traits of oddity, which well accord with the ludicrous extravagance of the incidents; the whole forming a melange of broad humour calculated to relax the muscles of the gravest critic, and to set the generality of the audience in a roar. Seldom has a little piece of this kind afforded such a combination of comic talent in the acting-Lewis, Munden, Fawcett, Emery, Farley, Blanchard, SimFawcett and Farley, in the two characters we have particularly alluded to, were irresistible. The former chaunted an epilogue full of" right witty conceits," with such effect, as to be encored. The comedy has been very frequently acted since this evening.

mons.

APRIL 2.---VALENTINE AND ORSON.---A grand serio-comic romantic melo-drama, under this title, written by Mr. T. Dibdin, (Ecce iterum!) and the action produced, with infinite care, taste, and spirit, under the sole direction of Mr. Farley, was presented, for the first time, on Easter Monday. Into the particulars of a story, so well known that every infant can lisp them, it will be needless to enter. The leading incidents and characters are introduced with all the effect of which they are susceptible; King Pepin; Valentine; Orson; the Green Knight; the Princess Eglantine; and last, but not least, either as to size or interest, the old SHE-BEAR, have all their proper notice and station in the file.

The principal credit of the performance certainly belongs to Mr. FARLEY, to whose judgment and exertions so many of our most popular ballets owe their success. The entrance of King Pepin, with the procession at the commencement of the ballet, are conducted in a style of uncommon elegance and grandeur. The action, the groupings, the combats, and the GRAND PAGEANT with which the piece concludes, representing the meeting of the Emperor of Constantinople, and the King of France, display an equal portion of taste and knowledge of stage effect. The Pageant is of the most magnificent description, as are, indeed, the dresses and decorations of the piece throughout. The scenery exhibits some of the most happy productions of Richards, Phillips, and Whitmore; among which the Forest of Orleans, the Green Knight's Encampment, the Giant's Castle, and the Hall of Chivalry, excite the most particular attention. The music, composed by a M. JOUVE, is in many passages exquisite, and the whole is adapted to the respective characters and situations with great judgment.

Farley, Du Bois, Bologna, and Mrs. St. Leger, whose figure and address in pantomime become more and more conspicuous, appeared to distinguished advantage in the ballet department. The other characters were ably supported by Blanchard, Cory, Chapman, Mrs. Powell, and Mrs. Dibdin.

SADLER'S Wells.

By accident we omitted last month to mention the very singular and ingenious entertainment produced at Sadler's Wells, by Charles Dibdin, under the title of navέia, which exhibits a grand naval spectacle representing the siege of Gibraltar, and the combined force of France and Spain, together with the British grand fleet, in which real men of war and floating batteries are introduced on a most extensive sheet of water. This is a contrivance so highly meritorious and clever, as to insure crowded houses for a considerable time. Other entertainments, in great variety, make up an excellent bill of fare at the Wells.

M MVOL XVII.

NEW ROYAL CIRCUS.

Ireland, the Yorkshire flying phenomenon, hath, during his tour, acquired some wonderful leaps, almost beyond the possibility of description or thought. This gentleman's feats, together with a variety of pleasing entertainments, provided by Cross, promise a profitable summer.

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

Although Mr. Astley may have been a great sufferer by the conflagration at this theatre, the public is none, since its present splendour and convenience far exceed any thing it had formerly to recommend it. The chandelier, suspended from the roof, is remarkably brilliant and beautiful, and the other ornaments, chaste and appropriate, cannot fail to prove highly attractive. To this attraction is added one still greater, in a series of the best amusements we ever witnessed at this house. The romantic spectacle called Zittaw the Cruel, is very ingeniously conceived and well executed. In the Silver Star, a pantomime of great cleverness, when we mention the names of Mrs. Wybrow and Mr. Laurent, as columbine and clown, we think it requires no further recommendation. Striking as these allurements are, the performance of Mr. Richer, on the tight rope, far surpasses them all. The town well knows that it is inimitable.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

Theatre WOLVERHAMPTON.-Mr. EDITOR.-The following description of a green-room, by the author of the Parody on Miss Bailey, may not be unacceptable to your readers.

