Star.
London, England, 1829-07-29 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

We again last evening visited the English Opera, and
were well pleased to find the music of the Reibee's Bride gradaally
Increasing in public favour. As we become more familiar with the
style, we discover a multitude of beauties in detail, that almost re-
concile us to its extravagance u a whole. Still, the horrid verse
with which it is conveyed disgusts as much as ever, and mars
passage after passage most cruelly. The actors having become
more perfect, sing with less appearance of effort, and thereby de
greater justice to the music of Ries, which add, to say the best of
it, is but a splendid ambiguity. Sapio yet remains inexorably
vapid and incorrigibly awkward—delivering himself of speech in
the same way, but in lower accents, as a showman of wild beasts.
This gentleman would absolutely persuade us that there
was a time when Italian officers made mountain excursions
with troops against robbers—dressed like inatadores at a
bull-fight. We should be glad to learn if these hoaxes
originate with the actors or the Stage manager. At all events, we
an sorry for the Lubin-looking Therese,—that be suffers his pro-
tuberant visage to be shaded so profusely with ruffs and feathers ;
it makes him look quite comical. Miss Betts, in the disguise of a
peasant, wears a rich gold embroidered petticoat, and a quantity
of gay ribbons in her hair,--enough to buy a farm. No wonder
the folks suspect her of being a counterfeit. Miss Came, as her
abigail, flaunts like a Duchess, in rich leery. Those ladies must.
have had Arcadia in their eye, when they represent &eremite and
country girls in such attire. Perkins„—in a tunic coveted with
gold clasps, moiern-looking horse-pistols, and a kind of Turkish
memo his belt, an antique Roman falchlos by his side,—
looks as like a Captain of robbers as be does a Boatswain of a
Man-of•wu. He was more boisterous than usual,—and we
at one time feared be would burst a blood vesseL Is it from
Young, Kean, or 'Unable be has learned to aim at our feelings
by straining himself likes patient, struggling with apoplexy ? We
hope be will not hurt his head, or his eyes, by beating and twisting
them about in the alarming way he is wont. We speak of these
improprieties with real regret ; for he has talents, if properly di-
rected, that might lift bins to no mean station in dramatic hierarchy.
It N a pity be hes no adviser.
The little piece named Lying Made Easy, and called, we know
not why, an Operella, succeeded the Opera of Ries. It was in-
judicious to cloy us with la peeks entsiyise," after such scientific
and effective morsels as those of the Robber's Bride. Wrench, as
usual, kept the stage alive with his perpetual bustle, inflexible face,
and monotonous organ. There is no finesse, no by-acting, no
delicate touch, to be expected from this still useful actor. He blurts
every thing out, whether it should be spoken aloud or not; row and
rumpus is the soul of Wrench; for aught else be can afford no
time. Mr. Bartley is truly moat facetious, and very good-naturedly
takes care we should know when to laugh, by uniformly anticipating
us by his own chuckling. His fellow actors ea& really to feel
much obliged for this public homage iv their comic powers.
The evening was concluded with the revived entertainment of
Paid cited Meek. The sweet simplicity of Mazzingbi's music in
this piece has made it a universal favourite ; and the aid given to
it by Reeve, lends it a certain character of nationality which ren-
ders it highly agreeable to an English ear. Mrs. Keeley nukes an
admirable And j and, in her sang of intercession with Tropic, de-
livered notes of a fulness, purity, and taste, we, until Dow. considered
beyond bee compass. Madame Cellini, we are sorry to say, does
not improve. She looks like a thing of pasteboard. While her
wake—like her face—is so diminutive, we can scarcely catch it at
the distance of the centre box.
She wore an absurd scarf, in shape resembling them worm by
village Beadles In France, which assisted, with the rest of her
dress, appearance, and acting, to give us more an idea of a doll
newly dressed for the toy-shop, than the poor interesting orphan
depicted by Beenendas St. Pierre. Mr. G. • Pusan personated the
merry blunt sailor's um. Derniniime, Is a dress similar to those
worn by the riding clowns at Auley's, and did more than rival
them in feats of agility and grimace. Instead of the manly tone
the writer meant him to take, he looked the most passive creature
in the workl--squeaking out his claptrap, of British bravery like a
boy in a game of marbles, and looking altogether like a champion
say body might pretend to kick.
From this piece we learn the singular fact, that the mak slaves
In Madagascar are black, and the female oats of a ray red.