THEATRICAL NOVELTIES.
A TRANSLATION of Setae's comedy, Bertrand et Raton, has been brought out at Drury Lane, under the title of The Minister and the Mercer. We have not seen it ; but the reports of the Mo ning Papers— especially the Times, which seems to have taken Mr. Busx into its especial favour—agree in praising the play itself, the translation, the acting, the dresses, and the scenery. The drama has been got up in Paris, with the approbation at least of the Government, it is said, for the purpose of throwing ridicule upon popular commotions. The character of the Mercer, who is represented as the idol of the people, is reported to be a caricature sketch from M. LAFITTE ; while Prince TALLEVRAND has evidently bum the original of the Minister. The scene is laid in Copenhagen, during the reign of the imbecile Monarch Christian the Seventh : and the subject of the plot is the banishment of the Queen consort (sister of George the Third), and the ruin of Struensee, her favourite, by the Count Bertrand de Mintz:in, who by the aid of the Queen-Mother, and the instrumentality of his tool the Mercer, attains his end and becomes Prime Minister.
FaatiEs's personation of Count Bertrand, " the Minister," • is spoken of as being admirable throughout ; which we can well imagine. Dowrox's performance of Raton, "the Mercer," is described as a bold, broad, and effective performance ; with some superfluous touches of coarseness, to which this excellent actor is but too prone. Mrs. Gi.ovEn's talents appear to have no great scope for their display in the Mercer's wife. ELLEN TREE imparts grace and interest to a character of secondary importance ; and Mrs. SLOMAN enacts thc Queen- Mother in the true Dolollulla style. The scenery, by STANFIELD, includes some splendid interiors, among which the Mercer's shop is con- spicuous.
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