and the lower filled with the living. a moving Panoramic view of the coast Don Juan is the pantomine on this to Milford Haven, and a grand allegomimic stage, when the real Don in the rical vision of Clouds and Sea Horses, boxes, irritated at the insult offered heathen Gods and Goddess, etcetera, to his representative, draws his rapier, etcetera, etcetera, the whole of which and drives off the Devil.

was not very well managed, and cerThe adventures of Giovanni being tainly not very much approved. Mr. thus brought to a conclusion, the third Elliston was the Sovereign of the night, act consisted wholly of a gorgeous re- and personated the character with bepresentation of the procession of the coming dignity, and the piece was Knights of St. Patrick on the late In- given out for repetition amidst constallation in Dublin. From the back tending shouts of displeasure and apof the stage, and through the centre of probation; though we think “the ayes Seekrille-street, the procession of in- had it.”—The House was crowded. stalled and uninstalled Knights, with Dec. 26. “ Gioranni in Ireland the Sovereign of the order, advanced made his first regular appearance this with all the pomp and magnificence evening, when, according to the forby which it was distinguished during mer stipulations of the stage manathe late visit of his Viajesty. The move- ger, the piece was produced with sunment of this body was marked by dis- dry cmendations, curtailments, and charges of artillery, and passed com- alterations, somewhat after the plan pletely across the pit, over a stage si- of improving the Sailor's blanket, hy milar to that erected for “ the Corona- transferring the end to the middle. hom.” Saekrille-street, however, was In a sort of preface attached to the remarkably ill treated, as the practi- Book of Songs sold in the 'Theatre, the cal blunder was committed of filling author contended that the “ extraorthe windows with figures staring their dinary patronage bestowed on Giosouls out the contrary way from the vanni' in London” demanded his apmarch of the procession, looking to- pearance in Ireland, and that his schwards the audience, while the pageant stitution for Pantomime was in every was advancing from the back; which respect a great gain to the public. Now gazing before for a thing behind was, although we can have no possible ohwe presume, an ingenious illustration jection to an author's putting himself that the scene was beyond the Chan- right with the public by any well writDel. The scene next changed to the ten, or well spoken, form of elucidaErterior of the Cathedral of St. Patrick. tion; nor, if such is his fearlessness of Battle-axe Guards, Aides-de-Camp, the future, to his announcing himself and Stewards, formed a line for the before he is secure of the fate of his Peeresses, who severally entered the authorship: yet, whatever respect wo chared to be present at the ceremony; may be inclined to feel for the abiliwhen the scene again changed, and tics of Mr. Moncrieff, we are compelled the Interior of the Cathedral was dis- to dissent from his positions in this covered. The Law Officers, Bishops, exposé. We much doubt, for instance, Dignitaries, and Peeresscs, were seen whether the Don and his valet are a stated in their respective places. tenth part as amusing as Harlequin Choristers then entered from the back and Pierrot, and we altogether deny of the pit and ascended the balconies. that they are more rational and inAfter which the Knights, with their structive." That the patronage of Esquires, and banners, approached, “ Giovanni in London" has been exfollowed by Heralds. preceding the traordinary, we will allow, for to us it Sovereigo, and bis attendants, and has always appeared perfectly extraortook their seats. Then followed the dinary that such a Drama should have ceremony of installation. The repre- been patronized anywhere. With sertation of which was extremely the “feelings of honour and virtue," faithful, and the dresses particularly inspired by the fabrication of modern splendid; bat the ceremony was alto- chevaliers, we are not convinced that gether too tedious, and the audience it's stage imitations can inoculate repeatedly expressed their hisses and any persons, unless the author should their impatience. We were next treat- insist on our excepting the favoured ed with his Majesty's departure from individuals who were invested with King's Town; most irreverently termed plumes and collars in the new piece ; Dualary;--a ship in convulsions ;- and to deeds of " honour and virtue" Eur. Mag. Vol. 81. Jun. 1822.

