THE LONDON THEATRES.

JULY.

HAYMARKET.

25. Honeymoon. The Duke, by Mr. Egerton, from the Theatre Royal, Bath; being his first appearance on this stage. Juliana, Mrs. Gibbs.-Fortress. Count Everard, (1st time) Mr. Palmer, jun. 27. Hamlet-Tom Thumb.

28.

Sylvester Daggerwood-Sighs-Fortress.

29. Seeing is Believing-Inkle and Yarico-We fly by Night. Irish Widow-Five Miles off-Review.

30.

31.

Catch him who can!-Fortress-Tom Thumb.

- AUGUST.

1.

3.

Fortress-Lock and Key-Village Lawyer.
Hamlet-Waterman.

4. Mogul Tale-Fortress-CRITIC; or a Tragedy rehearsed. Dangle, Mr. De Camp; Sneer, Mr. Palmer. jun.; Sir Fretful Plagiary, Mr. Mathews; Puff, Mr. Fawcett; Mrs. Dangle, Mrs. Powell. Characters in the Tragedy.-Lord Burleigh, Mr. Waddy; Governor of Tilbury_Fort, Mr. Grove; Earl of Leicester, Mr. Carles; Sir Walter Raleigh, Mr Noble; Sir Christopher Hatton, Mr. Atkins; Beefeater, Mr. Wharton; Justice, Mr. Meredith; Son, Mr. Johnston; Don Ferolo Whiskerandos, Mr. Liston; Confidant, Mrs. Wall; Tilburina, Mrs. Liston.

5. Iron Chest. Sir Edward Mortimer, Mr. Young; Rawbold, Mr. Carles; Orson, Mr Liston; Helen, Mrs. Litchfield.-Animal Magnetism.

6. Blue Devils-Ways and Means-The Critic.

7. Poor Gentleman. Corporal Foss, Mr. Carr, from York; Miss Lucretia Mac Tab, Mrs. Grove, from Liverpool.-Tom Thumb. 8. Stranger-Critic.

10. 11.

12.

Hamlet-Mrs. Wiggins.
Wonder-The Critic.

Iron Chest-Tom Thumb.

The Cha

13. Frish Widow-1st time) ERRORS EXCEPTED. racters by Messrs. Young, Fawcett, Grove, Waddy, Mathews, Liston, Chapman, De Camp, Carles, Wharton; Mrs. Litchfield, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Liston. The Prologue by Mr. Young; the Epilogue by Mrs. Litchfield.-Mock Doctor. 14. Lying Valet-Errors excepted-Critic.

15. Fortune's Frolick-Errors excepted-Betty Barnes, Mrs. Grove.-Review.

17. Catch him who can-Errors excepted-Katharine and Petruchio.

Five miles off-Tekeli The

18. [Mr. De Camp's Night.] Count, Mr. Palmer, jun.; Wolf, Mr. Chapman; the Miller, Mr. Grove; Isidore, Mr. Liston; Maurice, Mr. De Camp; Bras-de-fer, Mr. Mathews;- Alexina, Mrs. Litchfield; Christine, Mrs. Liston. -Tom Thunb.

19. Critic. Mrs. Dangle, Mrs. Grove.—Errors excepted-Hunter of the Alps.

20. [Mr. and Mrs. TAYLOR's Night.] Fortress. Oliver, Mr. Carles. Who's the Dupe-Imitations-Tom Thumb.

21.

Waterman. Mrs. Bundle, Mrs. Grove.-Errors excepted Prisoner at large.

22. [Mrs. Litchfield's Night.] Stranger. Francis, Mr. Farley, (his first appearance this season.)-Follies of a Day. Count Almaviva, (1st time) Mr. Palmer, jun.; Figaro, Mr. Farley; the Page, Mrs. Taylor; Antonio, Mr. Liston; Basil, Mr. Grove; the Cauntess, Miss Taylor; Susan, (for that night only) Mrs, Litchfield. Hamlet. Osrick, Mr. Farley.-Tom Thumb.

24.

25.

Five miles off. Mrs. Prue, Mrs. Davenport, (1st appearance for 5 years.)-Critic. Mrs. Dangle, Mrs. Davenport.-Catch him who can.

26. Road to Ruin. Harry Dornton, (1st time) Mr. Young.We fly by Night.

We were prevented from attending the theatre on the night of Mr. Egerton's appearance in the Honeymoon, and have there fore no opinion to offer respecting his performance; but we understand that some disapprobation was expressed on account of the omission of the dance, and that his reception was not altogether such as to authorize a repetition of the play. Mr. Egerton performed several years ago at this theatre, and we recollect his playing Horatio in Hamlet, at Covent Garden, for the benefit of Mr. H. Johnston He afterwards belonged to the Birmingham company, and acquired considerable repution in different parts of the country. When Mr. Elliston quitted Bath and Bristol, Mr. Egerton sncceeded to his situation, and notwithstanding the popularity and extraordinary merits of that excellent actor, he very soon became a great favourite on the boards of both these theatres.

