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Without risking too much on the strength of a favourable debfit, we may venture to express an opinion that the stage has made an acquisition in the person of Miss Laura Keene, a young lady who plays Pauline in The lady of Lyons at the Olympic Theatre. That Pauline fairly repre- sents the class of characters in which she is destined to shine, is much to be doubted. She lacks the faculty of giving strong expression to intense emotion ; and those scenes which are obviously most capable of passionate rendering are precisely those which in her hands are the least effective of the whole. It is not in force and passion, but in an evident intelligence, a careful by-play, a ladylike sense of elegance, that we at present discern the characteristics of Miss Keene; and these are the constituent elements of an actress of genteel comedy. So much the better, ,perhaps; for we are in great want of leading comedy actresses, who, like Miss Keene, com- bine youth and great personal attractions. At another theatre—the New Strand—another instance of a rising talent may be found, though working in a very different sphere of action. We mean, the low comedian Mr. Rogers ; 'who, in a new version of the story of liesh-Money, plays a surly irascible pot-boy, with a doggedness quite his own. Strong individuality is a great qualification in a low comedian. Other actors, in their representation of a class of characters, may assimilate as much as they please to one another, but the low co- median must have something distinctive in his nature some certain fa- culty of producing laughter, which is not possessed by any of-his brethren. Thus, Keeley, Buckstone, and Wright, have all a different way of work- ing upon the risible muscles. It should be observed that the farce of Cir.. eunistantial _Evidence, which, though the same in plot with Hush-Money, differs from it both in dialogue and character, is well suited to bring-out Mr. Rogers's.peculiaritiee.
At the same theatre, a burlesque on the subject of Thetis's marriage has been produced. The dialogue displays an extraordinary talent for pun- ning; and some speeches were so studded with brilliancy, that the actors could hardly fight their way to the end of them, through the applause of the audience. But when we find tiled-Thetis, to escape the intrusions of her lavers, retires 'to a casino, and suspicions are uttered that she is "out on the 'loose' '(sue), we cannot help exclaiming, 14 Ohe, jam satis," and wialitg that our burlesque -dramatists would flail some:new theme :to R.. lustrate. The writers Of 'the "het" vehool, if they eloeiot intredatie at ' little unity of -allusions into their berlesques—or, better still, drop leagues altogether—will soon reach a degree Of dulness which the slob man might despair of attaining.
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