Star.
London, England, 1819-10-05 00:00:00

THEATRES.

DRITRY-LANs.—Mr. ELLISTON last night com-
menced his winter
•career under the most auspicious
circumstances. The opening of one of the great Na-
tional Theatrei, though it usually excites nape atten-
tion, does not, in a common way, create such an-in-
terest as to crowd the House, especially when the Play
is an old stock Piece, and the principal Performers
in it those who have long been known to the town.
Yesterday, however, an immense multitude blockaded,
all the avenues of the Theatre by the time the doors
were expected to open, and, long before the curtafn
rose; the House was filled in every part, literally to
an overflow. The improvements made within the
few weeks that it has been under the direction of the
new Lessee gave universal satisfaction, and many
plauditory shouts announced the high delight of the
lovers of the Drama at finding themselves once more
seated within the far-famed walls of Drury.
At seven o'clock the curtain rose, and the vocal
Performer, of the Theatre advanced and sung GOD
save the King. This was received with the usual loyal
demcrictrations of pleasure, the whole audience stand-
in 5 uncovered with one accord. When this concluded,
Miss KELLY advanced for the purpose of speaking
the Address prepa•ed for the occasion, but it was
thought that another national strain ought first to be
performed, and nee Britannia was demanded. On
finding that some opposition was given to the course
originally intendei to he pursued, Mr. ltussatt en-
tered as Stage-Alanager, and desired to know if it
was the pleasure of the audience that Rule Britannia
should be sung? A thousand voices answered in the
affirmative, and he, on the instant, expressed his
readiness to acquiesce in the call. Rule Britannia
was then sung, after which Miss KELLY again pre-
sented herself, and was received with the most fer-
vent welcome that could greet the return of an estab-
lisned favourite: Miss KELLY then spoke the fol-
Lowing Address, with much effect:
Tao Fiction here asserts her ancient reign,
We claim, a moment, her infring'd domain :
Truth'S high commission to this COWL I bear,
Ifer geeitine dictates, and her purpose fair,
Whom now she advocates you long have tried—
Esscourala long his emulative pride;
The pride you love !—and he, exulting says,
You ne'er deserted whom you deign'd to raise!
" Early to win your smiles that pride aseied ;
" Early those elfilts his grateful bosom lied ; •
" O'er the young germ your genial breezes blrw,
" And with the growing plant your ki:.dnt:.s grew.
44. Various his toil, but constant to his cause,
" You nurs'd the wish to merit your applause :"
Anon or 3Lanager, he still enjoy'd
Tile boon for which you saw his zeal employ'd
irlush'd by your sanction, dauntless now his dares
To magnify his labours and his cares;
At Atlas' challeng'd strength the glove bath hurrd.;
' his load a pmedrous, dm' a mimic world!
The 3lagi say (who Nature's scents track)
This Planet's pois'd upon a camel's back !
A ..V4 what the bearer stays, their wisdom; paid;
T7I Keret orient seienea ne er discleed
More happy he whose world now courts your view;
Ask'd what su.itains his strength? he prints to roc:
" That strength, the fruit of seasons twice fifteen,
" May fail of fulness, but it is not gr..en ;
" Or grant it crude, rue beams may yet unfold
" The latent hue, and turn the gear; to ;,r/d!"
Where first your wellitlac'd laurels Kt.: i.e wore;
Where &noose, Jqßl,l7.ls brows your chaplets bore;
Where Parreraen's pathos bade your fathers thrill
And Gansttex's magic witch'd them at his will;
where testing mew; vu 111VIG varatva pew's.,
Pound Sas, icserrae's soo'reign stem e yvvreath'd their !Owen,
" Where Histrionic homage reaed a shrine
" public bounty and a bard divine !"
resrs he the war:n devout oblation brings,
Of all that from admiring ardour springs;
All that the sense of invsent duty fires,
All that fesprieteci patronage inspires !
On pure intent ambitious to depend,
To no bye-pith his spirit will descend:
The plain, br..ad road of candour is his course,
The Drama's honour his propelling Putze.
Would Comae Wit her attic summit climb
Or Frolic Parer 1' Or Tragedy stWies:
Is Orel a candidate for fame
asth Kcal Ercellence prefer her claim!.
All &id Pretension will be wcleorted Lore,
And 'Ante and Genius find their free career
This his jast plan, expect:mill, he sues
The confidence his faith ne er abuse.
Courting at large the talent of the age,
No fear he owns fur his impartial Stage.
A !Weal system your support ensures :
Mork he hails!—and Meares cause is You as!
N. N. The lines between inverted commas were omitted, in
cos:sequence of the length of the Address.
The Play (Wild Oats) then commenced. From the
crowded state of the galleries, some holiday-night
scznes were exhibited, which caused several interrup-
tions ; but silence was soon restored, and the Comedy
was: successfully proceeded. ELLISTON, as the gay,
ranting, rattling !lever, embodied in the most eiftc-
ti ic style all the pleasantries crowded into the chit-
ra:t.-..r by the autlio”. Many of the quotations he
gave with energy and appropriate emphasis ; some-
times he gave them a ludicrous turn, and seemed
more anxious to spew himself the humourist than the
tictor. The variety thus afforded delighted the im-
mense assembly for whose gratification it was in-
tended, and he was applauded to the very echo; and,
it is but justice to add, justly applauded, for one of
the most agreeably animated, and whimsically varied
performances of the modern Stage. DOWTON re-
sumed his station on these boards in Sir George Thun-
der, which character he sustained with all his wonted

ability. His pleasantries with John Dory, and his
rage, as Abrawang, were equally fruitful of mirth.
MUNDEN'S Ephraim Smooth added infinite drollery to
the scenes in which he was engaged; and KNIGHT'S
SilE, with Miss KaLtv's Jenny, completed the treat,
sad presented a constellation of ci imic talent rarely
witnessed in any Theatre. Mrs. W. WEST was an in-
teresting Lady Amaranth; she depicted, with great
feeling and discrimination, the benevolence and soft-
ness of the amiable Quakeress, and was• requited with
the undivided approbation of the whole House. A
Mr. TstossrsoN, from the Dublin Theatre, made his
debut as John Dory. He hit off the awkwardness and
Munt energy of the nautical Vala de Chambre, with
considerable felicity, but it would be premature to
pronounce on his general merit from the limited scope
afforded for exertion in this character. What he did
executed in a very creditable manner, but we did
not discover any thing peculiarly rich or original in
his acting, to promise future eminence. The whole
of the Performers were honoured with a most flat-
tering reception, and their united efforts were crowned
with all imaginable success. In their progress they
were repeatedly interrupted by the acclamations of
ithe audience, who were sometimes unusually pro-