15 OCTOBER 1836, Page 8

THE THEATRES.

DRURY LANE opened on Saturday. The interior has been redecorated with polychrome ornaments in the Arabesque style, relieved with 6:Id- ing, and it presents a very gay and lively appearance. Pictures of scenes from SHAKSPEARE adorn the front of the dress circle ; the

upper tiers are embellished with scrolls of foliage, cameos, and masks ;

round the gallery tier runs a frieze of dancingsfigares with wreaths ; and the design of tl e ceiling corresponds. The tout ensemble, though

smart and showy, is neither so chastely elegant as the St. James's, nor in such rich and perfect taste as the Olympic. The formal lines of the pannelling, varied only with angles and circles, and the violent and even inharmonious contrasts of colour, cut up the general effect, and

give a disagreeable harshness to the coop d' nil. Sonic wag of an artist has painted in each angle of the proscenium a mask representing the effect of the stage lights on the face—the shadows being thrown upward. They only seem caricatures, because they want life and colour; there is very little exaggeration in them. When will the stage be lit from above ?

The orebestra is considerably enlarged, to accommodate the increased' numbers of the band, which musters in formidable force. The en- croachment of the pit, however, is greater than was necessary, in order to make room for a row of stalls along the orchestra in addition to those at etch end.

The performance on the opening night was the Siege of Rochelle; an& the circumstance of the composer making his first appearance on the. English serge drew an overflowing audience. BALFE, who played Pittstars's part of Mickel, was rapturously welcomed, and deservedly applauded throughout. His compact figure became the courier well

and he was nicely dressed. His self-possession and easy and graceful manner, and the spontaneous gayety and animation of his acting, took the audience by surprise. His high reputation as a co'ieert.singer pre- pared them to expect the musician-like correctness, finish, and expres- sion, that distinguished his vocal efforts; but it was not so generally known that he had matriculated as a dramatic singer on the boards of an Italian theatre. BALFE'S voice is a light barytone, sweet and flexible ; and :though it wants volume for so large an area, his skilful management of it and his distinct articulation made it penetrate to

every corner of the house. WILSON resumed his old part of Valmour, which bad latterly fallen to TEMPLETON ; and altogether the opera went off with spirit and midi. The augmented .strength of the orchestra told with powerful effect. In addition to Miss SIIIRREFF, Miss ROMER. is engaged. Mrs. Wools, we suppose, might be bad ; and if Scum:e- pee should take poor MALIBRAN'S place in Fidelio at Drury Lane, the season of the English Opera—for such Drury is become—may be a brilliant one.

A wretched piece of mummery (the execution of which is worthy of the taste that planned it) called a Monody in Commemoration of Ms larinax, was perpetrated at this theatre on Saturday, and has been suffered to be repeated during the week. COOPER, tressed in deep mourning, recites some tolerable lines, with the accompaniment of scenery representing MALTBRAN in her favourite English characters; and the melancholy farce concludes with some trashy music of BEL- LTNI'S miscalled a Requiem, sling by the performers in mourning, be- fore a scenic representation of the church at Manchester. It is a miserable catchpenny show, under the shallow pretence of a tribute to MALIIIRAN. Not content with making a profit of her genius while she lived, Desist must needs turn her sad fate to account.

A farce by BEAZLET was attempted, but failed. It seems to have been one of those absurd indecencies for which Drury Lane would be- come infamous, if audiences would tolerate them.

Mr. FORREST, the American tragedian, makes his bow to an Eng- ish audience on Monday at this theatre. He is to appear as Spartacus, in The Gladiator, an American tragedy, of which a Dr. BIRD is the author. Report speaks very highly of Mr. FORREST'S physical requi- sites and power of personation.