The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL.

During the past week, the first of the new season, the
.management have favoured us with a succession of pieces,
some of them stock pieces, and all of a higher order than
we have of late been accustomed to see upon our Liver-
pool boards ; and from the arrangements made, and the
additional talent engaged, we may venture to hope for an
increased degree of efficiency throughout this establish-
ment. The star of the week has been that clever and
popular actress Mrs. Nisbett, who has won golden opinions
from her audiences by her racy impersonations of her pe-
culiar line of characters, and has been nightly called be-
fore the curtain to receive their congratulations and ap-
plause. On Tuesday evening the popular play of " Lon-
don Assurance" was presented, in which Mrs. Nisbett
personated the lively and dashing Lady Gay Spanker to
perfection. The other characters were ably supported by
the members of the regular company, especially that of
Sir Harcourt Courtley by Mr. Lambert, and Mark Med-
dle, which was inimitably performed by Mr. Compton.
Miss Coveney was a sprightly Grace Harkaway, and
Mrs. Clarke pourtrayed Mrs. Pert in that racy and lively
style so peculiarly her own. A newly engaged member
of the company, Mr. Frazer, supported the character of
a valet Cool in a very creditable style.
On Wednesday the comedy of the " Love Chase" was
performed, Mrs. Nisbett personating Constance. This
piece was excellently cast, with the exception of the cha-
racter of Master Wildrake, by Mr, Hield, a member of
the American boards, which was not in good hands. The
Widow Green by Mrs. Clarke was an excellent piece of
acting. Mr. Frazer also, in the character of Master Wal-
ler, improved upon our acquaintance. The Lydia of Miss
Tslbin (a new face) was very well sustained.
On Thursday evening Goldsmith's play of " She
Stoops to Conquer" was performed, the only feature of
which calling for attire was the amusing impersonation
of Tony Lunipkin by Mr. Compton. Mrs. Nisbett we
were sorry to observe was not in her usual spirits, and
appeared unwell. The afterpiece was a lively farce,
"The :Spitfire," which was received throughout with up-
roarious mirth.
On Friday evening the performances were " Much ado
about Nothing" and " A Dead Shot." upon which, not
having been present, we cannot remark.
On Saturday evening the announcement of the prize
comedy, " Quid pro Quo," drew together a numerous,
and rather a critical audience. We believe we may state
that a strong inclination exis'ed in the house to reverse
the decision come to by the London critics with respect
to the merits of this play. Certainly a fair and uninter-
rupted hearing was afforded ; and, for the credit of the
fair authoress, we should have been glad to have it
in our power to say that an approving verdict had been
recorded. We have not, however, that pleasure; for,
notvvithstandiug the evident inclination of the house to
apn'aud whenever applause could be honestly given, the
final sentence, we are compelled to say, was one of dis-
appointment and dislike. We think, too, it was justly so.
Whatever may be the merits of the piece as a literary
effort, it is evidently wanting in plot, and in dramatic
interest. It wants the continual stir anti liveliness which
practised playwrights lied indispensable in catering for
the taste of the public ; and hence its numerous good
things fall unheeded upon the ear, or, at the most, only
relieve the tedium of intervening dulness. But, apart
from mere mechanical or artistic failure, there is a sad
lack of materials in the piece for the attraction of our
sympathies. There is scarcely one genuine flesh-and.
blood character introduced, and those most approaching
the description are wretched caricatures. We are bound
to say for the management, that it was well put upon the
stage. Indeed we may almost go the length of asserting,
that, but for the superior acting (,f some of the company,
(Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Nisbett, Mr. Compton, and Mr.
Lambert,) it would have been unequivocally damned.
Such a result is a poor encouragement for the spirited
effort made by the management to obtain a good acting
play ; but the truth must be told ; aid we are confident
that Mr. Webster himself is quite prepared to sanction
with his own opinion the judgment of the public. When
he next off, rs a £5OO premium for a drama, he will, no
doubt, be himself the arbiter of its merits.
Last night Shakspeace's play of " Romeo and Juliet "
was performed, the part of Romeo being sustained by Mr.
C. Pitt, late of the Theatre-Royal, Manchester; and
Juliet by Miss Montague, from the Theatre-Royal,
Covent-garden. We regret that our avocations prevented
our being present, as we are thus deprived of the oppor-
tunity of remarking upon the acting of these newly-intro-
duced members of our regular company.