Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-19
GAZETTE.
HAcKETT-LoNDoN THEATRIcALs.

II is source of great satisfaction to learn by
the recent arrival from Liverpool that our coun.
tryman Hackett, has been emnently successful
in his character of Col. Nimrod Wildfre. The
London Times of the 18th March saws:
"Couent Garden novelty of the repre-.
sentatinn would of itself be strong recommen.
dation; but it should be added that as mere act
ing this performance exhibited considerable me-
rit. and justified the reputation which the per
former has gained among his own countrymen.
1t is difficult for US, on this side Of what Colonel
Wlidfre calls 1'thc big pond" to enter fully
into the whim OF such parsonage; but the oddi-
ty Of his dialect and the effect Of his stories are
irresistible. He describes himself as "chock
full of fun and fight" has "the fastest horse,
the prettiest sister, the quickest rife, and the
higher, squat lower, dive deeper, aud come out
drier than any fellow in the world" His &C
count OF fight with boatman, whom he beat so
much to his antagonists delight that he promised
to vote for him at the next election, Is capital;
and among his rhodompntades. he saws he once
hit man 50 hard that he disappeared altogether,
and nothing was ever found Of him after wards
but large grease spot on the Hoor.
The only things we have like It on our stage
are the freshmen as represented by Mr.. Power.
The Kentuckian is not a iot interior to them in
fun, and if we knew "a much of him as we do Of
the children of the sister country, would be as
fully relished by the public. The actor and the
character, however. labour under great diSad,
van.ages in this farce, which is very clumsy
aud ineffective. Ii would have been practicable
without any great effort of ingenuity, to have
made the kentuckiaD sustain a part properly be-
longing to the drama: but here the drama is evil
DENLY written only for the purpose Of bringing
him on the stage, and so badly written that the
actor has not the slightest support or relief from
the other personages. The plot is the most nea-
gre that can be Imagined: the introduction of an
English female tourist--.a notion which might
have been made the vehicle Of much good humor.
ed satire-is very teebly managed. and the other
characters have no characters al all.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, and
left as he was soieiv upon his own resources,
Mr.. Hackett acquitted himself with great credit.
Whether the representation will take with the En-.
glish public must be decided by the result Of the
experiment, for which one night is not enough; but
certainly the novelty and singularity Of the at
fair entitled it to success, and it il should fail,
the actor will deserve no share of the blame. He
was received with general appreciation through
out; at the CONCLUSION Of the farce there was
some decided Kissing, but it appeared to be d.
rected against the play. Mr.. Hacketwas called
for. and announced it fr the REPETITION on Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday"
The Morning Herald Of the 18th says. cat
Covent.garden Theatre, last night. Lord Adolf
plus FitzcIarence occupied the Queens pri-
vate box; the Dnwager Warehouses Of Hert-
ford, Lady Elizabeth REYNOLDS. Lord Belfast.
&c. were also present, to see Jackets Wadfre
in The Keniuckian with which they seemed great.
Iy amused"