MB T.P.COOKE & MISS SCOTT, as William and Susan). London Published Sept?11829. by Whittaker Treacher & Co. Ave Maria Lane. THE DRAMATIC MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER 1, 1829. THEATRICAL JOURNAL. HAYMARKET. MONDAY, July 27.-Charles the Twelfth; Planché.—Manœuvring; Planché.-Sweethearts and Wives; Kenny. Charles the Twelfth is playing here with great success; the only alteration in the cast of characters is Mrs. Humby for EudigaMiss F. H. Kelly, Ulrica-Mr. Brindal, Gustavus, and Mr. Webster, Triptolemus; this change is by no means advantageous to the drama, and if the manager had possessed the least discernment, he would have assigned the blundering Burgomaster to Mr. Reeve, a character every way suited to his talents. TUESDAY, July 28.-Quite Correct; Miss Bowden.-Paul Pry; Poole. WEDNESDAY, July 29.-Charles the Twelfth.-The Happiest Day of my Life (1st time).—The Rencontre; Planché. Dramatis Persona.-Mr. Gillman, Mr. LISTON; Frederick Vincent, Mr. J. F. WILLIAMSON; Charles, Mr. BRINDAL; Mr. Dudley, Mr. WILLIAMS; Thomas, Mr. COATES; Mr. Jones, Mr. COOKE; John, Mr. COVENEY; Mrs. Dudley, Mrs. GLOVER; Mrs. Grimley, Mrs. TAYLEURE; Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. COVENEY; Sophia, Mrs. HUMBY; Mary, Mrs. ASHTON; Miss Stokes, Miss BARNETT; Jane, Mrs. W. JOHNSON. The interest of this piece turns on the crosses and disappointments Mr. Gillman meets with on his wedding-day, which he had intended to be "the happiest day of his life." His first annoyance is occasioned by his recollecting that he had neglected to order Twamley's quadrille-band, which he had promised his bride, Sophia, a month before; he runs nearly five miles to procure them, a feat which he had not anticipated to perform on "the happiest day of his life." On his return he is much annoyed by finding a young gentleman CC 66 kneeling to Sophia, and kissing her hand; his uneasiness on this score is soon relieved, as the gentleman is her cousin. Without more impediments the parties proceed to church. On his return, while expatiating on his happiness, Mr. Gillman is informed that a lady wishes to speak to him; this is a Mrs. Grimley, who is in search of a husband who has abandoned her and her three children, and whom she has learnt is on the point of being married to another; this produces much confusion, as Mr. Gillman is immediately condemned, unheard, as the suspected person; and the bride's mother, Mrs. Dudley, goes to Mrs. Grimley to speak to herMrs. Grimley is brought in, and the mistake is cleared up; for it is at the next door that her gay Lothario is staying. Scarcely has Mr. Gillman recovered his spirits, which of course had been somewhat dashed" by this adventure, ere a new source of torment awaits him, and which makes the "happiest day of his life" likely to turn out "the last of his existence;" for Frederick Vincent, a favoured lover of Sophia's sister, and who has been absent for some weeks, thinks that Gillman has married his beloved, and accordingly challenges him. All mistakes, however, are cleared up in the end, and of course all parties are satisfied. This piece is adapted from the French, by Mr. Buckstone, the author of several popular dramas at the minor theatres. It is an amusing trifle; but its great fault is in the vulgarity of the language, for the dialogue is often coarse and unpolished, and by no means suited to the supposed quality of the characters. Mr. Liston depicted the jealousies, the fears, and the buoyancy of the "unfortunate Mr. Gillman" with inimitable humour. Mrs. Glover is equally clever as a cautious match-making mother, anxious to get her daughter well settled in life. Mrs. Tayleure, as the deserted Mrs. Grimley, played with great truth. Mrs. Humby gave Sophia too much the manners and refined graces of a costermonger's daughter. THURSDAY, July 30.- Quite Correct.—Paul Pry. FRIDAY, July 31.- Spring and Autumn; Poole. - Charles the Twelfth.-The Happiest Day of my Life; Buckstone. SATURDAY, August 1.—Quite Correct.—Paul Pry. MONDAY, August 3. The Two Friends; Lacy. - Charles the Twelfth. The Happiest Day of my Life. The Two Friends is one of the most immoral and dangerous dramas we ever recollect to have witnessed, and loudly demands the censure of all who regard the well-being of society. We are surprised that a polite audience can tamely witness Elinor's declaration of her incestuous passion for her brother (for such she firmly supposes him to be). There was a time when the stage endeavoured to "måke mankind, in conscious virtue, bold," and when the theatre proved a source of pleasing instruction to the youthful part of the community; but now it is almost dangerous to take a young person to a play-house. * TUESDAY, August 4.-The Two Friends.- Charles the Twelfth.The Happiest Day of my Life.-Lodgings for Single Gentlemen. WEDNESDAY, August 5. Nothing Superfluous (1st time). Charles the Twelfth. The Happiest Day of my Life.Manoeuvring. Dramatis Persona.