Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-09-08

step forward in obedience 10 its urgent call,
in order TO make a display of their histrionir
in favor Of a neglected actress of
merit when body of unprotessional Thes-
plans. Influenced sby feelings which do ho-
nor to human nature, take upon them the ar
duous task Of performing publicly, at a
yery short notice, and under pery dtsaduan-
tageoas circumstdsees, Ia tragedy, many oil
the characters of which require considerable
previous study before they can be acted
without causing disappointment to the be-
holder; when these irregular performers uri-
dertake, from humane motives. to supply
the place of professional tragedians, whose
Incidence, negligence, or want OF genera
sity. led them to turn deaf ear to the just
and reasonable solicitations Of female men,
Der Of their own corps theetrsque in distress !:
when, indeed, such are the circumstances
in whicI, society Of private Thespians APP
pear before the public. it appears to us that
The dignity and nagnanimity of criticism
would be outraged, were we to indulge in
a strain Of captiossness and rAi'ery towards
performers. whose motives entitle them to
yesped and gratitnde--not only of the ipdi-
yidual for whom they exerted their histronic
talents-but also Of the public at large,
whose entertainment they endeavor 10 pro-
mole by timely exercise of their powers.
We pretend not to enter into an inquiry as
TO the reasons which have Influenced the
professionsi colleagues Of Mrs. Monier to de-
cline their services towards her on recent
occasion. Our readers, we are confident,
would feel as title interest as ourselves 10
rau.,cking the transactions efthe green room,
(which is too frequently the scene OF turhu-
lence and envy the real causes OF the re-
cent dispute He hail leave this matter to
he ascertained by those whose curiosity IS
stronger than ours and whose means OF in
formation are vastly superior. Suffice 1t in
nc to observe. that as ardent admirers OF the
drama. (Which we consider rational and
ed;lving amusement) we regret, much re-
aret. that in addition to the vulgar preludl'
css which have retarded the success OF the
Theatre in Alexandria and other places,--a
s,,o,o ob;ectiop presents itself 70 the eDccu
taoement of the drama. fromthe general con-
due, Of The players Not content with quar-
Yelling among themselves, they frequently
ohtruae their paltry chickering's upon the pub
90 =
lie. and after splitting into parties influenced
bv me,n and petty jealousies. disorgsn'ze
,tbe entire ECONOMY OF the company to which
they be,ong--thus illustrating the sacred
maxim-'s house divided against itse'tcan
mot s,,nd (" Such divisions as these lond'y
call for the animadyersion OF the imparl ial
and independent press and we ava'' our
ss,ves Of the present occasion. to remind the
members of the theatrical company, that'
nrohahly, were greater degree of harmony
and good will observable from within their
bodv they might reasonably calculate upon
/, greater degree of support from the pnbl'c
vv;,kout. Atall events, il would serve TO M
crease the responsibility Of their corps. and
afford their sincere and welI-mesning friends
= fair opportunity of vindioating their pr'0ats
character from thc numerous assertions which
are daily heaped upon it by the lliherai
mart Of the community. We hope our thea
tr;cal friends viii profit by these hints
They certainly are not founded in Spleen
hut proceed from a head and heart deeply
interested 10 the success of the drama--and,
by consequence, in the manners oil the play
ers.
With The performance of the 9th, under
al the disadvantages which accompanied Ut,
fand they were undoubtedly numerous) we
honestly confess. that We felt ourselves. upon
the whole. far from being dissatisfied. We
think that some of our local Thespians APP
peared TO considerable advantage. IN the
course Of the play. 1t may seem partial IN
MS to make particular illusions; but. we must
be permitted to observe that the characters
or Barbqrossa and Selim. were we'll concelv-
cd. aud very appropriately personated In
the former there was. perhaps. now and
then little too much gesiiculation--hut
this, IL a fault at all, is one, which we feel
nersuaded the good sense Of the respectable
nerfor,ner Of that part, will guard against
=, future occasion. With the dancing Of
the Hcmpipe, by young gentleman of A.