Star.
London, England, 1819-09-16 00:00:00

COrENT-GIRDEN THEATRE.

I-
I?
r'
R

*4 k

, ,

V,,

,I1 I

I!

animation:

A Comedy, founded on HOl.altOr6 Deseret"!
Dlughtar, was last night produced at this Theatre,
entitled.. The Stavard ; or, Fask!cn and Feeling. The
story of the Piece is briefly this:—
Ms./dent (Nlnenearly), for some cause or, other;
places an only daughter, whom he does net wish to
be recognized as such, in the care of Mrs. Pc)Vold.
lie subsequently marries, becomes greatly embar-
rassed, and adds to his lather crimes, that consumma-
tion oT all evils, gambling. To supply his wants, he
is obliged to mortgage his property ; but his own
property not enabling him to raise sufficient money,
he embarks that of his ward, Chevera (Jotms), in the
same dangerous hazard. His steward, hem (F An-
Rim), manages all his pecuniary transactions, and,
like too many other stewards, manages them more
for his own advantage than for that of his employer.
But his career is erns led jest at the moment wl en be
esfects to become the sole owner of all his master's
property, and that through theinstrumentality of his
own clerk, Grime (BLANCHARD), and .his nephew,
Clement (Assozz). The daughter, .19astua (Miss
Fame), finds but a very faithless.guardian in Mrs.
Penfolc, who suffers the intrusions of Lennox and Che-
toil even to her chamber, the moment they have
franked their way by a few pounds. Joanna had
previously been seen in the Green Park by both these
Gentlemen—had promised them an interview, but,
as usually happens in these cases, they mistook their
object, and were both as dissatisfied with their own
stupidity, as with what they termed,. the inconstancy
of their fair incognita. An old domestic, Joisatheut
Winter (Emeny), in the service of Mr. Mordent, Con-
tinually bewails the conduct of her unnatural father
_340 Joanna, as well as his dreadful imprudences, Which
had now almost reduced him to a state of despera-
tion and insanity. Jonathan, faithful to his trust,
loses no opportunity of attending to his master's
affairs, and at length. partly succeeds in detectiag the
rogues ies practised on him by his favourite, Item.
This discovered, he hastens to impart the tidings to
his master's still incredulous ears, and subsequently.
discovers from Chet-era the residence of Joanna,
whom her father and himself had almost.given up as
lost for ever. A gleam of hope now breaks on the
fate of Mordent, and glistens in the eye of the trusty
domestic—when the cup of expectation is suddenly
dashed from their lips, and they learn, on some pass-
ing information, that Joanna had eloped with Lennox,
the friend, the intimate, and confidant of Mordent.
Despair now thickens—Mordent beemilis frantic at
the thought of the condition to which his misdeeds
have reduced his daughter; but kis anxiety is subse-
quently removed by discovering her in the Green
Park, in the guise of a young man, just as she had
promised to meet Chcrcril, and receive from him that
protection which fair promiies declared he would
afford her. The discovery leads to the denote-
went : Mordent has found his daughter, whOM he
unites to his ward, Cheveril ; the villainy of the
steward, Item, is laid before the world ; Lennox is set
right in the esteem of his friends, and the curtain falls
upon an unclouded ,cene of happiness.
Such is a brief epitome of the story ; and we must
say, if tumultuous applause be a criterion of merit,
no *Piece that was ever yet presented could boast of
more than Zle Steward ; or, Fashion and Feeling. We
cannot bestow too en uchpraise on the Performers gene-
rally. Where all wasexcellent, it might be insidious to
select. FARRRN'S Item was a very able performance.
'MC character seemed to ui to be a compound of Sir
Giles Over-rzach, the Miser, and Doctor Cantwell, well
blended together by Mr. F -A-1/EN, and made so much
14' own, that we forgot the individual features of
each, which we occasionally recognized in the bold
And subtle co!oisring Which lie anisv around Mr.
bIACREADY, AS Mordeat, excited nothing less
thait the acclamations of the audience. Mrs. OAvt-
Aaii and Miss FOOTE performed their parts with spirit
and effect; and BLANCHARD'S part of Grime, another
itfar.all, was admirable. The other Performers
added much to the success of the Piece, especially
UT. JONES, whose bustle and activity, and whose
whimsical mode of making love to his fair incognita
excited peals of laughter.

