The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-03 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

M. Boieldieu's Opera of the White Maid, which, in Paris has
met with unprecedented success, was last night brought forward
for the first time at this Theatre. As a melange, the literary por-
tion of it, taken almost exclusively from Walter Scott's Novels
(an immense miscellany from which to adapt the materials of one
piece), is of a very inferior quality—so much so, that to succeed,
the Opera, must perforce, depend on its music, and this, with few
exceptions, keeps the dialogue in very exemplary countenance.—
M. Boieldieu has throughout imitated, and rather slavishly, the
style of Von Weber. Were this the generous imitation of genius,
it would be well; but it is the imitation of an inferior na-
ture, which copies only the defects, while it diligently omits
the brighter parts of the original. The plot is something
to the following effect :—Julian of Avenel (Madame Vestris), who
had been stolen while a child by Meg Merrilies, and named
George Brown, arrives, after having gained a Lieutenancy in the
army, in Scotland ; agrees to stand godfatt.,r to one Sandy
M‘Phear's (Mr. G. Person) son ; and learns, while in the 'neigh-
bourhood, that the Castle of Avenel is haunted ,by a guardian
White Lady. M‘Phear, it seems, had bound himself, body and
soul, to the White Lady, for 2,0001., to do her will on all occa-
sions. She accordingly requires his attendance at the Castle; but
George Brown volunteering instead, obtains an interview with her,
aud, without for a moment reflecting that she is a fairy, enters
into a long conversation with her; in the course of which she in-
forms him that the Avenel family being extinct, the castle is to be
put up to auction, and advises him to bid for it against Gilbert
Glossin ( Mr. Ph ill ips), agent of the estate. This he does,and the castle
is knocked down to him at 40,0001. Unfortunately he has no money ;
and just while the Sheriffs are about to arrest him for the demand,
the White Lady—who is no White Lady after all—appears, and au-
nouncen herself as Louise, (Miss Cawse) an orphan, brought up
in the family of Avenel, and who had been taken into the confi-
dence of Meg Merriliee, and thus made acquainted with the secret
of Brown's parentage. This closes the story. Julian of Avenel
is restored to his estates : and out of gratitude, it appears, is
meant to mart"' Louise, who has been some time in love either
with hire or his history, we do not exactly comprehend which.
From this brief analysis, the reader will clearly perceive that the
whole thing is, to use a professional phrase, got up ; that is to say
patched up, like the old cloathes of a mendicant—here a bit
from the Monastery, and there a bit from Guy Manner/sly ; the
consequence of which is, a decided want of keeping both iu plot
and character. The scissars, indeed, are its sole inspiration.
The performers, however, acquitted themselves throughout with
energy. Miss Cawse (we now excuse Miss Paton for her re-
jection of the part) was very good in the White Lady, alias—
. what an unfortunate Old Bailey phrase—Louise : Mr. G. Pen-
L son gave effect to Sandy MePhear ; and Madam Vestris as
Julian, was all that Madame Vestris is usually apt to be. This
I alone speaks volumes in her praise. The scenery throughout
was admirable, particularly a view of Avenel Castle, with
its study. The house was well attended: