The National Register. — 1818-01-04 (London, England)

THE DRAMA.  COVENT-GARDEN.  A new Tragedy in these times is so great a novelty that it naturally excites considerable interest, not only among those who are called play-going folks, but also among those whose regard fur the interests of literature makes them anxious about every addition which is made to our stock of national poetry. This feeling suf. ficiently accounts for a numerous audience at this house, on Thursday evening, to witness I?etribution ; or, Me Chitliain's Daughter. The story is supposed to be in the fourth century. The following are the most striking features of the plot :—Varanes, King of Persia has two sons Chosroo and Homed who are both enamoured of Zintra the chieftain's daughter. Homed is the favoured lover, but Chosroo considers himself certain of success, from the power he possesses over the life of her father Stales whom he has recently taken prisoner in an expedition against one of the mountain tribes. The rivalry of the two brothers, one impetuous, unprincipled, hesitating at no means to affect his purer pose, the other less powerful and more virtuous, and aided by the love of Zimra, occupy great part of the drama ; but the interest of the piece, rests in an equal degree on Varanes, who, agitated by the conscious guilt of having; murdered his brother and predecessor Sapor, confounded and perplexed in all his actions by the fear of discovery, joined to the mystery in which the event is involved, xhibjts a fine moral le,son, and affords some striking opportunities for the display of talent, to which Young dil great justice. The outline of the plot is sufficiently simple, but is involved in its conduct in much unnecessary intricacy : except in the first act, the events do not follow each other by a nice adjustment of cause and effect, and there has been an evident de.. Ire to spin out the materials to an undue extent. We are yet unable to judge with accuracy on the merits of the language, Lut we suspect it is better fitted for the closet than the stage. There are many things which to the eye of the spectator appear like deviations from nature, as well as from dramatic unity and effect, we trust they appear so, from the dialogue having been but imperfectly heard. For instance, no good reason sp• pears to justify the sudden return of Sidhes to reason, in the prison scene in the fifth act. The supposed murder of the King, by his son Chosroo is involved in much obscurity. The order for the death of Zimra, Hamed, and Sullies seems most. unnatural, and the sacceeding serene, were these persons dispute about taking precedcsncy in death is faulty both in matter and manner.— We do not mention these as important failings nor are we quite sure that they are failings at all. we only mention the effect which they produced upon us, which an acquaintance with the text would probably have removed. In our next number we shall enter more at length into an examination of its merits. The following is the list of the dramatis personx Varanes, King of Persia Mr. Young. Cht'srd°' I his sons Hemet', 1. Mr. C. Kemble. Abdo:, a l'ersian Lord Mr. Egerton. Hugs, his sou Mr. Abbott.  Sutliu;, a captive Chieftain Mr. Terry. Sohrah, the King's Chamberlain Kodad, Confident to Chosroo  Devah, Slave to Chosroo Mr. Jeffries. Zulus, daughter to Smiles Miss O'Neill.