Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-26
From the London Courier of Oct.
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

DkU Il i LANE THEATRE.
Yesterday evening this Theatre opI
ed for the season under the new ma
agement, and under circumstances
the most ausp:c!ous nature-such linda
as serve to prove that 4 generous az
enlightened public, will always be real
to reward deserving favoritc. II
distinguished talents of Mr.. EIlistd
arc too well known to require a.
remarks from is on this occasion;
independent Of the high reputation
has always maintained with the inhat
tants of this metropolis as an elcsq
and chaste actor, they must have bor| !
in mine the great and hazardous VI
dertaing in which he has just embaH |
ell ; they must have sympathised in d
anxietics which naturally attend paI
son placed in such u situated, labOrir|
as it were. to revive an established
that had Suffered in character as Stl
as in property; and they must la1
icIt it as duty incumbent on them
snpprrt the man who has spirit enOgs
to enter upon this arduous task. a
these considerations, together with d
impression the public have long had !
Mir. Elliston's iiberality. had the efet
Of bringing to his Theatre, last nigh
an audience as numerous and elesaa
as any that ever was witnessed in thi
metropolis. The passages leading t
the house were crowded long before th
doors were open; and in a short TIM
after they were opened, every place va
filed. Many hundreds of people wen
away. being unable to gain admittanc'
into tho pit Oh galleries ; and long BE-
fore the rising Of the curtain, the boza
even at the top Of the house, were 81
full. that numbers were obliged to STAN
outside the doors. in hopes Of being adj
to take an occasional peep at the stag
or catching an occasional sound from
All this must surely have been OCCASION
ed by the interest which vas felt in MI
EIlistpn's new management and pro
prictorsl,ip, fop no part of the annouI
led performances presented anythIn
likcnoyelty. A few minutes after se'e
o'clock the curtain was raised, and tll
vocal performers, accompanied by u
band, sung God save the king MI
Kelly afterwards came forward to ri
peat The Address which had been prep
red for the OCCASION but the audlen'
insisted on having 'Rule Britannia AZ
would not allow her to proceed. NJ
Russell accordingly came upon the stag
told them their wishes should be Con
piled with, and handed Miss Kelly o.
The fayorite national air was th'
pla, cd aud sung. and rapturoasly q
plauded. Miss K. then came iorwar
and delivered an appropriate address,
After this, the play, which was u
comedy Of Wild Oats. commenced. A
the old favorite performers, on the
entrance, were loudly greeted; d
when Mr.. EIliston, who performed Il
part of Rover, [and who else could ha
attempted it? made his appearanc
tho whole house rang with acclama'Ioi
and clapping of hands, which wei
continued for two or three minutes,
it is hardly necessary to say, that
went through every part of this chara
ter, with his accustomed anlmalio
spirit and chastencss. The par!
John Dory was performed by VI
Thompson, from the Dublin theau
this being his first appearance Oh
London stage. lie is an energetic. -
impressive actor but he spoke WIN
strong Irish accent, which CERTAIN.
does not belong to the character. WIN y
the play was concluded, Mr.. ten'