Oh let me fly while yet I may In accents stern, does reason say, "Shun Love, thy secret foe.” And now, what more can Rosa say? In Poësy's bewitching play. E'en now, reluctant passion weeps Unheard! The harp of Rosa sleeps! REPLY. RESOLVE not thus-it shall not be- TIME LIMITED. O TIME! 'twere folly to dissemble, Thy power the Thespian Corps among, Thou never canst make KEMBLE Young! *Contre l'amour voulez-vous vous defendre, Gens dont le cœur s'explique avec esprit. J. 1808. MEMORANDA DRAMATICA. DRURY-LANE. Dec. 21. Venoni.-Blue Beard. 22. Love for Love: Mrs. Frail, (first time,) Mrs. Harlowe; Mrs. Foresight, Mrs. Orger.-Love in a Tub.-Ella Rosenberg. 23. Venoni-Blue Beard, ("last time.") 26. George Barnwell *.-Robinson Crusoe. Dec. * This tragedy, forming a strange jumble of real pathos, and countinghouse heroics, is seldom performed, except in the Christmas and Easter holidays. All credit is due to the Managers for their moral motive in bringing it forward at those periods, when the quiet state of the galleries must certainly give it every effect! The character of Barnwell, in times of greater simplicity, must have made a powerful appeal to the feelings; at present, the young loungers in our lobbies are too loose and indiscriminate in their amours, to be blinded by a single attachment. Indeed, at no time could the character have been in nature. The machinations of Milwood are too obvious to catch even a gudgeon like poor George. When once in the ways of sin, Barnwell gallops forward with the speed of an election post-horse; never had old Beelzebub a more industrious London Apprentice. He plans a robbery, where a petition would have answered the purpose; and where a wiser rogue would have robbed without murder, he murders without robbery. The love-scenes with his master's daughter are as awkwardly tacked on, as those in Addison's Cato. Maria "never told her love" whilst the youth was in reputable circumstances; but, like the ladies in the Beggar's Opera, forms so strong a penchant for a hero in fetters, that she visits him in the condemned hole, and tells him of the happiness he might have enjoyed, had he continued virtuous. If Barnwell had not the patience of Job, he certainly was possessed of one of his comforters! By the way, the young gentleman, even in the gloom of a prison, retains a good taste, which the female part of the audience cannot fail to approve. His friend Trueman proposes a last embrace, which he declines with humble remorse, but when Muria is introduced, he petitions to be indulged with a recreation of that sort. Milwood's ranting satire on law, physic, and divinity, has too much of the "Captain die-game," of the Dec. 27. Busy Body *.-Robinson Crusoe. 1809. 28. Country Girl.—Id. 29. Venoni.-Id. 30. John Bull.-Id. 31. Honey-Moon.-Id. Jan. 2. Romeo and Juliet.--Id. 3. School for Scandal: Mrs. Candour, first time,) Mrs. Eyre. Id. 4. Venoni.-Id. Jan. the opera above-mentioned. It is, besides, coarse and undramatic. Ladies are not permitted to have all the talk to themselves on the stage, whatever their privilege may be in real life. H. Siddons's Barnwell is too well known to be delineated; it is (next to C. Kemble's) the best on the stage; inferior in dignity and grace, but quite equal in feeling and pathos. If a Manager were to omit a Harlequin repast at this season of the year, the town would make mince-meat of him for a repast of another sort. This night witnessed the revival of Robinson Crusoe, or Harlequin Friday. This interesting tale depicts a man in a state of solitary repose for a period of twenty-eight years, and therefore offers few attractions to the Ballet-master. It is said to be the production of the late Mrs. Sheridan and Co. Mr. D'Egville played the part of Robinson Crusoe with judgment, but in his dress too nearly resembled Caliban, We expected him every moment, "with his long nails to dig us pignuts." Laurent gained great applause in Friday, and secured it in the subsequent Clown; we have not of late seen him play with half the spirit he summoned for this night. Miss C. Bristow, as the Good Genius, played with her accustomed archness and grace, and Mrs. Sharp, in Columbine, ingeniously contrives to retain the costume of China in her dress, without any unbecoming effect. It would be a waste of time to descant on this lady's merits as a dancer. Why is she not oftener before the public? * A Mr. Kent made his first appearance as Sir George Airy. He has a good figure, and a strong-featured stage-face. His voice is manly, but rather too deep for the character. Why did he dress Sir George in black? He is said to be a good singer: if so, as he is a good actor, we shall be proud to be better acquainted with him. We have not seen an acting singer for some years. Certain male syrens in this theatre will be apt to say with old Lear, "Good Kent, forbear "" Jan. 5. Man and Wife; or, More Secrets than One*.