The CRITIC revived on the 4th of August, every body knows to be the witty production of Sheridan; the original object of which was to ridicule the monstrosity of modern tragedy, as the satire of the Rehearsal was directed against the heroic nonsense of Dryden and other tragic writers of his day. So few, however, bave been the attempts at tragedy for these last twenty or thirty years, that the keenness of Sheridan's jest is now very little felt, and by the generality of the audience it is not even understood; so that like Tom Thumb, it must now be indebted for its attraction to the extravagance of the dresses, and whimsicality of the actors.

Mathews in Sir Fretful Plagiary, displayed great comic powers, and they must indeed have been great when, though we have a full recollection of Parsons in this character, it did not suggest a comparison in the smallest degree unfavourable to the new Sir Fretful. It is such a specimen of chaste, skilful, and yet rich and forcible acting, as we are not often favoured with. The applause through the whole of his scene was prodigious. Puff is also a character which no actor can undertake without fear and trembling: the neat articulation of King, his sarcastic eye and voice, and the fixed impression made by his frequent performance of this part, at a time when it was fashionable to run after, and a confession of dulness not to admire the piece, are heavy disadvantages which his successors cannot but feel most sensibly. Fawcett in his peculiar line of acting is unrivalled, and in that which is not his line, he always shews such vivacity, good humour and energy, that if he does not exactly satisfy criticism, he is sure to dull the edge of it. His Puff is entitled upon the whole, to very high com

mendation, and we know of no actor now on the stage, who would make a better stand in it. Don Ferolos and Tilburina by Mr. and Mis. Liston, were irresistible. The latter was dressed in the true style of Queen Elizabeth, and stalked and tragedized most ludicrously. The Confidante was excellently caricatured

S.

It is rather singular that Tom Thumb the last time it was played at Covent Garden; and the Critic when last acted at Drury Lane. were both sa:uted with strong marks of disapprobation.

August 7th. Mr. Carr who performed Corporal Foss, displayed much nerit, and will no doubt be useful; though we thought he gave the part rather too coarse a colouring. Mrs. Grove is an actress of great provincial celebrity in the old women and her performance of Lucretia Mac Tab on this evening, fully justified the character which we had heard of her.

On Saturday the 15th August, Mrs. Powell performed her character in the new comedy, and Mrs. Dangle in the Critic. She played both parts with unusial animation, but was taken ill in the night, and died the following morning. She had for some months suffered under a disorder which was expected to terminate fatally, though there was no apprehension of immediate danger. She was, as the public wel knows, an excellent actress in her particular line of character, and was off the stage so well-bred and intelligent a woman that her circle of acquaintance was very extensive, and of course her loss has been proportionably lamented. She was sister to Mrs. Ward of Manchester, and the widow of Mr. Powell late of the C. G. company. She was buried at St. Pa l's Covent Garden, on Wednesday the 19th, and her funeral was most respectably

attended.

17th. August.-Mrs. Grove on the spur of the occasion undertook the disagreeable, and, under the circumstance of the night, the melancholy office of reading the part of Betty Barnes. She has also performed several other of Mrs. Powell's characters in an excellent style; but being engaged with the Bath managers, she played only for a few nights, and Mrs. Davenport has been resorted to, to supply the vacancy for the remainder of the season.

20th. August.-Taylor's Imitations-we just notice to observe that they appear to us to be the very perfection of mimicry. All preceding imitators fade in the comparison.

Mr. De Camp conceiving himself to have been illiberally treated by the managers, on what account we do not exactly know, withdrew himself from the company on this night. He is a very respectable actor, and in usefulness few performers can be found to excel him.

Mr. Farley, being in town, very obligingly lent his services, at the solicitation of the Managers, for the rest of the present season. The new comedy of ERRORS EXCEPTED is the production of Mr. T. Dibdin, an author to whom the public are indebted for so considerable a share of its dramatic amusement. The plot is of a light texture, and the dialogue and incidents are marked by the usual whimsicality of this writer. The effect of the whole is to excite incessant laughter, and though he has not succeeded so eminently in this instance as in the Five Miles Off and some other of his pieces, there is much ingenuity in the arrangement of the fable; the interest is sufficiently strong aud connected; the charac

ters are sketched with spirit; and the equivoque, so effective an ingredient in modern comedy, very happily managed.

The following are the principal Dramatis Persona:

Frank Woodland
Commodore Convoy

Mr. Convoy
Lawyer Verdict

Mr. Grumley
Old Mannerly
Tom Mannerly
Gabriel Invoice

Richard

Fanny Freeman

Mr. Young.

Mr. Fawcett.
Mr. Grove.

