,', was given with the same measured listless.
nets. Taking the whole of 111 r. Pelhy's performance, it did
not rise above the dignity of a tolerably correct reading of the
part. The defection of this gentleman may be a great loss to
the New fork and Boston Theatres; but certainly his talents
are not of an' order likely to promote the interest of Drury..lane.
His reception was flattering in the extreme. "As a stranger,"
the addienee gave him a very cordial welcome. Mr. Dowton was
as amusing a Po/in/ins as we have lately seen. Miss Graddon,
as Ophelia, fang with delightful expression. We regret that we
cannot speak favourably of her acting, which was harsh and un.
graceful. At the conclusion of the tragedy, a small party in the
boxes called for Mr. Pelby. They were soon assisted- by a junta.
in the pit, and a, considerable number of the gallery visitera.
.Mr. Archer came forward to give out the play for this even.
Mg ; but nothing save the appearance of Mr. Pelby would,
content those gentlemen. The moment silence was ob.
taMed, or was near being obtained, a party in one of
the stage boxes gave the signal, and the uproar was im-
mediately renewed. The " row "' was carried on with
unabated vigour, until the curtain rose for the Panto.;
mime, when Mr. Wallack found it necessary to come forward,
to learn the pleaiiire of the audience. The cries of " Pelby”
and " Hamlet" were redoubled, sled Mr. Walled( stated that
the wish of the audience :Mould be complied with, Immedi-
ately afterwards, Mr. relby made his eppearline6 amidst loud
cheers. After bowing for a considerable time, silence was re.
stored. Mr. Pelby then said, "he should ever retieet with
ittrwatairdstude on the kindness which the audience had manifested
hint—a stranger," and retired.

COVENT-LiAnnEN.— Last night, after the
of BuldgJott up
rakc
under
era
thl-eVifedir, a
elonnewot Comicsign oUravlleAt
who has given such satisfaction and delight to the ad-
mirersilfr' of attitude and grace, .combined with strength and acti.;
vity, was produced for the first time. The story is founded on the
cCootTpeodsye d by, and
well-known tale of The lin neh-baeked Brothers it Bagdad, aml,
with a slight deviation requisite for stage effect, presetves its
adherence to the original. In the course of the Mallet, Signor
Vanafra displayed astonishing muscular power, without betray•
ing the least symptoms of exertion or violent effort. In the
evening he conies home and finds two of the brothers lying in
his house in a state of inebriation ; he imutediately forms the
plan of casting them into., the sea, and thus getting rid of them
for ever. For this purpose he grasps each of them at separate
intervals, and flings them upon his shoulder with every appa-
rent ease. The whole strength of the Corps de Mullet, which
was iadeed creditable to our English stage, was brought
forward to aid its representation. Amonst the most conspi.
cuous were the correct and justly proportioned movements of
Mrs. Vedy, and the various and flippant attitudes of Miss
Romer. At the end of the Ballet, when Signor Vanafra is
taken prisoner and brought before the Caliph, his supplicating
attitudes were truly beautiful, and such as a classic pencil
might well desire to capp. it holero:byblgnor Vanafra, and
a waltz between two druken men, produced much eirect. • The
whole went off' with much eclat, though sonic slight dissatisfac-
tion was expressed at the close.

, .
U,..s
ALBION tIAPEL.---It win he , fresh in the re-
..
possession to the Synod
the pulpit has been
collection of Moat of our readers that soma time since tho eon
duct of the Rev. Alexander Fletcher excited much public atten.
don ; and that after proceedings in Chancery, he abandoned
ohrisscorigtlitatntdo. A ishiinocrieCtblatepe4l,b'o-axl
igvarcime
supplied by various Ministers from Scotland, among whom
was the Reverend James Cray. Ms labours were approved ;
and finally the members and congregation gave him an unani-
mous call to be their pastor. The ordination took place on
Tuesday, at Albion Chapel, according to the Scottish Preshy-
terian form, and attracted a very considerable number of' per-
sons,.consisting of toemberi, seat-holders, and a great Many
Ministers of the different denominations of dissenters : among
latterthe
Rev. Il weirr. Yckn
were
theo Rev.ey, t tv.
Cox, Jackson,
bell, &c. ; also the Rev. Dr. Waugh, Rev. Dr. Jack, Reverend
Mr. Broadfoot, and the Rev. Mr. Woodrow. The Reverend
David Stewart, of Dublin, began the service with prayer, and
the Rev. Dr. Jack preeched the nomination sermon ; after
which, the Rev. Mr. Ilroadfoot ordained the young minister
(Rev. Gray), and the Rev. 1)r. Waugh concluded. the
service with a charge to the minister and address to the congre-
gation. The chapel was well filled. About 30 of the friends of
the minister afterwards dined At the London Tavern,