L

amus

we can conocive no worse possible in- describing as a novet'; we may the troduction than the exploits of the more suinmarily despatch as a drama. Don, either Spanish, English, or Irish. The piece opens with Cleveland's shipIn addition to this preface, on the first wreck, from which he is rescued by evening, a preparatory dialogue, ex- Mordaunt and sent under escort of cusing the delay of the piece, was com- Bryce Snaelsfoot to the Udaller's house, menced by Russell and Loveday, but where he very speedily captivates very nnceremoniously, and very sud- Minna, without the tantalizing cirdenly hissed off the stage.

cumlocution of the Novel. The UdalWe come now, however, to the im- ler's daughters are however, a most proved re-appearance of this “ unfortunate evidence of the inferiority ing vagabond,” and we are bound in of fact to description. The Minna justice to say, that it was consider- and Brenda of the Novelist have a ably amended, inasmuch as it was mysterious beauty thro:n around s'iorter !—The transplantation of the them, from their dwelling in the wildchivalric installation to the second ness and remoteness of that ocean of act; the curtailment of the ceremo- eternal storms, and solemn and cloudy nies; and the omission of several superstitions of their lineage and their scenes, rendered it, as a whole, cer- land. On the stage this mystery of tainly more palatable, and rather more beauty is dissolved, and we see noapplauded. For four successive even- thing but two girls in brown jerkins, ings Giovanni thus struggled on his and salmon coloured kirtles. It would luckless career, amidst much opposi- be useless to trace the plot scene by tion, and tumult till on Saturday De- scene. The principal features of the cmber 29th, he was finally kicked out original story are adopted with suffioi Ireland; and this most mclodious of cient fidelity, though omitting all inlibertines compelled to resign all his troduction of the sage Triptolemus conquests, black, brown, and fair, nuns, and bis economical sister; as the peasants, and princesses, and exit from compilers, Mr. Dimond, and the HoHibernia to returu no more. In vain nourable George Lamb, seem to have the trumpets brayed, the drums rolled, overlooked the chief charm of the Roand the chorus swelled ;-In vain our mance, and that which ought to have friend Elliston looked Kingly and constituted the strength of the Drama. condescending, the defiance of the en- The popularity of the mysterious Auraged Pit was not to be soothed by thor of the Scottish novels is eminently either smiles or music; and the wor- sustained by the bustle and melo-drathy manager, e'en in his robes of roy- matic variety of his incidents; while alty, was bongré, malgré, forced to the Dramatists in their determination make a speech, and declare Giovanni's to make their work serious, have omitfinal withdrawal: we should be happy ted inany of the stirring circumstances to add from London as well as Ireland. that make the life of melo-drame, and In our opinion, the chief error existed given us gravity, where it would have in encreasing the importance of this been far more profitable to have innonsense so far as to make it a first troduced action. In such a compilapicce: as most of the scenery, and tion, they ought to have made prize of decorations; and much of the music all the striking incidents, and have and acting were of a very superior left partiogs and reconciliations; madescription, but the materiel upon ternal agonies, and that preposterous which they were exhausted, was very display, the meeting of the old lovers, far from being worthy of such an ex- Norna and Mertoun, to the imaginapenditure. Madame Vestris and Miss tion. To mention but a few of those, Copeland, and Harley and Fitzwilliam they might have given us the whale deserved every praise for their perfor- hunt, an exhibition of modern machimance; and with all our objections to nery wbich would have had all the Giovanni as an hero on either side of the attraction of singularity and nochannel, we think he was on this occa- velty. We should have seen the march sion rather barshly treated, and an illi- of Cleveland to the Town-house at beral and systematic opposition formed Kirkwall, with the mob kept at bay, against the interests of the Theatre. and the bold defiance of thu rovers,

JAN. 15. To night was produced a while the Kirkwall fair, and the capture new serious musical play, founded of Magnus Troil's sloop, would have upon, and called " The Pirate," which, given vividness and variety to the as we have been extremely lavish ia dramà. After the destruction of the