The.followin; Prologue was delivered, with due
Senpbasis and discretion, by Mr. CONNOR :
When birds new ficdg'd first quit. their native trees,
And spreid their tender pinions to the breeze,
The parent wing supports them in their flight,
And guides them safely to the destined height.
So, our young Lard--unpractis'd and unknown,
'Afraid to brave the Drama's realms alone—
Afraid, unhelp'd, to meet the critic sneer,
That stors su many in the same career ;
.Yront Ilealcrolis nervous wing has pluck'd to-night,
ike strength he trusts to, in his daring flight I
'Twas thus the son of Dmdalus cssay'd
7o stem the witals on wings another made,
And safely through the fields of ether flew ;
But, when Apollo's realms appear'd in view,
ills mad ambition led the hero on,
In vain attempt, to reach his dazzling.throne;
But soon his pinions droop'd beneath the glow,
hurrd him headlong to the depths below !
And our poor Bard an object Pere bath triew'el,
Its bright as that which learns pursu'd ;
But, ah ! he trusts your hand will deign to teach,
it ; not quite so far beyond his reach.
he aims at, shines in your applause,
tiles obtain'tl--our Poet gains his cause.
teed thus by llokroft's name,
first fiow'ret in Pis wreath of fame!

visor; delivered the subjoined Epilogue

gracious! was ever any thing an shockirg?—
'c updrest—and going home—provoking—
Ie and hurried from my room,
it sent here, to learn our Poet's doom,
beset by Author—Yrompter--all'agog,
, forsooth, should speak the Epilogue,
wise the Play—l thought IV. done enough,
nd speak their sentimental stuff!
iss me, Maser Bard," said I,—"you see,
untirest"—" Quite in the mode," said be.
Sir," said I—" a hue or two—or 50— •
I, I've taken out my feather, and you know"—
the Author cries—" that woman s chief:at boast*
irn'd, to be adotn'il the wad—
i my Epikelue,"—and then the saucy chap
tbat you may place a feather in my ci.p."
Id our Bard, and Bards have winning ways,
round their brows they wish to twine the bays;
a the magic of their &tering arts,
twine thernstlves round foolish woman's heart.
rd—but held !—pei haps you do not know it,
puor Bard to-night's but half a Poet
al a sod, Deserted .Dtstogleter on the shelf,
At the pretty cr attire to himself!
at not think the action wormy blame,
where'A the tars that would nut do the same?
'hole or will, the truth I still nuts tell,

I. do not think he's its / me quite se wall;
'llatts of th, pride of fashionable life,
At last to make' a dull ddrtestic..tvife
Like•those deariker with who neVer swerve,
But pickles makii,thelf bushafids tirpreserve
You'll sat, 'tis fiat. quite fair, that }.who ewe . ,
To plead the POet's cause, should atop so !Aerie—
But yet, ro matter—l told them they. were wrong,
To trust a woman's never-ceasing tonlue
So to our theme :—yon Critic seems to say...
Why has the Poet alter'd thus the-Play ?
To which I answer, exactly as the case is---
••
Tbat the old 13ard made Ladies hide their faces,
By layir.g all his scenes in naughty places.
If to our Poet's reasons still the Critic deaf is,
He begs he'll buy the Play, and read his Prefloe.
Now to my message—llene your ganction give
l'enniNsiou for our Comedy to
If those kind hands support the l'oet's cause,
And our poor efforts merit your applause,
Your smiles to-night, in Gratitude s account,
Will add one ism to the great amount
The House was crowded. Lord CASTLEREAGH
u as in the Palms REGINT'S box.

N
' •
11:Al.

And spread
k. , The parent
t• ). • And guide:
So, our Tot
• 1
V.! .. , Afraid to I
/ Afraid, unl
Z.,, , Tilsit stops
I .Prop[ Hob
A
."1,1,w, streog
,:
.'
~ ~
. • • -
)
'Twos tl
To sleet til
iklAWlrAlfndhkilittivd'aiumad.s:ihenberauurl,
... i ,
is
•
~,,i ,
~ •
to
~,,•, T. I
~. •
• : . 1 2151 ::: 11 : :lig:
x . • i . lila, ah ! i
4 1 ..' l'lte sun hi
i • '.. { 0 - toor smile
. . .
1 . And sGelte
:. •r. ,• . Plants the
. ..
tt• - ••, • Mrs. I)A V
' I with much a
I -.- ' 111 y Eras
. . . Just half u
, •
.• • Thus to In
, And then
And be be
That I, fo
And praise
' • '17.) act` an(
• '•;• 1.1/ " So, les
~,,..,
I'm half u
. ti -
" Why, S
ILA then,
" 1 do," t
Is, uu;doi
:in, speak
eiaid—" t
Thus bald
i if When roe
when
..1 Or .
Woukl to
A Bard—
.
'That our
lk found
.And took
l'ou must
fsincc, wh
11w. whol