LABLACHE'S DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND MALIBRAN'S AGREEABLE SURPRISES.
tABLACHE'S unrivalled success in Geronimo has been a most un- fortunate circumstance for him. The consequence is, that the standard of expectation is raised so high, that, giant as he is, he cannot come near to it. He is his own fatal rival. The impres- sion of a part which he cannot often repeat, will serve to stamp with discredit his other performances. It is thus that people are in the habit of scourging merit with its own laurels. We grant that the Don Mag,nifico is not so successful as Geronimo, but is the part one of equal capability ? Every one will answer in the negative. There is something, too, in the naturally comic expres- sion of LABLACHE'S countenance, unsuited to the representation of pride and pomposity, which should be conjoined with corn- .plexional dulness. The thoughts which are for ever running on a man's accidental dignity, should be coloured by their paltry sub- ject; and if not a blockhead by nature, he should be blockhead by habit, and every feature of his face should be sealed with lead. A whimsical circumstance happened on Tuesday, when the Cenerentota was performed. Between the acts, an apology was made for Madame MALIBRAN, who was represented as too ill to reappear, and BLASIS was named as substitute ; but when the curtain rose, lo ! the interesting invalid was on the stage.* Of course, the false alarm served to heighten enjoyment of the lady's performance :
" 'Tis too much proved, That what we have, we prize not at the cost."
The plan of frightening admirers with the idea of privation, and then agreeably surprising them, is extremely effective,—though not quite original, for, in the History of Mother Hubbard, we remember that her dog, so celebrated for his tricks, professed to be dead; and
"She went to the undertaker's to buy him a coffin, But when she came back, the dog was laughing."
* In reference to this exhibition, a Subscriber to the Opera requests us to put two questions to Madame DIALIBRAN:— • ISI, was she not, when the apology was made and the substitution announced, or a little before, singing at Mr. Brahaves party ? In fact, was not this the true cause of her apprehended absence? "2nd, Did she go to Mr. Braham's with or without U. Laporte's consent"'
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