THE THEATRES.
The Way of The World, the last, the most finished, but the least suc- cessful of CONGREVE'S comedies, which had not been acted within the memory of the present generation, has been revived at the Haymarket, but with very little effect. The audience seemed more puzzled by the plot than dazzled by the dialogue, and wondered that the "way of the world" should ever have been like what the stage represented—as well they might. The purifier of CONOREVE.8 comedy, not content with amending the speech and behaviour of the characters, has tried his stage scouring-drops on the morals of the ladies ; and has not only made Mrs. Fainall, Mirahel's cast-off mistress, a virtuous and injured wife, but transformed the mischief-making Mrs. Marwood into a male busybody : we wonder Millamant escaped being converted into a prude, and Lady Wishfort into a devotee. If this elegant satire of the profligacy and frivolity of the author's own time failed, on its first representation, for want of action in the scene, what chance of success has it now, that the features of life are no longer recognizable, and the actors to embody the characters are not to be found on the stage But Mr. MACItEADI having " revived " one of CONGREVES comedies, Mr. WEntrrea must needs " revive" another. We wish managers would leave them alone : they can derive no profit, the performers little credit, and the audience less pleasure from their representation ; while those who relish the wit sill find it sparkle with far greater lustre in the printed page. Madame VESTRIS, as Millamant, wants die airy grace and buoyant spirits of that gay, volatile, and capricious young creature, who floats on the incense of a crowd of worshippers like sonic goddess of fashion. Mrs. GLOVER, as Lady Wishfort, overacts the amorous widow ; but she produces a strong effect by her hard, coarse touches. Faunae', as Sir Wilful Witwoud, the country gentleman, though not robust and rustic enough for the character, acts admirably: his drunken-scene is capiial—comic without grossness. CHARLES MATHEWS, his younger brother Wittcoud, the town rake and fritable, has the air of a man of pleasure, and utters his coffeehouse witticisms with the unstudied ease of spontaneous effusions: his dressing is perfection ; he alone looks like the beau of fashion. BUCKSTONE, as Petulant, the butt of the piece, buffoons it as usual ; wearing a wig as big as himself. Of H. Hom. as Mirabel, VEI1NG as Fainall, and STUART as the male version of Mrs. Marwood, it is charitable not to speak,—though Mr. Holz,
having such a part to play, hardly deserves to escape censure for doing so little towards rendering his inability less conspicuous. A vulgar version of a French vaudeville, called The Rutile, affords Madame CELESTE an opportunity of figuring as a Gaseon peasant-girl disguised as a court-lady ; but the part being unsuited to her angular, ab- rupt, and melodramatic style, she produces little effect. The piece is neatly constructed, and got up in splendid style ; but the actors want finesse to give point to the artificial trifle.
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