Drury-Lane Theatre.
The Times, 1824-07-16T00:00:00

The come4y of TVie UeThi'.r .'aftsWm W last nlgilt perfofrneJd the part of LUiea Hardg by Miss L. Fatm, behi er first apPe5r. nmce on the,e jnards. She is a very youndy& sd, wnsu noplayel. once for the benefit of her sister thbe ele d angCr at Uventgarden Thetre. Her igute ig slender and4deAicatelY' proportioned her featues are pleaWing, and her ixnIef.*iecrjiarly expressive of playfiulness and gooDldhmott. Her vole v`i 9.eet, but ita power, either in speaking or siging, is rthef lfftritct The character which she selected for her &Ibtt4 ithoukh sits nanure, has always been a favourite with the most celebrated oitiit actresses of the day, since the productionofth0ootmedy. ltux doubtedly affords scope for the display of eorsiderabit versatility of talent, in painting thebopes and feariof theloveickdrniseljthe awkwardness of the rude hoyden, and the sprightly grace and po- lished vivacity of the accomplished woman of fashson- Alis IA. Paton appears to have been exceedingly well-tutored in llt- dharac ter, and certainly performed it with a good deal of cleverndgs,- buf it was not, by any means, a first-rate effbrt. It was too *ircish throughout; and in part of the masquer2de scene, as well sSIgthst with which the niece concludes, there was an absence of that con.; scions dignity which forms the great contrast t$ih the lghter n,ares of the character. In delivering the impassionedsenfnnent wiichin ar- dent affection impels the fair wooer to utter, MissL FPatonItoiaetinies fell into an error,verycommron withyoung performers-thiiof'strahnig her voice (for theurpose of iving strongeffect to the declatnationi beyond its natue power. er articulation, which was ingener;f cleat and correct, became, in these instances, snappish ad. indis-'~ tinct. The scene in which she assumes the vulgar airs of rii o- rant hoyden had mbqh merit. Thehutemorrwtssraad andnatural. The "milking sonf" was very amusingly executed, and was cd for a second time. She executed herpartof the Mineu de a CSiie' in an elegant manner. The whole performance was ceeditable to her;: but, great as was the applause she received, (allowarnces Must al- ways be made on these occasions for the natural parualityof friends), we think thereareothercharauters.-cbamcrersof amorequiet and iess ambitious description-in which ber eiorts would have been seen t0 greater advantage. Mr. Elliston sutpported the character of Dor7i. court with ali the ease and vivacity or a young man juSt entering OLi life. We were very much gratified witii the im3iressive manner ia which he delivered the moral sentiment that cendlades the-play. ILr. Dowton's Old Hardy was a sterling piece of azting. Of the other characters, it is merdcful to say nothing. Betwcee ihe second and third acts of the comedy, Mr. Elliston came forward ad said- 4 Ladies and Gentlemen I npear before you to make an aPology for Madame Catalani.A tumult of disapprob-aion.) Ladies and Gentlemen, Madame Catalani is bere (applause); and, though seriously indisposed, comes to sing before You- (Bravo.j lIy apology is only for what AMadame Catalani fears will be the im- perfect execution of her songs. (Applause.1-Ladles and Gentlemen, if you knew the anxiety the hasevinced onthis ozcasion, You would be delightedL (Bravo.) She feels deeply indebted to T3u1 for the warm, I will say enthusiastic, support she has received at tbis theatre, and she requests me to state that she will do her best thi ievening. (Applause.) As some of the music advertised is tOO diffiicult for her to execute on this occaion, she hoNos the song5 which have been substituted will be received with tEiat itdulgeaOe' WiCh ever characterises a British audience." (Brave.) Mladarne Catalani was then handed to the stage. She 9,t! Italian airs, and the song of Case e ayour%Funningt firu giwr of her voice, the paleness of her countenance, ano the frequent attack of a short, husky cough, proved thar she labou red iaddr considerable indisposition. DRUBRYZLMtR LAX 7