The Sun.
London, England, 1826-03-13 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Miss FooTE made her second appearance at this
Theatre on Saturday, in the part of Donna Platonic In The
Wonder. On her entrance she was received with great ap-
plause, which increased as the play advanced. She seems to
have understood the hint conveyed in our remarks on her per-
formance of Letitia liardg on Thursday night, for she Impressed
in a great measure all overstrained efforts when she wished to
express her different feelings throughout the piece. In the
scene where her lover (Don Felix) accuses her of perfidy,
towards him, the dignified manner with which she repulses
every insinuation against her constancy, with the arch and play-
ful style in which she rebukes him (when they are reconciled)
about his firm intentions of quitting her for ever, called forth the
most enthusiastic applause. Mr. NirAL LAC K was very efEctive
in the character of Don Felix. His personation of a drunken
cavalier was a du"' d'anvre. Mr. BEfixETT, from Covent-
garden Theatre, made his first appearance here in the character
of Captain Brawl. He performed his part with great credit to
himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the audience. It was
certainly a very spirited anti well-studied performance. HAW,.
I LEY, as usual, kept the house in good humour in the intriguing
bustling, flippant valet of Don Felix. In Der Frei:Mut:,
Ise CUDITT was the substitute for Miss 6 HADDON, who was
indisposed

ENGLISH OPERA.
Mr. MATHEWS was on Saturday evening At
Home, for the first time during the preatsent season ; and upon
this, as on former similar occasions, the company who favour.
ed him with a call to congratulate him on his return to town,
was fashionable and numerous. Every part of his house was
crowded long before the host was ready to receive his visitors ;
but when he did appear, the greetings which passed between
him and his well-tried riends, came warm from the heart of
each. His reception, on his parte, was enthusiastic; anti the
effect which it produced upon him, visible to the most super-
ficial observer ; anti it was not until after a considerable pause,
that he could collect himself sufficiently to commence his ad-
dress. The title which Mr. Mathews has on the present occa.
sion selected for hie entertainment, is very appropriate. " Invi.
batons !" no better could be adopted by a person who announces
that he is di HomC, and whose first object is to have his house frill.
Mr. Mathews however does not confine himself to inviting ids
friends, but takes this opportunity of informing them of the
nature and number of similar compliments paid to himself in the
course of a week, and amusing them with an account of the
incidents which occurred, and of the individuals whom he met
in the families whose invite was answered on his part by an
accept. •The scope afforded for the display of Mr. Al.'s inimi-
table talent in such a recital will be apparent to every ono who
has witnessed his past performances; and on the present occa-
sion, there was no lack of exertion. or falling off of humour,
on his part, and some of the characters Introduced are as exqui.
sitely pourtrayed by him in the present entertainment, as others
have been on former occasions. Though taken as a whole,
there is less of originality in " Invitations," than in any of his
former entertainments. "'his circumstance however only affords
the stronger proof of the talent of the performer; who, with
decreased means, is able to produce increased effect, as was the
case with Mr. Mathews, who was never more successful in
amusing his audience than on Saturday night. In giving this
opinion of. the merits of " Invitations," generally as a dm-
matte production. we must make exceptions to many parts
of it. The character of Mrs. Worrit, an attached
friend, who has known Mr. Mathews from infancy, is
well drawn, and the account of a visit to that Lady's
dinner table, excited the risible faculties of the audience in no
trifling degree. The same may be said of the visit to break-
fast with Mr. Shakeley, a nervous subject, and of a pie nic
party to Norwood, under the superintendence of Lady Lawdle.
he picture of a gentlemen possessed with " The ghost of a
tune," annihilated gravity, and proved indeed " a righte merrie
ghoste." Sir Harry Skelter, a bird of passage, running after
sights in every part of the globe except tl.ose to be found in
his own country, and constantly returning disappointed, is
a very pleasant sort of a gentleman to laugh at, whilst Mr.
Poppers sporting anecdotes, as related by Mr. Matthews,
affbrd abundant sport to the audience. An invitation to the
Italian Opera. presents an oppotunity for a song, and the in.
troduction of imitations of Velma!, de Begnes, and some other
of the principal performers of that establishment, whidi were
much applauded. The invitation to a family dinner at Mr.
Dilbery's, and the account of the interesting little Dilbery's,
seven in number, and their amusing manners at the dinner
table, does not fall short of any of Mr. Mathew's former
comic sketches. Whilst the visit 'to the Rouge et Noir
table, anti the episode of Ardley, the ruined gamester,
proves that Mr. Alathew's possesses the power of touching
the finer chords of the heart, and painting the miseries of hu-
man nature with a pencil an strong and unerring as that with
which he pourtrays its follies. There could not, we think,
be a heart in the house which remained untouched with
feelings of sympathy for the sorrows of the ruined and dis-
tracted Ardley, and of abhorrence for the miscreants by whom
the ruin and distraction had been brought upon him. The
picture is, we doubt not, from real life, and not the child of
fancy. 'rime last part of the entertainment consists of' a Mono.
polylogue called " The City Barge," a thing, of shreds anti
patches, made up of incidents occurring in the course of a city
aquatic excursion, wholly devoid of interest, wit, or humour;
this excursion, to render it bearable, must be greatly curtail.
ed. Indeed, the omission of it altogether, if we may form
a judgment of time opinion of the audience from the expression
of langour which pervaded the house miuringits progress, "is
a consummation devoutly to be wished." Mr. Mathews, as he
tells us in the commencement of his entertainment, has com.
pleted his apprenticeship to the public ; he has now commenced
his eighth year with the most flattering prospects of success.

It is highly creditable to Mr. MATHEWS, that
as soon as he learnt that Mr. WRENCH was to
take his benefit at the A delphi Theatre on Thurs-
day last, he postponed the commencement of his
entertainments from that day until Saturday.
LISTON has been engaged by the Taunton
manager for a few nights. lie will make his ap-
pearance on our boards in the course of next
week.—(Dorset Couto Chronicle.)
A Deputation of Amateurs of the Drama, who
reside in Dublin, have paid the veteran, Jos
MINDEN, a visit, in the hope of prevailing upon
this excellent actor to perform a few nights on
the Dublin stage, before he takes a last farewell
of the part of the Empire where he was a univer-
sal favourite. Munden's health is, we are glad
to hear, perfectly restored.
VAUXHALL.—Very liberal engagements have
been concluded between the Proprietors of Vaux-
hall Gardens and the following Performers :
Mr. Braham, Mr. Sinclair, Miss Stephens, and
Miss Povey ; also with Mr.Spagnoletti, as Leader,
and Mr. Bishop, as Conductor and Composer.
A reward of 100 guineas, and his MAJESTY'S
pnrdoni are promised to whoever will discover
the person or persons who broke into the office
;f
' on the night of the
11,
1,7: On PdPstale!
lei xi Irloan safe, containing bills
m
and notes to a considerable amount.
6th alt.,
1C