THE THEATRES.
THE languid interest in things theatrical, that long days and warm weather superinduce even in such a changeable summer as the pre- sent, Las received a fillip,- by the announcement of MACREADY'S ap- pearance as Kitely, in BEN RONSON'S play, Every Man in his Humour, at the Haymarket, on Monday ; and the speedy production, at this prosperous little place of amusement, of Mr. TALFOURD'S tragedy, The Athenian Captive, with Mrs. WARNER as the heroine. During the past week, CELESTE has been added to the list of" farewell engage- ments." She too is bound for America, but never again to return to the English stage. The American comedian, HILL, has been play- ing here his old part of the Yankee Pedlar, and is to appear shortly in a new character. He possesses native humour and sterling talent ; and his acting is quiet, and free from coarseness and exaggeration.
Among other theatrical performances, too—though on a very differ- ent stage—may be mentioned the debut of Madame VESTRIS and CHARLES MATHEWS in the character of bride and bridegroom, at the altar of St. Mary Abbott's Church, Kensington. It was strictly pri- vate—a rehearsal, in fact, preparatory to the appearance of the parties in their matrimonial characters before the most moral American public, wherse favour it has been deemed necessary to propitiate by this cere- monial act.
The Shakspeare foolery at the English Opera-house will hardly outlive the date of a nine-day's wonder. The person calling himself WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE, and claiming descent from the poet's family, is a weak-linibed stripling, with about as much stage-resemblance to the bust by HOUBILIAC (Which is not like SHAKSPEARE, by the by,) as Mr. GOMERSAL bears to BONAPARTE. He is a Taw actor, With an effeminate voice and very feeble powers. Hie pretensions to author- ship are even more contemptible—as may be inferred from the fact of his having made a ribald jest • the subject of an incident intended to possess serious interest. His attempt to personate Shakspeare was a ludicrous piece of presumption : in short, the whole thing was sick- ening. If the young man is the person he represents himself, we can only pity the owner of so honoured a name, who sets no more store by It than to make it the stalking•borse for his vanity. We hope the company of the English Opera.house will soon find better occupation than that of aiding in such a ridiculous exhibition of puerile folly and n cartel ty.
• "William the Conqueror came before Riclund the Third."
ORGAN PERFORMANCE AT ST. SEPULCHRE'S.
A SELECTION of organ music was performed at this church last night, by Miss STIRLING; whose reputation as a player in the highest and most difficult department of organ music, though ,of recent growth, promises soon to place her name amongst those of the greatest artists on this instrument, whether at home or abroad. She attacks the most arduous and intricate fugues of SEBASTIAN BACH with a mastelly hand, a steadiness of finger seldom seen but in players of long standing and experience, and WI execution of almost mechanical precision ; while her petiole is as bold and true as if a solo-player were producing the notes. When it is considered that this performer is a young lady of not more than nineteen years of age,—that she undertakes, and suc- cessfully achieves, a task (such as this performance, consisting of four- teen successive pieces of elaborate music) which, we believe, would frighten any other organist in the country,—it is only surprising that she
should not already be better known to the musical world : but organists labour under the difficulty which the nature of their instiu. went imposes, and have besides many obstructions to make head against ; for, amongst others, is the prejudice which still exists on the part of the clergy ugainst permitting the use of their churches for per- formances of organ music l—a very foolish, old, and most parson-like prejudice, which cannot too soon be removed ; for the many tnugnifi. cent organs we boast in this country are languishing for want of exer- cise, and the poor part they are allowed to play on Sundays and holy. days is barely enough to keep their lungs in order. As for the use of the church.seats, they cannot be better employed ; and the admission of none but respectable people on such occasions is a sufficient guaran- tee against any proceedings not in keeping with the solemnity of the place.
Miss STIRLING gave a few pieces of MUSIC from HAYDN and Mo- zater, of a different character from what we have noticed, which pro- duced a pleasing variety ; but her principal achievements were in the strict style, and the pedal fugues of SEBASTIAN BACH—especially one in G minor and another in C major—were given with a vigour and effect which it is impossible too much to praise.
The church was very numerously attended ; and many were rot content to quit it till they had obtained a sight of the extraorditmry girl who had kept them upwards of two hours listening in delight to the magnificent voice of St. Sepulchre's organ.
Previous page
