The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-12 00:00:00

COVENT-OARDEN THEATRE.

A new comedy, in two acts, said to be the production
of Miss HILL, was brought ont at this theatre en Satur-
day evening, under the title of The First of May ; or,
a Royal Love Match. The dramatis persona disclosed
at the first sight in some degree the story on which the
play is founded; but excepting the fact of Edward of
York marrying the widow of Lord Grey of Groby,
whose beauties, shifting through her tears, hkd struck the
King while she was suing for the restoration of her at-
tainted Lord's lands to her children, historical veracity is
little observed in this drama. The play opens with the
complaints of Katherine Travers (Miss FORDS), who is
in the wardship of Roger Oldgrave (Mr. BLANCHARD),
a somewhat ancient London merchant, and who wants to
make her his wife. The young lady has numerous objec-
tions to this arrangement, but none so strong as that which
arises from her having promised her band to Harry
Woodville (Mr. WARDS), and brother of the Lady
Eizabella Grey (Miss E. TREE). She determines to
escape from her guardian's persecution, and to seek the
protection (her lover being absent) of his sister. Just
..befiire she executes this design, her lover has returned from
travel to,his father's house, when he finds to his asto-
nishment and alarm that the victorious Edward the
Fourth (Mr. C. KvstaLE) has taken up his abode, awl
learns from the King's own lips that he is the suitor to
his sister. The notorious libertinism of the monarch
justifies his alarm and the remonstrances he addresses
to the King, who, after tormenting him a little, tells
him that he has determined to make his sister the
Queen. Woodaille's scruples on this point being satisfied,
he ventures, with more of loyalty than of personal ambition,
to represent to Edwad the injurious consequences
which may result from an union so far beneath his rank.
His sister, who has learned his love for .Kate Travers,
whispers the King that her brother has committed the
same fault he is cautioning him against ; and upon this
hint _Edward determines to punish him. The Widow
Jolly (Mrs. Gress) is here introduced. She is the aunt
of Catherine, and has come from the Low Countries to
extricate her niece from the persecutions of Oldgrave, '
who has been an early suitor of her own, and whom she
has marked for her second husband. Mrs. GIBBS acted
this part admirably, and cracked jokes with the King with
irresistible mirth. IVoodville, who is anxious to see his
mistress, pretends an urgent necessity to visit London, and
while the preparations are making Kate arrives, disguised
in a boy's cloak and hat. She falls in with the King,
who discovers her person, and extorts from her the pur-
pose of her visit. He immediately conceives a design of
making his bride jealous (Heaven knows why), at the
same time that he effects his intended vengeance against
Woodville. He therefore has Kate concealed in his
chamber, but under the care of the Widow, whom lie ad-
mits into his privy council in this affair, and speeds her
lover on his journey. Oldgrave, having learnt the place
of his ward's retreat, cornea with loud complaints to Lady
Grey ; and upon telling her that his ward is hidden in
boy's clothes, and with the King's knowledge, in her
house, she becomes as jealous as her husband can wish.
The Widow favours her delusion. She finds out
the place of Rate's concealment, and, while she
is angrily reproaching the poor girl, Edward arrives.
Lady Grey retires and hears so much of the con-
versation as convinces her that her suspicions are un-
founded, and she makes a frank confession of her jealousy
and of its cure. Woodville returns; and meeting Old-
graive, whom he does not know, and hearing his com-
plants about the loss of a ware! whom the King has
wiled away from him, be determines to effect her restora-
tion to the poor man, without ever dreaming that the same
ward is his own mistress. He addresses the King on this
sub ect,' who promises him all he asks. A May-day festi-
val is held, in celebration of the nuptials of Edward and
kis Queen, at which the truant ward, covered from head
to foot with a white veil, appears. Woodville again urges
his request that she may be restored to her guardian ; the
King consents ; the lover gives her over with his own
hand ; and the next moment discovers that he has de-
stroyed his best hopes. Oldgrave, who is touched with
the generosity and iustice of Woodville's conduct, thinks
the young man will make a better husband for Kate than
he could ; he therefore resigns her, and contents himself
with the Widow Jolly; and the play terminates, as a
play should, to the satisfaction of every one concerned.
It will be seen from the description we have given,
that the comedy has few incidents, and that
none of those are of a striking or properly dramatic
kind. The dialogue is feeble, and there is absolutely no
attempt at character. The dissoluteness of the King is
rather too strongly dwelt upon; and from a female pen
the developement of such a character is peculiarly indeco-
rous and disagreeable. It is not quite enough that be-
cause, as a matter of history, Edward IV. was unquestion-
ably a libertine, the mete avowal of his opinions oa that
score is therefore fit material to regale an audience with.
An abundance of wit might cover the defect, but even that
(which this play has not) would scarcely excuse it. Henri
Quatre and Charles 11., both libertines, are both good
characters for the drama ; not because they were libertines,
but because their lives were busy and varied, and their
spirits adventurous. The great fault in the comedy of
which we are speaking, however, is that it is too tame to
excite the emotions or interest of the audience. It was ex-
tremely well performed, and, as far as the actors were
concerned, all possible pains were taken for its success.
Mr. KEMBLE represented the profligate King with
great spirit. Miss ELLEN TREE looked so well, and acted
with such grace, as might well excuse a Monarch's de-
scending from his throne to raise to it so lovely a partner.
Mrs. Gnus made the Widow Jolly one of the frankest
liveliest dames that has ever been seen or fancied since the
Wife of Bath. Mr. BLANCHARD did all that could be
done for his part, and Mr. WARDS played Master Wood-
ville with great propriety and effect. Mr. KEELEY had
the part of a half-stupid, half-cunning horse-boy to the
King (Jonas Chick), was as humorous as he always is,
and dressed himself so as to look like nothing in the world
so much as a red-legged partridge. The dresses, in ge-
neral, were correct, and some of them very splendid.—
Some-pretty music, and two agreeable ballads, by Mr.
A. LEE, were introduced by Miss Forum, who sang
them extremely well, end was encored in the last. The
comedy was very well received, frequently applauded, and
its repetition for Tuesday night was announced without
the slightest mark of disapprobation.

