The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-08-31 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

Roy Ar. AMPHITHEATRE.—The superior style in which
" Belphegor" was produced and played led to its being
thrice performed last week; and though the piece might
still be advantageously altered, it is a drama of superior
quality, and can bear to be seen oftener than once. There
are passages in it of the most impressive description, of
ir.tense pathos and excellent sentiment, but they require
such acting as that of Celeste or Webster to develop..l their
beauties. Nothing in their acting was left to be desired,
and the company discharged their duties very respectably.
Among the ladies, Miss Fanny Maskell, as Nina Flora
Aphrodite Stilz, and Miss L. Sennett, as Henri, are wor-
thy of special mention. Mr. Baker and Mr. Cathcart
gave correct renderings of the French nobles. Mr. F.
Younge, as Ajax, kept the house in merriment, but he
overdrew the character, and made it somewhat vulgar • as
nn Thursday he cast off his wings, so might he have laid
down his bow and arrow, and lost nothing thereby. The
" French Spy" has proved a favourite piece. The " Mys-
terious Stranger" will only hold its ground while Madame
Celeste continues to display her versatile talents in the
five different assumptions of the Stranger, for in the
writing it has nothing to recommend it. There is an
amount of action expended throughout which might be
worthy of better things. Mr. Webster makes a good part
of Crequet, even though he is but a servant. Last night
a change of stars took place, and for two or three weeks
to come we shall have a succession of comedy, melodrama,
and farce. " The Flowers of the Forest" is a favourite
opening piece with Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Buckstone,
and it was played last night before a large audience. To-
night an extremely agreeable comedy, " Presented at
Court," is to be enacted : those who saw it last year can-
not have forgotten the ludicrous positions of Mr. Buck-
stone, as Geoffrey Wedderburne, and the genial acting of
Mrs. Fitzwilliam, in the character of Mistress Anne
Franklyn. The drama is taken, with very slight altera-
tion, from Dumas' Me-moires d'un 1116decin, and will well
repay a visit to the theatre. 'We observe that " The
Foundlings" is to be produced on Friday, followed, also
for the first time, by " Baker 'Worried by Buckstone"—
it used to be Keeley, but that matters little; Buckstone is
the worrier, and having well worried Keeley, he comes to
do execution on Baker.

MR. LOVE'S ENTERTAINMENT.—The variety of this
gentleman's polyphonistic entertainment is only equalled
by his world-wide celebrity. From the British empire at
home to the British colonies abroad, from France to South
America, he is known as the best of ventriloquists, and
we fondly hope his has not been literally " Love's labour
lost !" On Saturday night we were much gratified by his
appearance at the Concert-hall, where the performance
was received with unmingled favour. It may be stated
that this gentleman's entertainment is selected from a
series written by distinguished authors. On this occasion
he gave " Love ir. all Shapes, or the Gallery of Portraits,"
and another piece, illustrative of the peculiarities of dif-
ferent persons. To give due effect to the mimicry in the
first, Mr, Love made the requisite transformations ; pre-
senting us at one time with the portrait of a hypochon-
driac ; at another of a dandy ; then of an eccentric old
man, who thought modern opinions " vulgar errors ;"
and, finally, of a young lady, excessively talkative; and
he accomplished these changes with a celerity and com-
pleteness which astonished as much as they succeeded in
preserving the individuality of the portrait. There is
much fidelity in these eccentricities, as every observer can
testify who goes through the world with his eyes open,
and a great deal of immour in their presentation.
THE BERNAIS SINGERS made their first appearance at
the Theatre Royal last night, and will give four more con-
certs. In addition to their own attractions, they have
obtained the valuable services of Mr. L9roque, a tenor of
excellent quality and reputation. Their recent visits here
proved successful.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERTS.-111C fifth sub-
scription concert of the season takes place to-morrow. It
will be a miscellaneous concert, and judging from the
names of Madame Castellan, a prima donna of great con-
tinental reputation and metropolitan celebrity, and Signors
Tamberlik and Polonini, it will be a fine one. The next
concert, which will also be one of high stamp, takes place
upon the 14th of September. Madame Grisi, and Signors
Mario, Bertrandi, and F. Lablache, have been engaged.
_ _

AIR. THOMAS'S CLASSICAL CONCERTS.—WO welcome
the announcement of four more of these delightful con-
certs, and hope they may prove financially satisfactory,
Several novelties are promised, which looks like a deter.
minate line of action ; and the services of Messrs. Sey-
mour, Herrman, Lidel, Isaac, J. H. Sheppard, Toms, and
Sterndale Bennett have been secured.

