5 MARCH 1836, Page 11

THE THEATRES.

THE principal novelty of the week has been the chivalric spectacle of Chevy Chase, at Drury Lime; which is described as surpassing the Jewess in splendour, though it lacks the interest of that powerful drama. It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader, that Earl Percy's vow,

't On Scottish ground three summer days

It is merry hunt to take," forms the subject: but other incidents from " The Lay of the Last Minstrel" and " The Hermit of Warkworth" are introduced, to the detriment of the piece, by making it prodigiously long, and without any corresponding advantage to the stage effect. The scenery is said to be beautiful, the costurnea characteristic and gorgeous, the machinery complete and efficient, and the whole of the stage business capitally managed. The banquet at Warkworth Castle, where Earl Percy makes the fatal vow-the scene being a tableau from M'CLIsE's picture of the " Vow of the Peacock • " the arrival of Percy on the Scottish coast with a fleet of nine vessels; the tight, with its charges of horse and foot; and the field of battle afterwards--which embodies BIRD'S famous picture of " Chevy Chase "-are spoken of as very effective scenes, and the best in the show. The change at the end to a fairy temple, injures the reality of what has gone before. HARLEY and Mrs. HUMRY make fun, and WIELAND personates a fiend with great cleverness. For the rest, the armour and horses eclipse the actors. When the piece is curtailed of its long speeches, it will, we dare say, be attractive enough : the disapprobation seems to have been excited only by its protracted length. These shows should be merely panto- mimic.