FUN — THE ENGLISH OPERA.
OUR fathers, grandfathers, or great-grandfathers, whose appro- bation made the Spoiled Child a stock piece, must have had a voraciously indiscriminating appetite for fun. The drollery of the entertainment, the delight of every barn, and customary treat of country theatres, consists in seeing a young gentleman striking his papa with a switch—quizzing his aunt—kicking the unname- able part of his nurse, according to the terms of a favounte threat often to be heard in Covent Garden or St. Giles's —and romping with a young lady, whom he embraces in the Point of Portsmouth manner, and seats on his knee. In all this there is not a particle of fun, and the plot is only suited to the nursery. The piece was revived last night at the English Opera, in order to exhibit Miss COVENEY'S capacity in the part of Little Pickle, "with a hornpipe," as the play-bills threaten, and as we from wofal experience can testify. Miss COVENEY performed the pretty actions we have described, with appropriate skill ; and was particularly happy in the kick,—much more so, we think, than in the hornpipe. The kick captivated a judicious audience, and was alone applauded. She seems a young person of some talent, and sings prettily. A Miss NOVELLO played Maria with an uncouthness which was rather remarkable. She is, we believe, by intention a singer : her voice is husky, and not very steady ; and she sings in a careless manner, which may be referable either to considerable assurance or the extreme of negligence.
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