-The Sultan Selim, Mr. THOMPSON; Giafer, Mr. BRINDAL; Sadi, Mr. J. REEVE; Gulnare, Mrs. H. CORRI. The Sultan Selim has a propensity for wandering about at night incog, to view the distresses of his subjects. In one of these nocturnal rambles he is attacked by banditti, and his life only saved through the bravery of Sadi, a half-starved cobbler, who is of a very merry disposition, though "steeped in poverty to the very lips." The Sultan visits Sadi's cottage, for the purpose of rewarding his valour, and overhears him soliloquising on his abject state, and declaring that he should be the happiest man in the world, if he could only procure the common necessaries of life. Charmed with such unambitious desires, the Sultan appears to him, and promises to procure for him whatever he may desire, provided that he shall ask "nothing superfluous." Sadi joyfully agrees to the proposition, but soon becomes most extravagant in his demands, as a lovely wife, a palace, an estate, splendid clothes, and a large retinue, are considered necessary for his happiness. The Sultan, under the name of his good genius, supplies these wants. Sadi then commands his slaves to pull down a poor man's cottage, because it obstructs a view from the palace; upon which, the Sultan discovers himself, and orders Sadi's beloved wife, Gulnare, to be carried to his harem. This, however, is merely a practical lesson, which the Sultan gives Sadi on the cruelty of oppressing the weak, as he restores his wife to him, and gives him a command in the army. This piece is translated by Mr. Thompson, and is to be commended, on account of its endeavouring to convey a moral lesson to the audience: a very rare occurrence with the dramas now a-days. * That we may not be considered too scrupulous, or rigid, in our ideas of propriety, we beg our readers to refer to the journal of the English Opera House, where they will frequently find three pieces performed on the same night, in which all the heroes are betrayers, and the heroines have been seduced. The dramas we allude to, are The Sister of Charity, The Middle Temple, and The Bottle Imp. The whole tenour of the last piece is a most daring infringement on the rules of morality, the hero throughout being an abandoned and rewarded profligate, and the heroine, on confessing her shame to her father, instead of a reproof, is calmly told to dry her tears and keep herself composed, for that her youth and inexperience are quite sufficient excuses for her errors. Mr. Reeve played Sadi with humour, but he indulged in his old fault, of making himself too much at home with the audience. We find that he is a great admirer of our " Advice to Players;" especially rule the 1st, which he follows with the most scrupulous attention. Mr. Thompson was rather too energetic as the Sultan: a fault rarely to be imputed to him. It is a strange fact, that all our actors, when they have any eastern character assigned to them, make a point of laying a most unmerciful taxation on their lungs. Mrs. H. Corri played with more spirit than usual. THURSDAY, August 6.-Nothing Superfluous.-Charles the Twelfth. -The Happiest Day of my Life.-Spring and Autumn. FRIDAY, August 7.-The Rencontre.-Charles the Twelfth.-The Happiest Day of my Life.-Peter Smink. SATURDAY, August 8.-Nothing Superfluous.-Paul Pry.-Charles the Twelfth. MONDAY, August 10. The Hypocrite; Bickerstaff. - Nothing Superfluous.-Charles the Twelfth. The Hypocrite has been justly pronounced one of the best comedies in our language, and proves what incalculable advantages the drama may afford to society when properly directed, for as it may be difficult for our laws to punish sanctified knavery, or stop the increase of religious folly and madness, the stage is almost the only place where the villany of the former or stupidity of the latter can be effectually exposed and ridiculed. The comedy was on the whole tolerably well cast, though Farren's Cantwell is far inferior to Dowton's; it wants that quiet demeanour, that comfortable sleek appearance, and that hypocritical softness of visage, and mildness of tone which rendered the latter so admirable. Farren's defects, however, proceed more from the want of physical powers than any error of judgment. Liston's Mawworm made us regret that there was so little of him. When he talks of his wife's goodness in cutting him down when he had hanged himself through melancholy, and adds, that he did not believe there was a woman in the parish would do so much for a husband, it would be impossible for the most rigid follower of Irving to preserve the gravity of his countenance. Mrs. Glover's Lady Lambert was excellent. TUESDAY, August 11.-The Green-Eyed Monster.- Charles the Twelfth.-The Happiest Day of my Life.-Lodgings for Single Gentlemen. WEDNESDAY, August 12.- Spring and Autumn.- Charles the Twelfth.-The Happiest Day of my Life.-Manoeuvring. THURSDAY, August 13. The Rivals. Charles the Twelfth.Lock and Key. |