66

Pirate's ship the Fortune's Favourite 'provement in ber whole performance : by the Halcyon Frigate, the piece con- and notwithstanding our maug critical cludes with explanations and disco- colleagues appear to feel it one neces. veries ; temporary trouble and lasting sary mark of impartiality not only to happiness. of the performers, we differ from each other, but occasioncan conscientiously praise Cooper, ally also from themselves, we uoPenley and Harley, as Cleveland, hesitatingly repeat our opinion, that Merdaunt, and Jack Bunce ; and Mrs. her future fame depends almost enWest and Madame Vestris were ener. tirely upon herself.' Miss Edmiston getic and spirited as Norna and Minna. has more recently appeared in the of the remainder, the less we say, the character of Cordelia, in King more they should thank us. Munden Lear," and Belvidera, in “ Venice was Bryce Snaelsfoot for two nights Preserved ;" both of which perforinonly, and we therefore omit him altoge- ances we conceive to have been Atill ther, the more especially as his suc- more confirmatory of our favourable cessor, Fitzwilliam, left us little to re- opinion, as being more adapted to her gret. Pope, as the elder Mertoun, talents; and in all probability more was most whining, doleful, and congenial to her taste. Of these, Jackadaisical; for Claude Halcro, the Cordelia was much the best; and most amusing of prosing poets, the mannerism and imitation are the compilers had done so little, that Mr. Scylla and Charybdis wbich we earGattie did nothing, and all the rest, nestly recommend her most studiously Smith's Captain Goffe excepted, which to guard against. Kean's King Lear, was very good, -we charitably pass bigbly as it has been always euloover. Most of the scenery was pic- gised, is, we think, much improved turesque, and the interior of the Udal- since we last witnessed it's repreler's house and the ruined Church- sentation, and it may now most deyard were specimens of a superior or- servedly be ranked as inimitable by der. Much of the music was sufficiently any performer of our times. The cha. good for it's purposes, but one of the racter of Jaffier is, however, throughairs, " She who walks,"attributed in the out so unsuitable to the style and tact Opera Book to Mr.T. Cooke, being in of Mr. Kean, that the only excuse for reality the composition of Winter, in his appearance in it is, that his popuhis "Ratto di Proserpina," naturally larity compels his appearance in throws some slur upon the authenti- every Tragedy; though as the ex. city of the others. The house was tole- pression of tenderness and irresolurably full, and the piece succeded, tion are not his forte, his reputation is notwithstanding some opposition, and in jeopardy by attempting them. Mr. We fear some partizanship, to it's s pre

Cooper's Pierre was honourable to judice.

his rising fame, and all else was too Since our last notice of Miss Edmis- nearly like what we are in the habit of ton, that lady has again appeared as seeing on every visit, to require noLady Macbeth, with very evident im- tice, or to demand criticism.

PERFORMANCES.

1828. Dec. 9. Giovanni in Ireland-Monsieur Tonson Jan. 9. Macheth-Review. 69. Ditto Spectre Bridegroom.

10. Secrets worth Knowing-Coronation 96. Ditto Who's Whr-Romp.

Monsieur Tonson. 29. Ditto Prisoner at Large- Ditto.

11. Othello- No Song No Supper. 31. Busy Body--Coronation-Day after the 12. Secrets worth Knowing-Review, Wedding.

14. Macbeth-Ditto. 1888,

15. Pirale-Modern Antiques. 1. Dramatist - Coronation - Giovanni in 16. Ditto-Prisoner at Large. London,

17. Ditto-Three Weeks after Marriage 8. Secrets worth Knowing-Coronation

Coronation.
Frightened to Death.

18. Macbeth-Review,
3. Basy Body--Coronation-Portune's Frolic. 19. Pirate-Ditto.
4. Jev-Ditto Giovanni in London.

21. King Lear-Ditto.
5. Secrets worth Knowing-Ditto-Modern 22. Pirate-Three Weeks after Marsiage-
Antiques.

Children in the Wood. 7. King Richard the Third-Devil to Pay.

93. Ditto-Three and the Deuce. 8. Secrets worth Knowing-Coronation Gio. 24. Venice Preserved-Giovanni in London. vaani in London.

85, King Lear-Curonation.