Yours,

OBSERVATOR.

"A PEEP INTO THE GREEN-ROOM,"

SUNG BY MR. SHUTER, IN THE CHARACTER OF A CLOWN.

Tune---" Marjary Topping."

Efekens I'm come mun, I slipt on so sly;
I'm not one of the actor-folk, O noa, not I;
Our Joe got me in here, to zee their temptations;
He's acquainted with one of the fiddler's relations.

I've been staring at all the strange things in the scene-room,
And talk'd with the sham kings and queens in the green-room;
Ha!
green did I say, but that joke wont go down,
Nothing green but a curtain, and that's desp’rate brown !

There they zit round a bit of a fire, so sainted,

Till their cheeks are as red, gad, as though they were painted:

Some were learning their parts, and did terribly bawl,

There were some, too, who seem'd to have no parts at all!

While one was a romping the green-room around,
A stiff collar fell off from his neck to the ground;
By its size;-but I wish no man's feelings to hurt,
I should think 'twas the principal part of his shirt!

I bow'd when I first saw such desp'rate fine folk,
And could hardly believe to myself 'twas a joke;
But cramm'd in such a room where there's no room at all,
A room! 'tis more like a large hole in a wall!

Ecod, here they're coming to finish the play,

So I think I'd much better get out of the way;
To the green-room I'll go, tho' not fit to be seen,

It wants nothing but painting to make it quite green!

Wolverhampton, March 10.

THE EDINBURGH STAGE.-"SIR-A short residence of late in our metropolis enables me once more to address you. The candour and impartiality of my remarks may be relied on. I may "tire the patience," but never intentionally mislead the judgment."

The theatre has been open above three months, neither to the advantage of the manager, nor the general satisfaction of the public. Maimed and disfigured by the loss of one of its principal supports, (Young) our company has been limping through the season, with the mortification of frequently witnessing

"A beggarly account of empty boxes."

Other circumstances have contributed to produce this effect. The din of Bellona deafens the voice of Melpomene, and the attractions of Thalia, cannot always engage the attention of Mars preparing for the field.

I subjoin a list of our present company. A few strictures upon their merits shall follow :

TRAGEDY AND GRAVE COMEDY.

Messrs, Faulkner, Toms, and Willoughby.

COMEDIANS.

Hollingsworth, Turpin, Rock, G. C. Chalmers, Berry.

WOMEN.

Mrs. and Miss Duncan, Mrs. Turpin, Mrs. Brereton, Mrs. Evatt, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Skinner, formerly Bristowe, Mrs. Willoughby, formerly Miss Lemon. And

Mr. James (our singer) Hunter, Roberts, Ward, and some others of the "tag, rag, and boptail," infesting every theatre.

Faulkner is our hero. He professes tragedy, and attempts the most difficult characters. He appears to be a sensible, steady actor, of considerable industry. He is neither very deficient in voice or figure, and if never brilliant, is seldom contemptible. His features have little expression, and his powers of discrimination are very limited. He is so deficient in pathos, as to have his sensibility doubted, and is consequently unfit for the tender; his limited power of action

and declamation forbid his pourtraying the sublime passions. I have seen him in Henry the Fifth, and one or two more characters; I thought him a decent performer, a tolerable declaimer, indeed a passable actor. In the soliloquy, after conversing with the soldiers in disguise, he even displayed sensibility. "Aut Cæsar aut nullus," is said to be his motto, but I would advise him to be content with the second, nay, the third place at Rome, than aspire to the first, though even in a village.

The character I hazarded nearly three years since of Toms, time has confirmed. The mediocrity of nature in feature and voice, which a forced overaction can never supply, will ever keep this sensible and respectable young man nearly stationary in his profession.

