The Brigand, which has been revived at the Haymarket, comes
as a pleasing-reminiscence of old Aimee. By alternately_ bringing forward the ferocity and gentlemanlike gallantry which are .isupposed to coexist in Massarinii, Mr. Wallack makes as complete a delineation of character as the modern stage can present.What a ,difference. between this and his
Shakst,erian performances! There, all seems conventional.and bodiless; here, every touch is fresh and lifelike.
A' new piece called Vie Trumpeter's Wedding, taken from a French comic' opera and likewise produced at the Haymarket, gives Mr. Keeley an opportunity of displaying the miseries of a man in an embarrassment. He is a Roundhead trumpeter in the days of the English Commonwealth; and- when he comes home to be married comfortably, he finds that a young Cavalier, for purposes of concealment, has assumed his name-and his place in the wedding-party; nay, he is a so compelled by the solicitation of his sweetheart to take the name of the Cavalier in return, at the risk of being hanged! The Cavalier's and the Trumpeter's sweethearts—repre- sented by Miss P. Horton and Miss Reynolds—are singing characters; and thus, though there is no particular effect in the music, the piece may be called an operetta. On the whole, it is a lively little affair, neatly worked on as old principle; but the adapter, in transferring the scene to England, has failed to give it local colouring. Keeley, who by a sort of patent right is a living impersonation of a scrape, is quite in his element as the Trumpeter.
Previous page
