THE THEATRES.
We have before this alluded to the fact that there is generally in London one low comedian, who, whatever may be the worthlessness of the piece in which he appears, and however little drollery there may be in the lines he has to utter, can attract and please an audience by his sole individual pow- er. This position is now held by Mr. Wright at the Adelphi Theatre, and was formerly occupied by Mr. John Reeve at the same establishment. The Adelphi atmosphere is particularly congenial to the growth of this sort of popularity, the root of which is a talent half histrionic, half improvisatorial.
One of the consequences of the position is a certain feeling between the actor and his audience, so that the former is " hail-fellow-well-met " with the latter. There are not merely the artist on one side and the admirers on the other,- but an imaginary shake of the hands takes place across the lamps. Such acting as that of the late Mr. John Reeve and Mr. Wright is not only for but to the audience; and, however objectionable this may be from an artistic point of view, it is invaluable in establishing and con- tinuing a friendly connexion.
The London public had really a persortaI liking for John Reeve; and the benefit of that liking is reaped by his son, (also named John,) who made a &bat this week at the Lyceum, somewhat under the auspices of Mrs. Yates, that the old Adelphi association might be kept up. The ad- mirers of the "old John" mustered strong on the occasion, and were strong in their determination to encourage Johannes Secundus. He certainly threw a great deal of practical " fun " into a comic song, the chief object of which was to introduce an imitation of tight-rope-dancing and the eques- trianism of the ring; and there was a touch of dry humour in some of his speeches: but still we are sure that if he had only sung and acted half as well, he would have been equally applauded to the echo. The farce in which he appeared, as a cabman, is a mere .piece d'occasion, written to set forth the situation of the debutant; as is sufficiently indicated by the title, My Father did so before me!"
Mr. Reeve should neither overvalue nor undervalue the immense ap- plause he has received. If he overvalue it, he will think he has no more to learn, and that he is already a fit competitor of Keeley, Backstone, Har- ley, and Wright; whereas he is at present nothing of the sort, but a pro- mising young beginner—that is all. But we would not have him go to the other extreme of setting down his enthusiastic reception at zero. It is the index not of a critical appreciation, but certainly of au honest sympathy on the part of an audience for the son of an old friend. With an English theatrical public, which is the reverse of fickle in its attachments, this is a great point gained; and Mr. Reeve should regard his present position as a good foundation to work upon, but not as a summit attained.
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