Willoughby, long the hero of every village theatre in Scotland, wisely retains a more humble situation in the metropolis. A figure without consequence, a haggard stage countenance, and forbidding features, are partly compensated by one of the most extensive, sonorous, mellowed voices I ever heard. His cadences, however, are injudicious, incessant, and absurd. His emphasis is seldom just, and his action overloaded with stage strick. Industry and study may yet do much. So much for our tragedians.

Instead of Grant we have Chalmers, whom he a little resembles. The time has been when we would have esteemed him equal to that useful performer. Though his powers and appearance have felt the hand of time, yet his thorough knowledge of stage effect carries him through bustling parts in comedy, without reprehension. Hollingsworth, intended to supply the place of Rock, is, in my opinion, as a low comedian, much superior to this favourite actor. His expression of countenance is infinitely superior. But for the excellence of the low Irishman of Rock, I should not regret his loss, especially when so supplied. Unremitted study and application have much benefited Turpin. But for the harshness of his voice, the frequent glare of his eyes, and occasionally overdoing his characters, this actor exhibits so much genuine vis comica, particularly in countrymen, as to render him an acquisition to any stage in Britain. Berry has yet played no part of consequence, but the judgment he displays in dressing and looking his characters, with the humour he exhibits in their representations, convince me his comic powers are very considerable.

Of the other male performers I have little to say. Raked from every village barn in the kingdom, their appearance betrays their dramatic origin; the want of soap and suds is still visible in Hunter; the features of Ward would be no bad representation of

"Ploteak with his lumps of Lapland clay,"

and his voice leaves a striking resemblance to the creaking of a door upon its hinges. James is a tolerable tenor singer, and but a tolerable one. Evatt may

no doubt think himself a very clever actor, but in this opinion he is singular indeed. Of the rest of our company I know nothing, nor do I wish to know more.

LADIES.

It has been my felicity to have been among the first to pay the just tribute of eulogium to the talents of Miss Duncan. Never did a juvenile performer better merit the language of compliment. In figure, form, and feature, she is

"All that painting can express,

"Or youthful poets fancy when they love."

Her sprightly vivacity, in certain comic characters, may be equalled, but is surpassed by none. Her comic singing is unrivalled. Cultivation and experience have got rid of many of the bad habits I had formerly pointed out, though, at times, a deportment rather volatile or giddy, a certain jerking of her arins and toss of the head, are occasionally visible. When these blemishes are thoroughly eradicated, I have no hesitation to assert, that a place second only to Mrs. Jordan shall be the well earned reward of her theatrical exertions.

It is remarked by the sage Mrs. Amlet, that " every one wishes to be more than they are," so it is with Mrs. Berry. With a short, rather clumsy figure, no mien or deportment, she will be a tragedy heroine. This lady unquestionably possesses merit; her voice, tones, and emphasis are good, but a perpetual wish to shine, by overdoing her character, joined to the natural disadvantages already pointed out, prevent her attaining eminence. Mrs. Evatt possesses a charming figure, and a beautiful face, but Nature, ever just, only divides her favours. What she has bestowed on this lady in personal accomplishments, she has denied in theatrical talent. Nearly the same remark applies to Mrs. Skinner, formerly Bristowe. Mrs. Brereton promises something, though she has much to unlearn, as well as to acquire. Mrs. Willoughby is useful, but the loss of our favourite Miss B. Biggs, cannot be compensated. I am,

JUSTUS.

Theatre Royal LIVERPOOL.-The benefit receipts have, for seasons past, been in a state of progressive increase. In 1801, thirty-seven benefits amounted to £4986. In 1802, thirty-six benefits amounted to £5053. In the last season there have been thirty-four benefits, amounting to £5604.

Theatre NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.-GENTLEMEN,-I take the liberty of sending you the following account of the present state of the Newcastle theatre,

Mrs. Penley.

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