Mr. Mathews.
Mr. Waddy.
Mr. Chapman,
Mr. Decamp.
Mr. Carles.
Mr. Liston.

Mrs. Litchfield.

Mrs Liston.

Mrs. Powell.

Mrs. Gibbs.

The Plot cannot be detailed without more room than we can spare; it turns chiefly upon the schemes of a dishonest speculator, by which a yong man of fashion is cheated out of his property, and those of a foppish unprincipled Attorney; and out of these many interesting incidents arise. The scene is occasionally enlivened by the blundering errors of a rustic Waiter at an Inn, where several of the events take place. The termination is the union of several fond hearts; the Attorney is compelled to keep his promise to a widow whom he had deceived; and, some few "Errors excepted," all parties seem tolerably satisfied.

The performers gave all possible support to the piece. A song, charmingly set by Mr. Reeve, was introduced in the second act by Mrs. Liston The Prologue written by Mr. C. Dibdin, turned very neatly upon the title of the Play. The Epilogue was delivered with admirable spirit and effect by Mrs. Litchfield.

THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE.

ELLISTON has renewed his engagement at Drury Lane, for three years. Lovegrove, the Bath comedian is to join this company. Some new singers pupils of Corri, are to make an early appearance. The Opera which Mr. Shield is composing for Covent Garden, is the production of Mr. T. Dibdin. Mrs. Siddons taking the hint from the more last words of Richard Baxter, has again (iterum ite rumque) taken leave of the provincial theatres.

A theatrical fund (it is said) is about be established for the benefit of decayed actors and actresses belonging to itinerant companies, to which each person subscribing annually, will be entitled to certain sums weekly when sick, or rendered unfit to follow their profession, and other advantages according to their standing on the books of the society; and a benefit for the institution is to take place in the several towns throughout the kingdom where there are theatrical performances.

The new building about to be added to the east end of Dru:y Lane theatre, is for additional scene, painting and dressing roms; the olonade will also be carried on in Russell-street, for the com venience of company getting to their carriages.

LARGE THEATRE, LYCEUM.

VOYAGE TO INDIA.

Mr. Incledon's Entertainment, not unaptly called a Voyage to India, for it is likely to make him as rich as a Nabob, was presented on the 26th of August, to a crowded and fashionable Theatre. It consists of fifteen songs, composed by Mazzinghi, Davy, Bishop, Sir John Stevenson and Shield, accompanied on the Piano by Mr. Kellner, Jun. and interspersed with Recitations by Mr. Bartley, who very ably acquits himself in the delivery. It is needless to say that Incledon exerts his best powers in the execution of the several airs.

THE COUNTRY THEATRES, &c.

Theatre DUBLIN.-Incledon and Johnstone had each four hun dred pounds at their benefits; Emery was less fortunate. There is about to be a change in the management. We believe Mr. Holman takes a share in the property, and that Mr. H. Johnston is to relieve him from some of the fatigues of regulating the stage department.

Theatre Royal EDINBURGH.-Miss Smith took As you Like it for her benefit here, which was well attended. Her Rossalind was marked with animation, judgment, and delicacy. Mr. Seymour performed Jaques, in which he appeared to great advantage. This is a character that requires something more than the generality of actors can supply; Mr. Seymour's critical acquaintance with the text and meaning of Shakspeare, so abundantly shewn in his ingenious notes on the great bard, enabled him to present a finished portrait of the melancholy moralist.

.

Bellamy and Mrs. Mountain have performed a few nights here and at Glasgow.

Theatre Royal LIVERPOOL-On Friday the 7th instant wes produced here for the first time, Mr. Morton's celebrated comedy of Town and Country. Mr. Rae, in the character of Reuben, during the three first acts, shewed much discrimination and feeling, but in the two last he was dull and unimpressive; indeed he appeared to have entirely mis-conceived this part of the character, for instead of retaining the mild but determined manliess of Reuben, he very erroneously assumed the wild ravings of a Macbeth. Plastic in the hands of Mr. Jones was tolerably well supported, though we have still to complain of a want of suppleness in his joints. Mr. Hamerton was very negligent in the Rev. Owen Glenroy. Mrs. Glover, as the Honorable Mrs. Glenroy, is deserving of every commendation. The play, on the whole, was received with general approbation, and still continues to be attractive. We have also had a great treat in the revival of Mr. Sheridan's laughable farce of the Critic. Mr. Knight's Puff was truly whimsical, aud kept the audience in a continual roar of laughter. In the scene where the Earl of Leicester (Mr. Waring) is kneeling to petition Mars, Mr. K—, in order to direct his eyes upwards, unconsciously took hold of the Earl's Wig in so violent a manner as completely to discompose it, which made a very ludicrous figure of the kneeling warrior: but not being suf ficiently satisfied with the mirth he had raised at poor Waring's exVOL. II.

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