The Duke and Duchess of CLARENCE, With
their suite, arrived in a Government yacht, having a
steamer in company, about seven o'clock on Saturday
evening off Brighton, from Dieppe. A royal salute was
fired on the approach of the vessels, and the tender dis-
played a number of fine rockets. The chain pier was
crowded to excess by company waiting to see their Royal
Highnesses land. The Duke and Duchess landed soon
afterwards. The ladder attached to the chain pier was
decorated with three rows of lamps up to the signal posts.
Admiral Sir ROBERT OTIVAY, and several other
naval officers, received their Royal Highnesses on landing,
the company assembled greeting them with loud acclama-
tions. The Duke and Duchess entered their carriage,
which was at the end of the pier, and proceeded to the
York Hotel, where a large crowd was assembled, who
cheered the Royal guests. Among the Nobility and
Gentry at the York Hotel were the LORI) CHANCELLOR
and Lady LYNDHURST, the Marchioness of DOWNSHIRE,
the MasTmit of the ROLLS, the Countess of JERSEY, Baron
SANDY'S, Lady MARY HILL, Sir ROBERT and Lady OT-
WAY, Sir ROBERT and Lady WIGRAM, Captain and Mr•.
GEORGE SZYMOUR, i Irs. FITZHERBERT, &C. Their
Royal Highnesses sat down to dinner at eight o'clock. The
band of the I lith Ifussars attended during the evening.
The Duke and Duchess would, it was expected, leave
Brighton yesterday morning for their residence in Bushy-
park.
DRURY-LANE.—In consequence of the death
of Mr. WALLACE'S eldest son, Mr. LISTER'S new tragedy,
called Epicharis, could not be performed on Saturday
night, as Mr. WALLACE was to sustain in it the part of
Caius Pisa. Rienzi was substituted, and the performance
went off with as much eclat as, under the circumstances,
could be expected.; The new tragedy is to be played on
Wednesday next, as was stated in a hand-bill announcing
the postponement, and which was issued at five in the
afternoon, and posted in various situations near the theatre.

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