Star.
London, England, 1807-05-09 00:00:00

THEATRE, COVENT GARDEN.

I.

Lail night a new Operatical Drama, cif three aas.
entitled, Peter the Great ; or, Wooden Walls ; the pro-
duaion of Mr. CHERRY, was performed at this thea-
tre, for the &II time ; and, upon the whole, very •
favourably received. The !mac., however, was hot
thinly attended. The following are the princiFal
Dramatis Perlima and llory of the piece :
Peter the Great - M. C. Kemal. e
Le Fort - - Mr. BELLAMY .
Count Menzitoff - Mr. Puri
- Mauritz • - - Mr. YUNOEN
Sparrowitz • - Mr. CZMMONS
(Holm - - Mr. WADDy
Old Petrowitz - Mr. MURRAY
MicLael PCtrowi'z • Mr I NCLEDON
Paulin* - - hlifs BOLTON
Genivieue . - MN. DAVENPORT
And Catharine . Mrs. C KEMULE.

Peter the Great, and his Minifter I,e Fort, after having villted
and worked as drip carpentrrs in England, France, lore. under the
difguifcd names of Pedro and Alexis, are returned to Murcovy,
and (till continue their labours in one of the northern Marts, under
Nlauritz, a shipwright; who acknovele,!ging the obligation he
owei to the indullry and grin in Pedro, conceives the higheft opi.
nion of him, and is refolvcd to marry him totals daughter Paddirre,
and make him his fucceffor ; bat Pedro, already acqr.aintcd
the inutuld loves of Michael, (a young foldier) and Pauline, de.
clinef. the pronof Afavour of his employer, and avows his pallion
for Catherine, the niece of Mautitz. Difrpointed, but not dff-
pleated, Maui z gives his content, and throicth the intereethon of
Poir:ipronlice:: to ratify the marringe of Micheal and Pauline. In
deviation Item the kiftsnic facets, Cachet int is here reprefented, nr4
as the follower of a camp, us tar as he? means extend, the
general advact,te and betietmlrets of the village, and, according
to an ancient cutlom, is prefentcd with the rural crown, annually
beftowed upon the ninth defer. ing temale. Loring the eidetic: of
Peter the reins of Government are placed in the hands of Merri-
licff, who alone is acquainted With the place of the Emperor's le-
treat. Wl:en the .6,.yarda, impatient of their Mailers abfewe,
and rape:lcing nnne foil play on the part of Menzikoff, order him
to immediate trial and feutence him to death,unlefsin fix days the
mperor returns to Morcnw. Under :sarong elcort Menziitoff is
reenacted to go io fearch of his itr yal Matter, and arrives jult at
the moment when Peter is about to efpoufe Catherine. The E.
perur nnknown to Catherine hot as the tangible Pedro) her.
ries to the &oft, declares Mullett', and gives freedom to Menai.
keff, leaving Catherine in the titm‘lt defp ir. Menzikoif returns,
reW•vt s the ..Lxiety of Catherine, announces the Emperor, and
claims M:ras the bride of his Royal Matter. Peter now appears in
alt his rid, t tia or, when Catherine, yielding to the dictates of love,
rather than thofe of gives her hand to the Emperor, who
M nos,. that of Paulina upon Michael. *1 he 'miler plot is :attain-
I
Cd by °imam :icarrowitz. Old Petrowitz, Michael, ai.turitz.
Pauline, Gentvicve, &c. And the piece concludes with ads/land
military fpedacle.
I This ftory'can be confidered as little more than a
vehicle for the mulic to which the fongs ate let, by
Mr. Jouva, the fucccfsful compofer of that of rake.
line and Orfon—the dialogue, however, is in many
parts animated, if not: very brilliant : the fentiments
are patriotic, and the humour is chalk, except in
one infipid character, that given to SIMMONS, which
we think might be omitted altitether. Cnsaras
Ka MBLIL made La night as much of the hero of the
piece as it would admit el, as did all the others who
had no fongs written for them ; but the chief aurae.
tion was with INCLEDCN, BELLAMY, MUNDEN, Mrs.
C. KIMBLE, and Mifs BOLTON, all of whom were
flattered with encores. The drama was enriched with
tome new fcenery and pageantry, which aided to
recut it a favoura'ale reception. When given out
for Monday, few diffenting voices were heard.
We fubj in a fpecimen of the longs
Air—CA.l.llEl'lNa.
How fweet the teat that gently sows
From eyes that weep her others' woes;
How bleft the hand that can Impart
The balm that heals the aching heart ;
That can to grief its peace reltore:—
Let lush bemire,—l alk no more!
No, no, no,—i alk no More !
• How fwtet to view pale sorrows child,
Who of his mia'ry you beguill;
No joy fupreme can warm the breaft
Like that which givei the 'isomer reft,
And can loft peace and joy reftore:—
Let fuel, be mine,-1 kik no more.

No, no, no,—l set no snore.
The following was given by lacLanom, with 3$
effea beyond his wonted felicity
When Nature's hand firft form'd the heart,
Aud bliTs fupreme belt
• To Love's tweet ftream did me impart
'fbe fource froM whence it Roved.
The twin of Love, fort Friendihip naml,
Came wing'd from realms abpve;

Nrw► in each hurt, for honour loo;ds
C fricntilltip dwells with Love. ,