THE THEATRES.
DRURY LANE.
On Wednesday, Miss MORDAUNT appeared in the character of Letitia Hardy, and conquered her audience as completely as she conquered her lover. The scene where, under the disguise of a bar-maid, she commences her operations upon Young Marlow, was enacted by Miss MORDAUNT with all the vivacity, intelligence, assumed simpli- city, and real archness, for the display of which so large a scope is afforded in that scene. Throughout the remainder of the performance, she displayed equal ability, and the comedy was announced for repeti- tion amidst loud and hearty acclamations. From what we have seen of this actress, we are inclined to think that she will succeed best in the highest walk of genteel comedy ; and we are sorry to perceive it announced that she is to make her appearance in the character of Cherry. A selection more injudicious could, we think, hardly have been made ; nor can we easily imagine le how Miss MORDAUNT Can put
off the youthful tenderness and delicacy of her personal appearance, and the natural modesty and gentility of her behavour, to assume the crafty, dishonest, impudent, and licentious character of a scarecrow highwayman's mistress. But perhaps Mr. PRICE thinks, like his countryman at the Adelphi, that in a land of freedom a man may " larrup his own nigger" at his own pleasure.
A new melodramatic spectacle, in two acts, called the Greek Family, was produced at this theatre on Thursday night. We dropped in to see it, and found Mr. COOPER as a Suliote chief, expiring of his wounds. A black slave called Juba bethought himself in this emer- . gency of bringing massa a draught of water ; for the containing of which, " him black man" converted his two pretty hands into a cup and saucer, out of which Mr. COOPER having quaffed his interesting drink, got up and walked about the stage, for an hour or so, as if nothing at all had happened to him. That the miracles may not be all upon the side of the rebellious Greeks, a musket-ball was sent point- blank through the brains of one of the Mussubnen ; but he did not at all think it necessary to die on that occasion. At the conclusion, a Ilasha was insisting upon the receipt of some immense contributions from the Greeks ; and the Suliote captain was appealing to the sup- port of the Christian authorities all over the world. Both these cir- cumstances show that the melodrame has at least antiquity upon its side : "Nous aeons chanobi tout cela." The piece was unequivocally damned,—partly, perhaps, from the sympathy which we are beginning to feel in the present condition of our ancient allies at Constantinople.
COVENT GARDEN. On Thursday, a new drama in two acts, called the Robber's Wife, was produced at Covent Garden. The principal events have been already dramatised at one or two of the Minor Theatres; and are taken from the story of Sui/D/ruv in the Tales of the Munster Festi- vals. The drama of last Thursday was powerfully arranged and de- veloped, and was most excellently supported by the principal per- formers. Miss ELLEN TREE sustained the character of the Robber's Wife, with a degree of truth and force which no actress upon the stage could exceed ill that character, and few could equal. The last scene, in which she is engaged in the terrible exertion of preventing her hus- band and father from shooting each other, had as painful and distress- ing a verisimilitude as anything we have witnessed on the stage for a long time. The husband and father were ably supported by Mr. ABBOTT and Mr. FAWCETT ; but POWER, who of course played the part of an Irishman, put an end to all dolorific sensations when- ever he appeared. We tried three or four times to be very melan- choly over the distresses of the parties, but no sooner did Air. Larry O'Gig jump into the middle of the business, than the flourish of his shilelagh, like the wand of an enchanter, dispelled all gloomy cogita- tions, and excited roars of laughter. POWER'S Irishmen are the only articles of that class which are brought into the London market " neat as imported." They are " ipsis Hibernis Hiberniores." The drama was received with the greatest applause, and will probably run for a considerable time.
ADELPHr. , •.
Two new pieces have been brought out at this cosy establishment since our last notice. The newest, a comic burletta, called Love Laughs at Bailiffs, presents some situations in which MATHEWS, in the character of a singing and poetical bailiff, exhibits some fine speci- mens of his unrivalled humour. A sort of cento of street ballads, which he sings with a voice and manner appropriate to each separate melody, beginning with " Cherry ripe," and ending with " Charlie is my darling," was one of the most amusing productions that we have yet heard from this inimitable artist. The character of a servant was very cleverly performed by YATES. The other novelty is a nautical burletta, called the Floating Beacon; which afforded an opportunity for displaying the capabilities of the machinery of this house. The illusions of scenery and perspective which are accomplished in so small a space are quite astonishing. The people at the Adelphi think nothing of folding up their stage like a window-shutter, and making the Atlantic roar up to the very foot- lights. We are happy to see that the exertions of MATHEWS and YATES are almost every night rewarded with crowded houses.
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