THEATRICAL NEWS.
KENNEY'S two-act farce at Drury Lane, and a brace of burlettas at the Strand Theatre, are the only new productions of the week. The Self-Tormentor, or Whims and Fancies, is the title of the farce, of which FARREN is the hero. It is the well-worn character of a testy and absurd old gentleman, who gets cured of his petulance and obstinacy (as such people never do) by the practical jokes played off upon him by a party of his friends. It was FARREN his own John Jones; and reminded us also/of MATHEWS'S part of the hypochondriac, in the King of the Alps. FARREN made the most of a dull part; and HARLEY and Mrs. ORGER threw as much life into the piece as it would bear; but it was too vapid, and had not a sparkle of wit. It was not damned; and may exist for a night or two upon sufferance.
The burlettas at the Strand Theatre have each one merit,— Mrs. Wavi.Err and RAYNER. The lady shows off her wardrobe and herself to the best advantage, by appearing in three or four different dresses in the course of two brief acts; and sings pretty ballads in her accustomed neat and pleasing style. RAXNER S countrymen have all the rustic character except the grossness.
The dearth of actual novelty has been balanced by the super- abundant trumpeting of the preparations for the forthcoming Robert the Devil. We have been told of the number of tailors and seamstresses engaged in the wardrobe of Drury,—of the rein- forcement of chorus-singers, and the noble army of supernumera- ries. The stage is to be made as big as an omnibus; and STAN- FIELD iS to paint the back-wall with a scene whose perspective is to be interminable. Two new organs are ennan.ed for the occa- sion,—Miss FANNY AYTON'S, and one supplied by the builder for 500/. In short, there is "the Devil to Pay," and a swinging sum it will take to discharge the reckoning. The piece has been got up in breathless haste, and the public are in breathless expectation. The managers of the two rival mo- nopolies have run a race of competition. Captain Pommes Demon Duke, rode by BISHOP, expected to walk over the course ; Mr. YATES'S Devil's Son having a defect in his pedigree. But Mr. KEMBLE'S Fiend Father, jockeyed by LACY, was entered, and the start excited intense interest. Damon Duke was the favourite, on the score Of BISHOP, and the Captain had backed him heavily. He took and kept the lead, till within a few lengths of the win- ning-post ; when Fiend Father suddenly put out his speed, and being plied with whip and spur, it was a neck-and-neck race. But BISHOP made a desperate effort, and brought in Donlon Duke first by a head cleverly. It is expected that MEYERBEER'S Robert the Devil, backed by Mr. MASON, will walk over the course for the King's plate. In plain speech, BISHOP'S version of MEYERBEER'S opera comes out at Drury Lane on Monday, and LACY'S at Covent Garden on Tuesday.
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