—Rosina. 6. Id.-Robinson Crusoe. Mr. Elliston; Mr. Doughton ; Mr. Wroughton; Mrs. Harlowe; Waiting Woman, THE STORY.-Sir Willoughby, an English Baronet, of large fortune, resides upon his estate with his lady and an only daughter, Helen, by a former marriage. Lady Willoughby is one of those wives who aspire to command, and, although of a strong constitution, calls in the aid of weak nerves to maintain her power. The Baronet, to appear in his true character, which is that of a kind and attentive husband, yields to her whims and caprices when in company; but, in private, he consults his dignity, and of course they are always jarring when alone. Helen is a lively and amiable girl, in love with Charles Austencourt, a naval officer, but is intended by her father to be the wife of Lord Austencourt, a nobleman, whose estate joins Sir Willoughby's. This lord had contracted a marriage, which he flattered himself was illegal, with Fanny, the fair daughter of Faulkner, a distressed gentleman, who had sought a refuge in the country from the frowns of fortune. In this dishonourable business his Lordship was assisted by Dedimus, an Irish attorney, and justice of the peace, and Ponder, his clerk, formerly a servant to Charles, who has now returned unexpectedly from sea, to see his mistress, but is informed that she is going to be married to Lord Austencourt. It turns out, however, that Charles is the real Lord Austencourt, and that the marriage of the pretended Lord, with Fanny, the daughter of Faulkner, is legitimate, (an incident borrowed from The Vicar of Wakefield.) In this affecting denouement, great assistance is derived from Dedimus, who, under the appearance of craft, is a generous fellow, who assumed the character of a knave, to counteract the villainy of his clients. The obstacle to the union of Helen and Charles being thus removed, the two lovers are made happy. The use, made of these simple and common incidents, is, without any distressing compliment, very creditable to Mr. Arnold's dramatic ta Jan. 7. Man and Wife; or, More Secrets than One.-Robinson Crusoe. Jan. lents. He has never before produced any thing half so good, nor had he ever a friend so unreasonable in his prejudices as to expect it of him. The first two acts are, it is true, of a very inferior quality, the former, where the poacher and sailor are introduced, partaking much of what we may call a botch, and there is no small smattering of vulgarity in the wit, with bushels of Dibdins, or puns, in the jests and repartees. The latter acts, however, exhibit some good comedy, and though the interest is by no means powerful, or the characters and their motives always consistent and natural, there is a smartness in the dialogue, and a moving liveliness in the action and business of the scene, which justly entitled the piece to the flattering reception with which it was honoured. The actors were remarkably perfect, and exerted their best powers with commendable zeal, and deserved success. Helen seems to have been made expressly for Mrs. Jordan; but as elderly ladies will, occasionally, in their dress, forget that there is one distinction due to "lapwing" fifteen, and another to fat fifty, she has suffered a few more of the ornaments of the former age to hang about her person, than it will consistently bear at this hour. We allude to the too frequent use of " Papa," and the utter absurdity of all she says at the breakfast. The part otherwise possesses much to call forth her inimitable acting, in the splendour of its excellence-in the portraiture of gaiety, mingled with the charm of sensibility, and refined by the purity of truth and love. Sir Willoughby and his Lady, the Man and Wife, were well drawn and supported by Mr. Dowton and Mrs. Harlowe. The former was very rich, and reminded us more than usually, of Quick in his happiest moments. The lovely, injured, but forgiving Fanny, pourtrayed by Mrs. H. Siddons, with exquisite delicacy, feeling, and effect. You could not, however, judge of her beauty ex pede~what could induce her to wear a grand-dame's high shoes, with little stone buckles? O'Dedimus is an attorney, and, though far from abundant in the stage characteristic of an Irishman, bulls, is an elaborate piece of work, of various degrees of merit, being a telling part, full of inconsistency. It was performed by Mr. Johnstone in a very skilful manner. It is the custom, it seems, with our dramatists, to compliment the Irish invariably-all our stage English-Irish are brimful of virtues.-No distinction has been made in the case of Mr. O'Dedimus, notwithstanding he is an attorney. To him and Mrs. Jordan the best thanks of the Author are due, and theirs to him. Mr. Elliston, in the impetuous sailor, Charles, with a heart fierce with courage, but by love made soft, had every rag up, and wind |