COVENT GARDEN. Dec. 26. Christmas has been so harbinger of dramatic pageantry and Jong and so invariably considered the splendour, that they bave now become

almost as necessary requisites to our cess All Fair, (Miss E. Dennett) annual festivity as mince pies and tur- daughter of the Queen of Golconda, key : even our critical austerity is who has bestowed her heart on the relaxed in their contemplation, and young King of the Gold Mines, we hail the gorgeous display of ma- (Ellar). The Queen, her mother, is gic palaces, and enchanted bowers, induced, however, by the powerful with all the proper feelings of delight threats of Mother Bunch, to forego and wonder. Our theatres, great and her promise, and consents that the small, at this season, unite in asto Princess shall wed the Yellow Dwarf. nishing us; and we have in con- The disconsolate All Fair is so oversequence this year been treated by whelmed with the horror of wedding "the Coburg with that surpassing no- with this yellow imp, that she undervelty, a Looking-glass Curtain ! thus takes the dangerous task of seeking proving, that the manager has at last out the fairy, and imploring her to found out how to produce something abandon her resolution; when, in which his audience can reflect upon. order to protect her from the fury of --" Veluti in Speculum” is, therefore, the lions of the desart, she provides now no longer a dramatic adage, but a herself with a cake of millet seed, to dramatic truism; though, until gen- charm away their rage. Her plan tlemen shave themselves in the pit, is, however, discovered by the art of or ladies adjust their curls in the side- Mother Bunch ; her cake is seized, boxes, we cannot discern even an ap- and she is caught by the Yellow Dwarf proach to utility in this largest of at the foot of the orange tree, where all looking-glasses, weighing five tons! he makes her promise to become his ---As should the experiment ever be bride, and fixes a ring on her finger, repeated,-- peculiar, we believe, to the when she is transported to her own Coburg,--ofchimney-sweepers compli- chamber, dressed in her wedding menting the Pit company with the re- garments, to the great distress of the lics of their soot-bags from the Gallery, whole Court of Golconda. The young the pleasure will not be encreased by King, however, arrives, and claims beholding the operation in the “Lucid her hand; the Queen, in despite of sea of glass” wbich displays the goodly Mother Bunch, orders the ceremony visitors reflected on it's surface. It is to be performed, when the fairy only justice, however, to the Proprietor bursts among them to prevent the to state, that this brittle piece of use- marriage; the Yellow Duarf, mounted jessucss is peculiarly costly and mag- on a large Spanish Cat, tights with nificent; and certainly deserves a much the king of the Gold Mines, but better announcement than the muti- being unequal to encounter such a lated Englis!ı, and bad grammar, of Knight, makes his escape with the the Cobury Play-bills. But we must Princess, and carries her to his magic leave disquisition for description, and castle of polished steel; Mother Bunch, proceed to business :

enraged at his cowardice, bestows on That glory of a Covent Garden Win- the King of the Gold Mines a diater, the Pantomime, was produced mond sword, that will vanquish all this evening, and was entitled “ Har- who oppose him, but if ever he lequin und Mother. Bunch; or, the lets it quit his hand she will become Yellow Duarf. This house has pos- his foe.' The King overcomes the sessed an old and uncontested repu- giant of the castle and recovers the tation for fairy palaces and agile Princess, at the ecstatic sight of whom Pantaloons, for the transformations of he lets fall the sword; when Mother joint-stools and wheelbarrows, and to Bunch for his neglect compels bim to make a mighty consummation of all become the motley hero, Harlequin ; pleasant absurditics, for Grimaldi! and the Princess, Colombine. The But rivalry seems necessary to ex- other characters of Queen, Guinca cellence in all things, and the bimble Pig, and Dwurf, are changed to Panpretensions of " Don Giovanni,” have ialoon, Harlequin's Lacquey, and Cloun; bad a perilous effect on the brilliancy and so commences the usual escapes, even of “ Mother Bunch," the pro- changes, transformations, and whims gramme of which was as follows: of a Harlequin Pantomime."

