A VISIT TO THE "LITTLE HAYMARKET."
A EEW weeks' secession from theatricals, superinduced by the dearth of novelties of any mark or likelihood, having improved our languid appe- tite for playgoicg, we cast about for the best bill of fare. The School for Scandal was announced at the Haymarket ; and the name of SHERI- DAN Came blended with recollections of the " snug little Haymarket," that we had read of in the pleasant pages of LEIGH HUNT,—where the
audience seemed to enjoy even the crowding and the heat, as they do at the Adelphi or the Olympic. Curious to see how comedy was acted there now, and why it was that none talked as they used to do about the "little Haymarket," we paid on Wednesday our first visit for the season. Resolved to be as uncritical as possible, we refrained from prejudging the character of the performance by scrutinizing the cast of
the dramatis personce beforehand, and paid our money at the door with the satisfaction of a pleasure-seeker, who leaves business and care out- side, and, predetermined on being amused, cheerfully resigns himself to
the illusion of the scene. The thinness of the audience, and the un- comfortable squareness of the building, gave a little jerk to our com- placency on entering; and as we sat conning over the play-bill, waiting the drawing-up of the curtain, sundry misgivings would insinuate them- selves as to the quality of the actors ; and we found ourselves uncon- sciously forming odious comparisons with the veterans of old times; when the opening scene between Lady Sneerwell and Snake reminded us, that in order to secure a reasonable portion of amusement. and to give a chance to the acting, we must forget old times altogether, and fancy ourselves at a provincial theatre. This delusion was pretty suc- cessfully kept tip all the evening, by a most respectable and very me- diocre representation of the comedy ; such as one of our provincial contemporaries might commend in the following manner. Let the reader imagine he has a Cheltenham or a Brighton newspaper in his hand.
"'THEATRE ROYAL "—all country theatres are Royal—" Sheridan's celebrated comedy of the School for Scandal was performed last night,
in a style that gave universal satisfaction to a numerous audience ; who
were unanimous in their praise of the excellence of the company, the taste and enterprise of the manager in getting up this ne plus ultra of genteel comedy in modern times, for the gratification of the distin- guished visiters with which the town is thronged, and who attended in considerable numbers, being attracted not merely by the fame of Sheri- dan's wit, but this unique performance of his chef etceuvre. Mr. WEBSTER'S Sir Peter Teazle was universally pronounced to resemble PARSES'S ; so much so, that the Dowager Lady —, who with a party occupied the stage-box on the side opposite to that on which Sir Peter first enters, and who is somewhat near-sighted, was heard to say, that she thought at the first glance it was that eminent comedian him- self; until Mr. WEBSTER spoke, whose tones are louder and more strongly nasal than those of his distinguished prototype. The resem- blance of the face, however, is surprising, when it is considered that Mr. W. is not at all like Mr. F. off the stage ; and his talent in keep- ing the muscles of his face screwed up as it were into the same shape that Mr. FARREN'S assume when he acts old gentlemen, is deserving of the highest praise : the exertion must be very great,—unless, as a wag suggested, he bad the ends of them all tied in a knot like his queue. His dressing of the part too is quite like Mr. FABLES ; though the toupee of his wig struck us as being a little too high. We think, however, the remark of Mr. — (who is celebrated for his sar- casm) a little too severe, when he said that Sir Peter looked like an embroidered Quaker with a clown's cockscomb.' " Lady Teazle found a most charming and delightful representa- tive in Miss TAYLOR (from Covent Garden); who was elegantly dressed, and looked so lovely and interesting that we quite felt for her in the trying screen-scene ;' and her arch-vivacity and dashing man- ner were the theme of admiration of the whole audience. A redun- dancy of vivacity in an actress is so uncommon a fault, that Miss T. may he excused for giving occasion for the too severe remark, which we quote for its wittiness, (the readers of our facetim may guess to whom it is to be ascribed,)—' that she walked and tossed her head about like a peacock giving herself airs.' " Mr. VANDENHOFF on this occasion took the character of Joseph Surface; and his gentlemanly demeanour and deep tones were very im- pressive. The best compliment that could be paid him was the in. tended censure of a cynical person, that his face looked like a mask, with its unchanging expression.' Mr. VINING (from the Haymarket) made a very gay and genteel Charles Surface. Mrs. GLOVER (front London), who is the greatest favourite of any comic actress now on the stage, was the Mrs. Candour of the evening ; and was so delightfully severe and so unconsciously censorious, and destroyed reputations with so much gusto and bonhommie, that were not the lady's own private dis- position known to be the reverse, the character might be supposed na- tural to her, so spontaneous and extempore did her liveliness and en. joyment appear. Mrs. CLIFFORD'S Lady Sneerwell was a very clever performance ; though it had the amiable defect of not being bitter enough. That very celebrated and popular author and actor, Mr. BUCKSYONE (of the Adelpbi), whose dramatic works display such a fe- cundity of invention and an inexhaustible vein of comic humour and fun, played Sir Benjamin Backbite, with that indescribable and pecu- liar drollery of look, voice, and manner, for which he is so remark- ably distinguished. This comedian is accused of buffoonery; and if to make the audience laugh be buffoonery, be certainly may plead guilty to the charge with a good grace. Maria was personated by Miss E. PHILLIPS, sister of the tragic actress, with truly feasiaine modesty and propriety. This young lady speaks with admirable &tautness and precision : animation is not required in her character, her sedate and quiet manner was therefore appropriate. Mr. WORRELL'S Careless was easy and confident ; and Mr. Gottoi made an excellent Rowley. 31r. HAINES was only too good-looking and good-natured for the Jew ; Mr. SAVILLE too frank and innocent for Snake; Mr. T. MATTHEWS too kindly for Crabtree ; and Mr. SEI.BY, as Trip, was rather deficient in assurance : but as the faults of the actors arose out of the good quali- ties of the individuals, they will not be severely censured. We had nearly omitted Mr. STRICKLAND'S Sir Oliver ; but the cause of it in- volves a compliment to him, for he so completely identified himself with the character, that we lost sight of the actor altogether. The song, ' Let the toast pass,' was given by Mr. YARNOLD in good style ; and the whole passed off with great eclat." This slip-slop, can suen:e kind of criticism, is now, however, almost out of date even in the provincial press; bit: as the Spectator is some- times thought harsh by tender-hearted readers, we have taken an op- portunity of giving them a taste of the old style of eulogy, when critics crammed the actors with comfits.
Previous page
