Drury-Lane Theatre.
The Times, 1824-02-21T00:00:00

The Practice of operatizing Shakspeare's plays, which his for some time past been ruccessfully adopted at the rival theatre, has at length been introdticed Ihere. The Nerry Wives of Windsor, that elkef-d'telure of comic genius-tbat never-failing source of laughter and good humour--was last night perfornmed, with the addition of a few songs, chiefly selectedt from the miscellaneous poetry of Shak- speare. In some respects this play is peculiarly susceptible of this species of adventitious ornament-in others it is not favourable to the experiment. The " merry wives" mav, without inconsistency, " NWarble their native wood.notes wild ;" and the lovers, Fenton and sweet Annze Page, have an undoubted right, as " music is the food of love," to descrise their joy. and sorrowys through that most eloquent mnedium. But, to Mrake room for these madrigals, it is necessary to omit scenes in the highest de. gree hu-morous * and, we confess, oxe sucld sceue, the offspring of Shakspeare's playftul fancy. gives us more pleasure, excites more liveliness of feeling, than the execution of almost any song ron do. ilir. Dowton appeared as that king of good fellows, tnat cosnpound of comic qualities, FaoitWfT His performance was a good, not a greatt one. At times" he succeeded in giving a rich picture of the fat knight's peculiarities; but, in general, his acting wanted breadth and roundness. It was harsh and angular. His best scene was that where he receives froml Mrs. Quickle the intimation of his success with Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Poge. Had he performed the whole character in the came manner, there would have been no ground for censure-all muist have admired and applauded. The chuckling complacency withl whicih he heard the communicatioX- the self-delight with vwhich he viewed his aldermanic form-the laughing toie in which he speculated on the fortune which his ama- tory projensities ,eemed likely to place withiti his grasp-were excel. leOt4 and arave as potr,.rful an idea of jolly but antiquated vice, as can well tie iniagined. Tric second interview with Fordi was very god; The d&scflption of his pniseries in the buck-basketand out of it, was exceedinglg laughable. Thie horreso seferexs seemed itb- prinXted on Alr. Io,wton4s viaage whit he narrated his misfor- tunes. To these instances ot' good acting we may add the love- scenes with Afrs. Pord, which were sufficiely Farm. These were the best parts of Mtfr. Dowton's performancc, ,ut the whole was received ith; grest approbation. Air. Harley persotiate Mas- ter Sken4er in a most enterLtiningmanner. He ought, how- "' ifa i be possible, to assume a more lachrymose, a more " melareho.i look. Meater Slender is one of those fools, who, Jike Master fuAra then', think it only nlecesstry to look penaise, in order to beaccouint-~ ed wse. Suis-a fe6llonvf ever smiles ; and {r. Harley, from con- ctitution, or habit, or both;f is always on the giggle. lle might take llvery good,less6n from Ate Leslie's' picture of Meeater S?epider. JnstficeeShamlo-- was' ably 'plaved by Mfr. Oxberry. Hisi friends $ir Hrigh Evans aiid Dr. Cainjr were caricatured by, Messrs.. Browne and Gietie. Mtr. Wrailacicatsatstsitted the character. of .Ford in a meitorfbus stvle. -His jealousy, however, wanted depth and force; it was-too jd,gty. -We ,shlouhi likte to see Kean in thbi character. We now ceme to the mus ical part of the drama. M,tr. Braliatis, as Fenton, had, fortunately for himself and for the audience, nothing to do but to step forward and sing. Ile exe- cuted his task mostxexqxuiaitels' Hhl openiog -song, to the Welsh- air of " Arhyd-vr.os,` was a finisbect specimen of taste and ex- precmion. Bitt the beautiful baUad air, " The Winter it ii past " was beyond comhpanson tile most delicdous treat of the evening. IBir. Brhaiiax fn. ft, 'withoutt itccompaniment, in a style' of exquisite sirnplicity and pathosl it was rapturously* encored. Alies Stephens gave she sirs wrhich 'harve beers grafted on the charactep of-iMrs. Ford; *ith fascinating skilL- -Th` aexir,ion? of Miss Povey, as 'A4nfie Page, andl of MUs C-ibitt,. wINsf rfortned[ the -cha- rsicter'of Mri. Page (drlginall3 intended .ibr Maldame Vestris), also desefve favourable mention. -The sbongs- ase .chiie-H sr- 'leeted fstnn ghakspeare, but not nlxvways very kaappily choeet. *55Pjoe blowe t7hon relatcr's weiind for instance, is s'e?iryk*'ard1y and insppropriately introduced. The first four linesz of the song, u5sye on s1frh1fantasy," which belongs to t.he comedy, mig,ht have becn give, writh great proyriety, to Mrs. Ford. There are souse plesing nes scenes. The torest scenery, byStanild, is exce rr.nt The wiece was received with decided approbauno.. DRURIY-LANE_ THEATRE.