Though VESTRIS cannot supply her authors with wit and invention,
she makes up for the deficiency of those qualities by her managerial tact, and the perfect style in which she furnishes forth the stage acces- sories. This scenic verisimilitude, aided by excellent acting, which gives a personal interest to any character bearing a moderately close relation to nature, makes what would otherwise be a dull play, very amusing. This is the secret of the success of several of the Olympic burlettas this season, as well as of the one produced on Thursday night, entitled How to Get Off. The story is the old one of a pretty and wilful young girl resolved to throw herself away upon a rich old man, to spite a handsome young lover who had displeased her; but as is mostly the case, repentance comes in time to prevent the climax of folly. The young lady soon gets tired of the old man, and contrives to make the old man heartily sick of her. In the present instance, however, this task is rather a difficult one ; for the old gentleman is a paragon of patience, politeness, and placidity ; and the joke of the piece consists in the various schemes resorted to to overcome his prodigious powers of endurance. Mr. Dulcimer is turned out of his own carriage, and made to ride in the dickey with his servant, to make room for the lady's French waiting-maid ; who lends most efficient aid to her mis- tress in the work of persecution. He is smothered with dust, soaked with rain, cheated out of his dinner, robbed of his rest, made to wait upon the lady, and comply with all her whims,—in short, he is perfectly miserable. At last, an attack upon his faithful, fuddled old footman, rouses his anger and his energies ; the lamb is converted into a lion ; and, to the satisfaction of the lady, he renounces her sway, and she transfers herself to the arms of her young lover. LISTON, as Mr. Dulcimer, in a brown wig and pigtail, and copper. coloured hat, looks the picture of acquiescent good-nature ; and is reso- lutely bent on pleasing and being pleased, and on having a "delightful journey," to the last moment. But, by slow degrees, his temper, smooth as a bowl of cream, becomes ruffled ; he gets irritated, and is finally lashed into a storm of fury. His exclamation " I am Goliah !" is the acme of the ludicrous. VESTRIS, as Pelerine, the French waiting-maid, evinces her usual address in the manner in which she exasperates Mr. Dulcimer while pretending to make peace : it is like pouring oil on fire. She gives her broken English with true French parity and piquancy. Miss MALCOLM plays the part of the young lady with cleverness and propriety. Bibo, Mr. Dulcimer's favourite old servant—whose affections are equally divided between the brandy- bottle and his master, and who prides himself upon never being drunk, nor exactly sober—is a finished personation by F. MATHEWS. The scenery and properties are very complete and real-looking, though the views are not well painted. The travelling - chariot, with the whole party, is drawn across the stage by three horses abreast, French fashion, one of them being mounted by a postilion with the veritable jack-boots. The woodman's hut is a perfect picture of French life; the stairs are not mere dirty deal boards, but painted to appear like brick and stone, and the man and woman are French to the cap and blouse. VESTRIS bespoke the favour of the audience, in character ; and LISTON announced the repetition of How to Get Off, with universal applause.
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