" The Yellow Duarf, (Grimaldi,) The first scene, the Exterior of the one of the Genii tribe on the coast of Palace of the Gold Mines, Goleonda, is enamoured of the Prin- handsome indescribable façade, where

the Monarch appeared surrounded by and a basket of fowls ' turned into his Court, and some ceremonies, pro- a poulterer's shop, was perhaps the bably habitual to Ashantee and other best. The dearth of incident was but opulent dwellings of savagery, took feebly compensated by the exhausted piace before his Majesty. This was drollery of John Gilpin, who rode followed by a View of the Desart, an about, lost his wig, and lost his seat, exhibition of perfect dreariness; while till the house almost lost their pa. tbe Princess's bedchamber was a most tience, when the freak was concluded showy compilation of rich walls, erim- by his bolting, head first, into a chinason silk and gold drapery, and her shop. For splendid scenery, we recolNuptial Hall still more wealthy in lect no superior to this Pantomime ; tinsel. The stage next exhibited a but for the more requisite ingredients succession of walls and battlements of wbim, ingenuity, and incident, we of a dingy blue by moonlight, called a remember many infinitely more amuscastle of polished steel; the design of ing. It has, however, been repeated to which was clever; but the colouring crowded audiences, with unbounded much more like slate than steel. applause, ever since it's first producHere a combat with a giant took tion; and continues to delight chilplace, in wbich the great man, as of dren of all sizes with nearly it's oriold, was slain by instalments, an arm ginal attractions. was lopt off and then a head; when the JAN. 7. Miss Stephens's first apremainder of his person made a goodly pearance for the season took place retreat through the stage. The trans- this evening, as Polly, in “ The formation of the lovers and rivals Beggar's Opera," in which Miss Halnext occurred, and with it the romance lande made her bow for a first time vanished, for the rest was real life, as Captain Macheath. Of our vocal Billingegate, Blackheath, and other favourite, Miss S. we need only say, solidities of existence within the grasp that she was received by a crowded of cockney recollections. Harlequin and audience with the most cheering welColombine find a junk in the harbour come, and never appeared to greater of Golconda, which is smitten by the advantage, nor sang more sweetly: resistless wand into an English ship, Most of her songs were encored, and the lovers reached Margate. The her execution throughout seemed, if view of this classic part of London possible, improved. We have so often recreation, the Ostia of Cheapside, is declaimed against the equally ununlucky, for the resemblance was feminine and ungraceful assumption scarcely discernible. A pile of casks of male attire by ladies, more espeon the pier is suddenly converted into cially in characters which from their the Eclipse steam-boat, a very hand- very nature are efficient only when some structure; after which Grimaldi performed by gentlemen, that it is exerted his ingenuity, by seizing a bath- scarcely requisite to repeat our obing tub, and equipping it with a bar- jections. Miss Hallande played Macber's pole, a gown as a sail, a bonnet heath as well as Jadies usually do, as a pennant, and a cleaver as a helm, and strutted, and sang, and vapoured, steered away wiih great speed and with much more spirit than she usually pleasantry. A succession of scenes does as a lady ; still we were not ia Cheapside, Stanford Hill, the Bell at pleased, several of the songs are beEdmouto, the Rotunda of the Bank of yond the compass of her voice; and England, then delighted or wearied the ihough much applauded, it was audience as it might happen, till the attempt, and not the deed,' which grand close, the Palace of the King was thus honoured. Mrs. Liston of the Gold Mines, a gorgeous de- sings admirably as Lucy, but Mrs. velopement of the whole strength of C. Kemble and Miss Kelly are the gold pillars, gold dresses, and a gold only actresses of that termagant. cascade. This Pantomime is not the JAN, 24. The character of Juliet, best that we have seen from the this evening introduced another fair anthorship that has indulged the debutante to a London audience, in children of all sizes with such ancient the person of Miss Fanny Brunton, pleasantries, for the tricks are of no sister to the late comic heroine of great variety, and still less of any Covent Garden, and a niece of Lady striking novelty. But few clever me- Craven: circumstances which were chanical inventions were exhibited ; doubtless most powerfully advantagem