THE THEATRES.
THE announcement of a new play, written by the most successful dramatist of our time and produced by one of the most popular of managers, failed in creating the excitement usual on such occasions : no crowds besieged the box-entrances of Drury Lane on Monday ; there was no great rush at the pit-door ; all was quiet both without and within the house ; the pit filled gradually, the boxes more slowly still, and the proportion of juvenile visiters showed that the Easter-piece Was a principal attraction. The title of The Secretary is not, to be sure, a promising one, nor is the list of dramatis personae very inviting; but time was, and not long ago either, when these indications would have weighed little or nothing against public curiosity : now playgoers pause and wait to hear if a performance be worth seeing, before they pay their money. Under these altered circumstances, we should have heartily rejoiced had the new play been one likely to retard the ebbing tide of the drama's prosperity, or to retrieve the waning reputation of SHERIDAN KNOWLES : we regret that it is not calculated to do either ; or even to prolong the duration of the Drury Lane season, now draw- ing to a close.
The story of The Secretary is taken from Mr. JAMES'S novel The King's Highway : what probably recommended it to the dra- matist's choice was, the main incident—a lady of high birth be- coming enamoured of a youth of lowly condition and declaring her passion—being of a kind that Mr. KNOWLES particularly af- ects ; for it has not dramatic capabilities. Wilton Brown, the `secretary" of Lord Bryerdale, has rescued, single-handed, the Duke of Gaveston, and his daughter Lady Laura, from a band of robbers : the lady's admiration and gratitude know no bounds, not even those of maiden modesty ; for, without waiting for an interview with her pre- server, she lets her passion for him be so publicly known, that the ob- ject of it is apprized of his good fortune from two different quarters be- fore he finds courage to visit her. Lady Laura's determination is as strong as her passion ; she will wed Wilton Brown or none: her father refuses his consent, and Lord Bryerdale proclaims the youth illegitimate ; but she still clings to the " secretary." Fortune befriends the lovers at last : a mysterious Colonel Green comes forward announcing himself as a younger brother of Lord Bryerdale, and Wilton Brown as the legi- timate son of the elder brother, and rightful heir to the title. This plot is melodramatic, without any effective situations ; the characters have no individuality to awaken an interest in their fate ; and the lady's passion excites surprise cr distaste rather than sympathy, partaking as it does more of wilfulness than pure sentiment— for aught she knows to the contrary, her gallunt may be a worthless fellow save in the article of bravery. In short, the drama is so unskil- fully constructed, that one is constantly in doubt as to the motives and purpose of the different persons ; and scenes succeed each other without advancing the progress of the action : for instance, the first act is wholly taken up with intimations by three different persons of their knowledge of the rencontre and the lady's love for her champion ; and each in- terview of the lovers is little else than a repetition of the previous one in different phrase. There is an underplot in which Colonel Green saves the life of King Wiliam the Third, which is threatened by a Ja- cobite conspiracy ; and the most effective scene in the piece is where Green keeps the conspirators at bay with a pistol, while he withdraws the Duke of Gaveston from their company. To Miss II. Fewer's beautiful personation of the heroine is chiefly owing the temporary success of the play : she comprehends the cha- racter so clearly and completely, that every word, look, and gesture, seems prompted by natural feeling. The frankness of her manner, and the impassioned earnestness of her speech, which was never unduly ve- hement, produced an impression of sincerity that prevented the boldness of her passion from being felt objectionable. ANDERSON as the Secretary is a moody and monotonous lover : his hard, noisy,sing-song declamation becomes tiresome : instead of regarding the import of the words he utters, he seems to be listening to the sound of his own voice ; which is deep-toned and powerful, but neither flexible nor melodious, and re- quires to be controlled by feeling and discretion. MACREADY contri- buted materially to the effect of the performance by his admirable per- sonation of Colonel Green : he gives the impress of individuality to a character slightly sketched, and represents a plain, blunt, yet cautious soldier, whose kindly nature has not been hardened by service or soured by discontent. His acting is impressive by its simplicity and quietude ; and in the melodramatic situation where he defies the con- spirators, he resisted the temptation to rant. PHELPS as Lord Bryerdale scarcely brought out the villany of the character with sufficient dis- tinctness; but it is an ungracious part to play. HUDSON as his son, Lord Sherbrooke, uttered the badinage set down for him with cordial gusto; though his levity is too loud and incessant. The audience eagerly marked the few striking passages in the dialogue, and applauded the performers occasionally with more zeal than discrimination ; and at the end there was a very general expression of approbation rather than enthusiastic delight. Mr. KNOWLES was called for, but his ab- sence was excused : he always declines this injudicious compliment; and it would be well if other dramatists would follow so proper an example. The Secretary was announced for repetition three times a week, alternately with Sappho.
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