The Sun. — 1868-09-28 (London, England)

DRURY-LANE 7HEAIRE.  Mr. Chatterton on Saturday commenced his season in the most triumphant manner—an overflowing audience assembled to witness his opening novelty, a new spectacular melodrama, entitled " The King of Scots," which we have the greatest pleasure in recording as an undoubted and corn' plete success. The drama, from the pen Of Mr. Andrew Halliday, is founded on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated novel, " The Fortunes of Nigel," and although various alterations have of necessity had to be made, yet enough of the original tale has been preservel to constitute one of the best spectacular dramas produced for a very loAg time. One of the great attractions of  the drama was the circumstauce that Mr. Phelps was announced to support two distinct characters, viz., King James and the miser Trapbois, and calling to mind his wonderful impersonations of Sir Pertinax AlacSycophant and Justice Shallow, a curiosity was excited of more than ordinary interest. Without entering at length into the matter we may at once say that two greater impersonations Mr. Phelps has never yet presented to the public; se King James he was perfect in accent, dress, gait, and expatiate with that monarch's well-known mixture of raw pedantry and nimble shrewdness, on all and sundry topics current in his Court. As Trapbois he had a weak, whispering, tottering air, the miser feverishly and vigorous at the least hint of gain, and sacrificing everything to the one great and absorbing thought of scraping together an increase to his wealth. _ Mr. Halliday opens the drama with old Fleet-street, and the shop or booth of David Ramsay, the watchmaker, with his two 'prentices, and the well-known " What d'ye lack ?" Pretty Mistress Margaret 10 at once brought on ; Richie Moniplies makes mirth for the mocking 'prentices ; Lord Dalgarno and a, Court gallant pass over ; a street fight and " clubs called, and a general rising of the apprentices follows, forming a very effective tableau. Richie then relates to his master the rejection of his petition by the king, and George Heriot appears and befriends Nigel. Margaret falls in love with the hero of the story, and Jin Yin, driven t° despair, becomes a ruffier and a roysterer. The scene then changes to Whitehall, and here occurs the chief incident in the first get. Nigel's drawing his sword within the precincts of the palace and the attack on Dalgarno within the palace itself. Then we have the escape of Nigel to Alsatia, and the interior of the Duke Hildebrod Whitefriars rendezvous is presented with powerful effect. After a lively song of the period hI Mr. Irving, and a wild uproarious dance, the scene changes to the gloomy house of old Trapbois, the miser and usurer. Here the mortgage deed is redeemed by Dalgarrol the miser is murdered, and then we pass to IJohdon-bridge, where Nigel meets his enemy. A duel ensues, and Dalgarro is thrown into the river. Passing over some of the minor incidents we arrive at Greenwich Park, and here takes place the interview of Nigel with the King, which so excited 10. comic terrors, the King's interview with Margaret Ramsay, and the shrew discovery of which the Scottish Solomon was so proud. The last scene takes place in the Tower of London. King Janie, in ambush, overhears the interviews of Nigel with Margaret, with Heriot, and with Sir Mango Male" grow ther. He comes from his hiding place, threatens . Nigel with the " punishment of the maiden)" the terrible rack mentioned in the novel), points out Margaret as the maiden in question, having rendered justice to all the curtain descends. The parts of George Heriot, Richie Moniplies, Dalgarno and Jan Yin ware excellently supported by Messrs. Addison, Price, Camnaing, Sinclair, and Irving, and Miss Heath made a most bewitching Margaret Ramsey. The scenery is superb, and the mounting of the pieces altogether a .work of the highest excellence. We heartily congratulate Mr. Chatterton on the great success of the piece, which will carry him triumphantly o°' ward until Christmas at least.