Star.
London, England, 1812-09-23 00:00:00

Lracm MARI. .

A new Historical Drama, in three acti, entitled
irk Spanish Pairiots,a hourand rears ago ! written bf
IL B. CODE, Esq. the music by Sir Joule STEVE/Pi
goy, of Dublin, was last night represented, for the
feet time. The characters were thus filled
• ?ogle Mr. Raymostn.
A10nz0.....,«..t.. .......... Mr. PHILLIPS. .
Don Gamma ......... Mr. MARSUALL•
JUNCIrIiO. ....... ....... Mr. WALLACILAUE•
Itamira Mr. PY N E. •
Ak2lll4lr
Pedro ••••••• • Mr. PINION.
Sancho •••... Mr. KNIGHT.
Clara • Miss KELLY.
Sehla Mrs BLAND.,
ViOlante
tint —After the battle of Zeros, which confirmed the lava.
Else ado Moors, Don Pelagio and his followers retire into the
smugaiss of Asturia, where they not only successfully resisted
th, power of the Saracen invader, who had overrun the rest of
srio, but established themselves In the kingdoms of Astoria and
Lesa, thereby laying the basis of that energetic and indefatigable
1,146:dm try which the Moorish usurpation was gradually re-
duced, until finally extinguished in the reign of Ferdinand and
was. Atter the battle of Ausena, in which tho Moors were
defeated, Pelagio, the Gothic King, ik supposed by his people to
base been borne off a captive by the lying foe, while in reality
Ida life is attempted by Don Guarino, who hopes by his death to
undo to the vacant sovereignty : He believes that by the assist-
luxe of Ramira, his confidant, he has effected the death of the
King; but not having been chosen his successor, as he had ex-
pected, he favours the notion of his captivity, and enters into
secret correspondence with the Sarazens by whose aid, and the
promotion of internal intrigues and divisions, he hopes in time
to accomplish the object of his ambition ; meanwhile limiting
the powers of Alonzo, the chosen leader of the Spanish people, 1
end restraining the progress of his arms against the invader, from
consideration for the life of the captive King. From Ws period,
down to the time when the action of the piece commences, Pela-
-00 Ives retired and disguised as a hermit, his lit. having been ;
rewired by Ramiro, under the sacred obligation of an oath,
sever to quit pis solitude, or discover himself to his subjects
without his (Ramira's) consent. Don Guzman, conceiving 14
traiterous plot ripe for execution, by the divisions and corruptions I
he had secretly fomented, invites the recruited strength of the
Invader against his country ; but unwilling to hazard the risk of I
battle, he seeks, by a fabricated letter, from the supposed cap- I
dve, Pelagio, to his people, to Induce submission to the Simeon I
force: but previously to this m.ssage being delivered to the :
essonbled Chiefs for their determination, Ramira, offended with I
Don Guzman forms the resolution of communicating to Dun
Alonzo, the "act of Pelagio 's retirement, and the circumstances
which led to it, They proceed to the Hero's retreat—prevail
won him, still in disgui,e, to attend the mee Mg. He rallies i
eke declining patriotism of his country—leads his people against
the assailing foe—and the action terminates in tke discomfiture
of internal treason, and the. total rout of the barbarous invader. i
The-loves of Alonzo and Donna Clara, supposed daughter of
Doe Gummi, but actually the daughter of Pelagio, as explained ,
tt last &ctn. ,form an auxiliary plot, which serves as a vehicle
for several S•mgss Duets, Trios, &c. and interweaves through
eke piece ,hat lighter nutter which is now prescriptively, if not 1
iserskirily, demanded of a dramatic writer.
Tile allusion to BONAPARTE'S abominable usurpa-
tion of Spain, and the means by which it has been I
effected, is artfully carried through the Piece, and
the action being lai4 in the City and neighbourhood
of Salamanca, happily connects the interest felt by the
audience with the recent and splendid glories which
bare crowned the British arms, without offending (
consistency, or departing from the remote period of '
action, by a single word, having the appearance
of those conscript elaji-traps with which the public
palate has been cloyed ; and with which, to its credits
the public taste has at length become disgusted.
As might have been expected from a Piece calcu-
lated to strengthen the generous enthusiasm of !Irk
tontin the cause 'of our injured ally, the performance
throughout was received with a degree of applause,
not unjustified by the composition both of words and
music ; the language is correct and impressive, and
in ncr part sinking into meanness, nor swelling into,
beinbast. In the scenes before Prlagio's cell, and in
that where he discovers himself to the Cortes, tht
situations are not only highly interesting, but the,
dialtigue is spirited, filled wits) heroic strength and
true British sentiment ; and if we would not afend
prejudice, we might say that Pelagic': address to his
soldiers, modestly approaChes that of Rolla. to the
Peruvians. Although we understand the Piece to
have been got up with more than ordinary baste, the,,
performers throughout acquitted themselves with
great credit. Mr. RAYMOND, as Pelagio, imparted to/
the character its true strength and colouring. Mr.
PHILIPPS* in Alonzo, proved in a distinguished degree
that his powers of action are not inferior to his mu-
sical attributes. Miss KELLY was highly interesting
in Clara, and gave her songs in a goed and impres-
sive stile. She was rapturously encored in her second
long, and deserved to have been equally Llistinguished
Sher first, which she sung in the most impressive
rawer. Mrs. BLAND supported her parse with her
accustomed spirit, and her songs were given in that
(hunter of sweet and simple melody so peculiarly
her own. Mr. PYNIti in a limited part, acquitted him-
self most respectfully, and his songs received a well-
merited applause, both having been unanimously en-
cored ; and Mr. KNIGHT and Mrs. HARLOW, in their
comil parts, laid the Author under considerable
obligation, as the Piece is rather slender in comic
matter.