The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-08-16 00:00:00

ROYAL A3IPHITHEAT.RE.

TrrE lovers of the legitimate drama find their taste well
catered for at this establishment, where of late, in addi-
tion to a resident company distinguished for the respecta-
bility of its talent,. we have had the exertions of the
veteran Vandenhoff and his accomplished son, besides
other performers of distinction brought before tis. On
Saturday evening the favourite tragedy of " Othello" was
produced with all unusually strong cast, the part of
Othello being enacted by Mr. E. L. Davenport; logo, by
Mr. Vandenhoff; Cassio, by Mr. H. Vandenhoff; and the
" gentle lady, married to the Moor," by Miss Fanny Vi-
ning. On these, the chief characters, of course, devolved
the burden of the piece, the rest of the dramatis personce
meeting with respectable representatives. Of Miss Vi.
ning's Desdemona it is not hyperbolical to say the character
was presented as delicate, gentle, winning—attractive from
its simplicity and truth. If the lady would listen pa-
tiently to a word of counsel, we would deferentially suggest
the absence of a scarlet mantle, as not unbecoming the
unobtrusive modesty of Desdemona's character. In the
arduous delineation of Othello, Mr. Davenport sustained
his reputation as an actor of discernment and good taste.
His elocution was generally correct, and in some of the
more tender passages was really happy. His dress and
general bearing did him much credit. The cunning and
unscrupulous malignity, and base, yet self-torturing, cre-
dulity of lago were well depicted in the acting and mas-
terly elocution of Mr. Vandenhoff. Abjuring the clap-
trap style of violent and startling contrasts, he contented
himself with presenting to his audience a consistent whole.
Easy-sitting and well-practised deceit in his mode of ren-
dering shone conspicuous through all the machinations of
the incarnate fiend. His delivery of most of the telling
passages was studiously correct, and in many of them
beautiful. The enunciation of the splendid sentiment—
" Good in man or woman,

11Ty dear Lei d,"
and elicited loud
was admirably earnest and natural,
merited applause. In some portions of the concluding
d
act we seemed to desiderate the full heartiness of unction,
which was so well manifested by Mr. Vandenhoff in other
instances ; but, as a whole, the performance was of a mas-
terly order, and one likely to sustain the verdure of his
well-earned laurels. As Cassio Mr. H. Vandenhoff was
highly respectable. Never 'overstrained, and always easy,
his reading of the part was judicious and tasteful. At the
conclusion of the tragedy, which was excellently per-
formed, the audience vehemently called for Mr. Vanden-
hoff, who, after a brief interval, appeared before the cur-
tain and bowed his acknowledgments ; being in a favour-
able humour, the best test of satisfaction, by the bye, the
audience bestowed a similar compliment on Mr. Davenport
and Miss Vining, and afterwards on Mr. H. Vandenhoff,
all of whom in like manner suitably expressed their sense
of the honour. The vaudeville of the " Welsh Girl" fol-
lowed, and the performances of the evening were wound
up by the petite comedy of " Faint Heart never Won
Fair Lady." In the former piece Miss Julia St. George
sustained the character of the Welsh Girl in a vey pleasing
manner. Her acting was lively and appropriate, exhibiting
good taste and versatility, and the ballads which she sung
were given without affectation, and with great sweetness
of expression. Mr. J. W. Ray made a highly creditable
representative of Sir Owen Griffiths, his demeanour and
style of dress being well suited to the character.

A VIEW OP LIVERPOOL, as seen from the river, is pre-
paring for publication, in lithography. It was painted in
oil by Mr. J. Butler, a native artist, and embraces the
extent of the port from the north docks to the Dingle, all
the principal buildings and other objects being represented
with great truthfulness. The picture is, dedicated to the
Mayor, and is highly spoken of as a work of art.