MUSICAL FESTIVAL AT BIRMINGHAM.—This day
week and the three following days will be brilliant ones at
Birmingham, and, doubtless, most profitable to the funds
of the General Hospital. The musical public will have a
succession of the richest treats in the morning oratorios
and evening miscellaneous concerts. Madame Viardot
Garcia, who is worthy of her sister Malibran, Madame
Castellan, Misses Dolby and Williams, Madame Clara
Novello, and Madlle. Anna Zerr, are among the solo
singers ; and Tamberlik, Lockey, Sims Reeves, Polonini,
Formes, T. Williams, Weiss, and Belletti, besides solo
instrumentalists, are named in the programme.

•
NORWICH MUSICAL FESTIVAL.—This, which is in aid
of the chief local charities, follows shortly upon the one at
Birmingham, and includes the highest talent. The pro-
spectus is full, rich, and varied.

MISS GLYN was announced to play Lady Macbeth at
Manchecter last Saturday, and, when we learnt of her
arrival that afternoon, we were informed that a mishap,
not unlike what befel the Guild of Amateurs at Bath, was
impending over her, inasmuch as her stage paraphernalia
had not reached. We hope all came safe and in time, for
the lady's sake as well as for the stage-manager of the
Theatre Royal, for whose benefit she had generously
given her prompt and free services. It will be remembered
that the last time this lady appeared in Manchester was
on the occasion of the dramatic festival for the charities,
when she refused all remuneration even for personal and
travelling expenses. She played Queen Katharine, and
the critics said it was unequalled since the Siddons. By
later intelligence we find all went well, and Miss Glyn
played with much spirit before a large house.
THE SONTAG and her husband, the Count Rossi, sailed
on Wednesday, in the Arctic, for America.

CFIARACTER OF SIR JAMES GRAIIAM.—He began po-
litical life as a Radical, who would not only eradicate the
House of Peers from the Constitution, and abolish the
State Church, but he also projected the sponging out the
National Debt. Ile relapsed into Whiggism, and took
office. He made a high Tory speech to the electors of
Dorchester, in 1841-2, in which he abused Lord Mel-
bourne'sgoyernment, condemeed free-trade, and requested
to be sent to Parliament in order to protect the farmers by
a good prohibitory sliding scale. Yet, as member for
Dorchester, be was also member of the ministry which
abolished the corn-laws. He has recently relapsed into
Whig-Radicalism. He has sat for more places than any
member of the House. He was elected first for Carlisle ;
and he has represented Cumberland, Hull, Pembroke,
Dorchester, Ripon, and, for the second time, the same
constituency again, Carlisle. No one doubts his great ad-
ministrative abilities, and his power of official industry.
No one has confidence in his political morality. In his
private character he is a virtuous, honourable, high-minded
gentleman ; but his manners are unpopular, cold, proud,
and repulsive.— Tait's Magazine,

COURT AND FASHION

HER MAJESTY received numerous visitors during the
past week ; among others, the Earl and Countess of
Derby, who returned to St. Leonard's on Thursday.
FESTIVITIES AT OSBORNE.—On.Saturday the lac in
honour of the birthday of his Royal Highness Prince Al-
bert took place at Osborne, instead of the natal day of the
Prince, the 26th instant. Four large tents were erected
in frant of the terrace, and poles and all things necessary
for the rustic games were raised, and flags and streamers
displayed in great variety. Her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary arrived in
The band of the Royal Marines was in at-
Shortly before three o'clock the tenantry and