Star.
London, England, 1821-04-26 00:00:00

TIIVATRES.

Drtuni--LaNE.—Public curiosity had been excited
to a considerable degree, by the announcement of al
Tragedy, as forthenming at this Theatre, from the pen
of Lord RON. The Tragedy in question has already
been before the Public in a printed form. The bills
of the day. announced this circumstance, and con-
tained also a paragraph, bearing the shape of an
apology for certain liberties taken with the text, in
the adaptation of the Piece for the Stage. The title
of the Tragedy remained unaltered, namely, Marion
Micro, Doge of Venice ; and is founded on that in-
teresting portion of Venetian history, the conspiracy,
in whic'h the Doge of that name took so conspicuous
a pant; and by the failure of which, his life was sa-
crificed to the outraged laws and policy of the State.
The characters were cast as follow :
Marino Faliero (the Dote) - - Mr. COOPER.
13:rt.v:cits Fali:11 (his nephew) - Mr. Thompson.
L.,nt and Senator) - Dlr. Foorr.
Be .ni.t.tai (Chia of the Council of Ten) Mr. Powei.L.
Isracl Berteccio Mr. WALLACE.
Philip Catentialy Cons irators Mr. 11Kosti.sr.
I ho p
lino :%Ir. hinar.thrh.
I;ertrant • Mr. IIia.NARD•
Angiolina (Wife to the Doge) - - Mrs. W. WEST. •
Marianna Miss Smixuson.

For the advantage of those who have not had time
yet to read the Tiagedy, and are unconelioue of the
historical incidents on which it is founded, it may be
necessary to say that the plot rests upon a conspiracy
against the Government of Venice, which was entered
into by the Doge in 1355, in consequence of justice
having been refused him for an insult offered to the
character of his wife by Michael Steno. The conspil
racy is ripe foe exeeution, and the bell of St. Mark's
has actually sounded for the onset of the conspirators;
but the want of resolution in one of the conspirators,
Bertram, induces him to seek the preservation of the
life of Lioni, a Senator, of his acquaintance. To Lioni
he imparts a caution not to stir out until he comes to.
give him notice that he may do so with safety. "Lioni
thereupon contrives to wheedle him cat of the best
half of the secret—then secures him, and by bringing
him before the Council of Ten, which is forthwith
convoked, the whole scheme is revealed. The rebels
are taken and executed. The Doge is amerced of his
• dignities and possessions, and, decapitated, and his
wife goes into a Convent.
To render the Play :It for Stage representation,
many of the soliloquies are entirely omitted, and the
conversation between different characters of the
Drama considerably abridged. Nothing, however,
was introduced into the Piece represented last night
which is not to be found in the original, and sufficient
is retained to lengthen out the performance to a pe-
riod of upwards of three hours and a half. Like the
rest of his Lm dship's productions, this Piece abounds
in beautiful imagery, lofty thoughts, and language
finely poetical. Still, however, at is by no means a
Piece calculated to retain possession of the Stage,
though it will always excite admiration in the closet.
The scenes are too long, the incidents are not drawn
sufficiently close to prevent that degree of heaviness
and languor pervading the whole, exhausting to the
patience and good humour of an audience, and so
dangerous to the fame, as well as the more substan-
tial comforts, of an Author writing for emolument,
and perhaps subsistence. Had such been the situa-
tion of the Author of this Piece, we are persuaded'
the patience of the audience would have tired last
night long before its conclusion. :the-name, reputa-
tion, and fashion of its Noble Author, however, car-
ried it through triumphantly, the attempts of the
malcontents—feeble in the extreme—being soon over-
powered and put down by the applause of the well-
affected. The exertions of the Performers were highly
creditable to them. Mr. COOPER supported the cha-
racter of the Doge, into which, indeed, almost the
entire strength of lse Piece is'thrown, in a manner
which wilt add much to his already rising reputation.
He was particularly effective in the scene in which
be is introduced to the conspirators by Israel Btr-
Sued°, in his enumeration of former friends and com-
panions, now doomed to fall victims to the conspiracy,
of which he was thus become the head. His reply
to his nephew's observation, when the conspiracy
had been detected, that: a moment more and all
had been stricessful—
e Thai moment would have chang'd the face of age,
This gives us to eternity !"
was finely conceived and expressed.' Again, when
before the Council of Ten, and urged to state the
reasons whit!: induced him to conspire the overthrow
of the State, his answer; alluding to the insult offered
by the Patrician Steno to his wife—
" A spark-lights up a flame;
A single drop will make a cup o'erflow.
My cup was fuU already!"
called forth the loudest applause; and his conclud-
ing anathema on the Venetian State on going to exe-
cution, elicited the most unanimous approbation.
Mrs. WEST was highly interesting in the Princess
Ang,iolina. We have never seen her to more advan-
tage than last night, in her appeal to the Council,
and her admonition to her husband, to lay down his
life in a manner worthy her deceased father's friend.
Her parting interview with him, was also loudly ap-
plauded. WALLACE, as the chief Conspirator,. had
bat little to do. In the early part of the Second Act
a number of printed bills, of which the following is a
copy, were showered from the Gallery into the Pit
and Boxes: •
" The Public are respectfully informed, that the represents-
tion of Laid &fames Tragedy. The Doge if Venice, takes place
in defiance of an Injunction of the Loan CHANCILLOS, which
was not applied for until the remonstrance of the Publisher, at
the earnest desire of the Noble Author' bad failed in protecting
this Drama front its intrusion on the Stage, fur which it was
never intended."—
This notificatinn,bowever, passed unneeded by the
audience, and, at the conclusion of the Piece, the,
Manager, Mr. RUSSELL, came forward amidst loud
applauses, and addressed the audience to the fol-
lowing effect:
LAMS AND Gifermette—Out of respect to the legal pro-
ceedings now pending, the Proprietors of this Theatre forbear
to announce a repetition of this Tragedy at present, but flatter
bemselves they shall be able, in a few days, to name a night for
i:s secnild representation"—(4pp‘ausek
Mr. Russeee then gave out Mother and Son for a
second representation this evening.

The Methodists are now raising subscriptions to
convert the (iipsys to Christianity. In a late report,
they say,' We have been running to the ends of the
earth to convert the Ileathen,while this body, which
has subsisted among us for 400 years, and now
amounts to 18,000 ptaisons, has escaped our notice."