THEATRICAL NOVELTIES.
VESTA'S has this week appeared in the 'character of a Welsh Girl; and a charming personation it is, dress, dialect, and all. She is secretly married to the reprobate nephew of an old Welsh Baronet ; and in order to get into the uncle's good graces, "Id reconcile him.to the match, she disguises herself as the niece of one of his tenants; and, as may be supposed, captivates the 'old man by her archness and naiveté, and some pretty Welsh airs, which she sings delightfully. So charmed is he, that he not oroiy promises to pay his nephews debts and receive his wife, but actually proposes to marry her himsetf. This is rather more tb.an she intended ; but, relying on the impression she has. madei upon him, she retires, and presents herself as his nephew s wqe. The good-natured old than forgives the trick; and after a. while, is as well pleased to hate such a fascinating creature for his niece as for his wife.
VESTRIS looked extremely pretty in her man's hat and mob cap, `woollen petticoats and stuff gown ; and she preserved the rustic manner of the Welsh peasant-girl very well throughout the scene, —allowing for the licence of the stage medium. VESTRIs'S per- sonations are to Miss KELLY'S what a highly-finished miniature by CHALON is to one of HUNT'S forcible studies of rustic character. The one is a lady in disguise, the other an elaborately faithful por- trait. The shyness of the country girl—the drop-down curtsey, the shrewd simplicity of her speech, and the homely frankness of manner as she felt more at ease with the Baronet—were most artfully imitated. Her Welsh dialect was not a mere common- place medley of "Look you," and "My heart,"—however deficient it might be in minor points to the critical ear of the Cambrian. It was very piquant; and VESTRIS trolled it out with shrill-voiced volubility; and rang such a peal about the old man's ears to drown his rage on hearing of his nephew's marriage, that even he must have been convinced, had he doubted the genuineness of her Welsh tongue. Mrs. TAYLEURE as a Welshwoman, F. MATHEWS as the old Baronet, and SALTER as his privileged servant, who speaks his mind, and calls his master to account for his conduct, kept up the illusion of the scene admirably.
Previous page
