tit 54tatrrs.
The performance on Thursday night, for the benefit of the Dramatic College, gave an entirely novel aspect to the stage of Covent Garden Theatre. Principal actors from every part of London, sustaining frag- ments of every sort of drama, passed in rapid succession before the eyes of an enthusiastic audience, and seven pieces, in whole or in part, were played in the course of the evening, representing as many or more dis- tinct constituencies. The interstices between the dramatic particles of this huge entertainment were filled up by the vocal performances of Miss L. Pyne, Mr. W. Harrison, and " Christy's Minstrels." 1
When so many artists, forgetting all sectarian feeling, worked har- moniously together for the sake of a common cause' it would be invidious to compare the degre es of favour with which the different persons were received by a public disposed to sympathize with all. Still, we will ven- ture to record our impression, that the prime "pet" of the evening was Mr. T. P. Cooke, who far advanced in the seventies, rushed upon the boards in all the vigour of rejuvenescence, and as the stoutest of Williams danced his inimitable hornpipe amid deafening acclamations. And we will do this in perfect confidence that the triumph of Mr. T. P. Cooke could not excite a spark of jealousy in the mind of any one of his com- rades. Professionally, he has long retired from the stage' only returning to it in the cause of charity, and every one is delighted to see in such good condition the veteran, who typifies not, perhaps, the most legiti- mate, but certainly one of the most national forms of the drama.
It may be as well to remind our readers that the Royal Dramatic Col- lege is a comprehensive institution intended to combine a retreat for superannuated actors and actresses, a library, and a schooL Founded the year before last, and assisted as well by benevolent individuals as by the other theatrical funds, the College is fast ripening into maturity; and, although none of the buildings are yet completed, several aged members of the profession already receive relief in the shape of a pecuniary allow- ance. The performance of Thursday night was managed by Mr. Anson, the secretary of the institution, Mr. Jerwood, one of its most active sup- porters, Mr. Creswick, of the Surrey Theatre, and Mr. Sams, the librarian.
Several new farces have been lately produced. At the Olympic Theatre, the excitement respecting the earning fight finds its expression 'in a piece called B. B. These letters really denote Benjamin Bobbin, a timorous gentleman, acted by Mr. Robson, but others interpret them to signify Benicia Boy," and the man of peace suffers great annoyance through being confounded with the man of fists. It is merely for the sake of keeping the record complete that we refer to a silly tale of matri- monial aberration brought out at the Lyceum, which, by the way, closes tonight, and a stupid story about Punch's show, played at the Adelphi. Arundel Street, Strand, and The Star of the Streets, are the respective names of these worthless novelties.
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