THE THEATRES.
Two revivals at Covent Garden in one week, Romeo and Juliet on Mon- day, and the Double Gallant on Thursday, each presented with charac- teristic splendour, attest the spirit, activity, and taste of the management.
The restoration of SITAKSPERE'S text, so far as is consistent with modern usages, and the removal of some absurdities in the old stage representations of Romeo and Juliet, are welcome services. The ge- neral etliciency of the cast of characters seconds the accessories of scenery and costmne ; animating the pictures formed by the stately pa- laces of 'Verona, with their terraced gardens and fountains, and sump- tuous furniture, the princely costumes of the nobles and gallants, and the particoloured liveries of the guards and serving-men. The dis- tinct development of the main action of the plot consequent on the adoption of the original text, gives interest to the drama as a picture of the state of society and manners of Italy at the time; and has the effect, moreover, of making the incidents of the tragedy appear more probable, and lessening their horror. The scenic improvements power- fully aid the poetry of the story. In the scene where Romeo, parting front Juliet, points to the " envious streaks" that " lace the severing Clouds in yonder east," the effect of the morning breaking is beautifully represented, front the first flush of dawn to the full radiance of sun- rise. Capulet's monument is no longer represented by a private box of
sseath, like one of the snuggeries in Pere la Chaise ; it is a noble Gothic structure adorned with statues, and spacious enough to be really "the tomb of all the Capulets ;" and its grandeur enhances the impressive- ness of the catastrophe.
Of Miss J. MORDA UNT'S attempt to personate ,Tallet, we will only say that it utterly disappointed the expectations formed from her early pro- mise. We would recommend this young lady to unlearn as soon as possible the little she has acquired of the false declamatory style of acting conventionally termed " tragic ;" and above all not to take Miss FANNY KEIIBLE fbr her model, if site intends to pursue this walk of characters; for which, however, we incline to think nature has not fitted her. .Miss E. .MosTsmis. is to be her substitute on Monday. ANDER- SON InakeS a much better Romeo than before ; though his despair is still too boisterous and iris passionate ardour too robust and methodical. G. VANDENHOFF'S Jlerentio has a degree of manly propriety, but the fire and exuberant gayety of the fine-spirited light-hearted gallant are wanting. SELBY makes Tybalt a very cut-throat, rendering the term "fiery Tybalt " literally, and entirely overlooking the characteristics of the coxcomb duellist. Mrs. C. JONES as the ..N.,tr.w. KEELEY, as Peter, and 3IEADows, as the Apothecary, are each excellent in their respec- tive parts; and the Friar, the Prince, the Caoillets and the Montagues, and their servants, are all properly personated.
The Double Gallant, a farcical comedy manufactured by ORDER out of old materials, depends entirely on its ingeniously-constructed plot and situations ; the characters being mere stage conventions—carica- tures of modes of society now, happily, gone by ; and the dialogue made up of faded conceits and second-hand wit. elaborated with clever- ness and tbreed vivacity. slhill is a triple gallant, being, "like Cer- bents. three gentlemen in one' ; and his claims to admiration rest on the assurance which enables him to make love to two women at once, before each other's face, by assuming two different names and charac- ters, only chanting his dregs and manner, and afflicting never to have seen the one lady when he comes in to address the other. CHARLES MATIfEws's personation of this brazen coxcomb is his best effort in comedy : his impudence is easy and genteel, and he has the air of a man of fashion : the quickness with which he effects the transformation Is,. however, more admirable than its completeness; and the buoyant stunts and impulsive gusto that should animate the rake are wanting. The natural way in which he dropped out the aside speeches, was the best point of his performance. VESTRIS as Clarinda, the coquette who flirts with Atall by way of relief to the sober wooing of her earnest lover. was in her proper element : the sudden assumption of tender regard with which she coaxes back her fond swain, is the very per- fection of artificial blandishment ; and in the male disguise in which she challenges her lover, she looks as charming as in the two elegant dresses she wears before and after her metamorphosis. FARREN, as Sir Solomon Sadlife, has but little to do ; but he makes the most of that little, and looks the moneymaking, henpecked cit, completely. This is the grub from which sprung that venerable moth Sir Peter Teadc—whose amorous flutterings round the dazzling charms of a young beauty are infinitely more diverting than the mean jealousy of the cowardly wittol Sir Solomon. Mrs. NISBETT as Lady Sadlife looks wickedly pretty, in spite of a tawdry and unbecoming dress ; and Mrs. WALTER LACY as Lady Dainty, the whimsical woman of fashion, who affects all the ailments in Buchan and has a penchant for medicine monkies, mandarins, and monsters, is quite at home. G. VANDENHorr, who personates her persevering suitor Careless—a Petruchio sort of cha- racter, that courts with contradiction—has not spirit and dash enough, and is provokingly tame and loutish. SELBY blusters through the part of a military bully, Captain Strut, amusingly enough ; WIGAN is listless as Saunter ; and the two old men Wilful and Sir Hurry are well re- presented by E. MarrsEws and GRANnY : but these are all superflu- ous personages. Mrs. ORDER'S WiSh Weil is perfection: the cordiality of her cunning, the earnestness of her hypocrisy, and the address with which she circumvents her dupe Sir Solomon, are inimitable : Mrs. ORGER'S assumption of the waiting-woman vulgarity is always complete, but never offensive. Mrs. HUMBY, too, as Lady Dainty's maid Situp, is capital ; and Mrs. BROUGHAM is a very charming Silvia. Time costumes of Queen ANNE'S time are sumptuous as well as accu- rate : the ladies with their lace toupees, and trains flowing from the shoulders, and the gentlemen in flowing periwigs and three-cornered hats, with swords stuck through the broad-flapping skirts of their coats, brought back the time of POPE and the scenes in Grandi.svii. The stage presents pictures that LESLIE alight paint. The dance at the end is extremely picturesque.
This comedy was repeated last night ; and is likely to be popular, for it is amusing,—though the last act flags ; and the winning of Lady Dainty by Careless as the disguised Muscovite Prince, is too prepos- terous to be amusing except in broad farce.
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