The Sun.
London, England, 1820-05-18 00:00:00

CHARACTERS.

ApFills Claudius .
. . . . F. MA(IIE:Apr.
Icahn: . Mr. C. K EAZ B TE.
C;laudiui. . . Mr. toNNOB.
• Nccins Dentatus . . , Mr. TEaur.
Numeturius . . • • . Mr. EGERTON.
tiir~iuia• • • . . I\liss Foo►E.
Servia . .
It is wholly unnecessary for us to ewer into a
detail of a story so well known, except to ob-
serve, that the Author has deviated flout history
in waking the tyrant Appius die by the haml of
Virginias, who strangles hint in the dungeon,
wittA eas he poiioned himself to avoid the fury
of the people. This catastrophe WeaktiiS the
mortal effect of the composition in rendering
the tyrant the victim of private revenge,
lather thatt of that self-reproach, which drives
hint to despair, and urges hint to avoid by
suicide the punishment that awaited him from
the justice of his Country. There is a considera-
ble share of nrerit in this Play, both on account
of the variety of characters which it introduces,
and the consistency with which they are respec-
tively supported. The plot, we conceive, to be
essentially erroneous in one particular. The piece
should have ended with the death of Virginia,
itvemig is the interest of the female character
upon tar feelings of mankind, that when there is
an end tif tic heroine, the interest of the piece is
also at an cod. That event was the natural, pro-
per, and critical conclusion of the piece. The
last net relates chiefly to the madness, of the fa-
ther, which is an abatement of his criatacter,
as it spews that his grief as. a •father • obli-
terated all,sense of duty to his Coontry. Nor
can that madness excite much interest, as the
Brea; prevailing interest in the fare of Vir-
ginia had subsided- There is. another :error in
making the father so aoxions ior his datighter's.
welfare, and yet delay his return to Rome to
protect her, by doubts, expostulations, and apos.
trophe with tire inessenger %Alio brings the
news of the treatment which site has received,
and the danger to which she is exposed.
As his patriotism is lessened in one respect by
grief for the loss of his daughter, to be con-
sistent, his • filial affection should have hurried
him to Horne to effect her rescue. But the
great error is the prolongation of the piece
by another act after the death of Virginia.—
The proper close of the Merchant of Venice, would
have been the discomfiture of Shylock,
safety of Antonio, but SHAKSPEARE, the great
Master of the human heart, knew, that by 11111'0-
(4161)g the female chat octets again, the interest of
the play was fully, maintained, while the mind
Iva. agreeably relieved from the anxiety attending
the preceding scenes. In Venice Preserved, the
conclusion of the play would properly have been
.the. death of Jeriiet and Pierre, but Os-WAY, ano-
ther Poet deeply conversant in the nature of man-
kind, knew that while the heroine existed the,'

fifidfeitiirlhe play; could not be extinguished :7
but tbef4getly of test night, whether th, se
observations are just or not, is, we re-
peat-, a • drama of considerable merit..
The sentiments are natural and appropriate,. and
are' often expressed with poetical energy and
beauty. Sometimes, indeed, there. is a metaphor.
nut consistently maintained, and though traces of
imitation of other plays are observable, yet the whole
is highly creditable to the talents .of the Author.
It is said 'that this play has been represented on
the Glasgow Stage, and that it was written by a
Alir• KNowt.es, a Gentleman not unknown in the
Literary ‘Vorld. IVe never saw a play better re-
ceived, There was not one dissentient voice brough-
out the performance, and it was sanctioned for re-
petition on the conclusion by general acclamation.
The piece was most admirably supported, parti-
cularly by MACREADY, C. KEMBLE, TERRY, AB-
BOTT, and EGERTON'i Miss FOOTE also' exerted
herself with great effect, and is evidently improv-
ing very- fast in the serious drama. Mr.- C. Kass-
BLE laboured under a severe cold, but -the
spirit and -energy of his performance enabled him
to triumph over his infirmity, to make a very
powerful impression on the ,andience, and abun-
dantly to share in their applause. The house was
NIL The Prologue was spoken by Miss S.
BOOTH, and the Epilogue by Miss •13r.usTor.:, but
we did not bear them sufficiently to-enable us to
judge of their merit.