The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-09-14

oyeS OF the audience, atteSted TO be drawn from
| nature. The variety and excellence OF this gen.
tIeman's theatrical powers, entitle him to iaurels
| more rich and luxuriant than he has ever vet
! worn. He has, indeed, been always highly es
| teemed as an actor yet we have & rcely been
just to bin.
Mr.. Young exhibited the character of young
Dornton, with vivacity and intelligence which
gives us the promise Of u banquet Throughout the
| season. We hope that the example OF spirit and
nature which he has set in genteei comedy, will
be followed. The tragic strut and deep toned
defamation are too frequent ouT stage. Some
OF our actors seem to thisk that it requires hol-
low voice, and dragging, solemn enupcation,
to give emphasis and effect TO striking senti-
inent. There cannot be greater mistake and
1t IS wonderful that they do not themselves OBJ
serve the superior effect which is produced upon
tue audience, when one such sentiment escapes
IN the manner OF real life and conversation Is
not the stage intended represent real life, and
can the Illusion ever be so strong and so fine as
when the dialogue is carried on exactly after that
manner which we see constantly around us 3
For Heavens sake, let us have no more vault to-
ned awful ranting-no more dragging and draw
bng over the best passages of poet, until all
their lire dies, and all their spirit evaporates Our
actors have certainly read the criticism which
Yielding puts into the mouth Of Partridge, in his
novel OF Tom Jones-y:t they saem 10 have mis-
taken the compliments and censures of that cri.
tic; 10 suppose the compliments real, when they
are only irCnicGl, and the censures sincere when
they form the finest panegyrick. Thus when Gar
RICK, IN Hamlet, sees the Ghost, the workings of
nature which he exhibits, impart the contagious
trenor To the frame i voice OF Partridge, &he de.
cares 1T IS no acting for he should have done so
exactly himself, il he had seen 4 ghost but
when the Sing, according 20 the manner which
prevailed upon the London stage, before the IRA
of Sarrck, begins to square himself and strut
and rant. Partridge is entirely relieved from all
ms sympathy, and exclams, with great delight,
" all, that's it-any body may see, thar rs acting -
rs if it not the chief business of AN actor TO
make us forget that he is acting We will not
make personal application Of these hints a
good natured man has no pleasure in cens,re but
he begs that the performers will, themselves
compare their voice & manner with that of nature
around them & OF themselves, when off the STAGE
& they will find it easy to make the application
Let them only ask themselves for one moment.
what it is that givss Mr.. Twaits the lust success
WHICH he enjoys 1T IS the unaffected ease and
nature with which he enters into his character.
In Co!dtincb, on monday night, he deserved and
received the highest applause the character
was not carcatured, it was natures self II
was neither degraded by buioonery, nor dis.or.
ted oy affectation. but exhibited with lust and
beautiful precision Tins gentleman certainly
stands unrvaledin the line of characters in xh;cb
he has shewn himself here we have had others
that have attempted them, but in the hands of
Mr.. Iwalts, they have a new air & interest -
II is easy to discern, through the lowest charac-
ter which he personates, the superior intelligence
Which directs his action.
But what shall we say Of Mrs Young. when
in the character of Sophia, she Came 6onnd;n.
on the stagein all the efiusence of beauty & ,yth
all the graces sporting around her Conld sI.
have seen the electric stroke ofdelight which 5ar
ted through the house, she would in he. turn
have had feast. Never was the Character her
ter supported either this or the Diner ala Of
the Atlantic. She gave us picture ofr,,>t;c
wildness, simplicity and innocence, winch ever,
nearer felt to be true to the life and which rem
dered her one Of the most interesting beings on
earth. When she came ieapng over the chord
when she twirled her handkerchief into the f,rro
OF babe and handled it on her knee. when en-.
ting on the floor, she opened her plumb cake
and drew forth the valentine, when afterwards IN
!iVof Jeaidisy she tore he valentine To pieces
threw Il on the floor 4 burst INTO tears in sbort i;
every incident which belonged to her part. She.
seemed to us to hit it with me xpressibls f.I;ci.u
to the Theatre.