drama entitled Conrad the Usurper.' Go on and Mr. G. Lewis as Sir Hugh Evans, were equally excel. prosper. !

-1

BRISTOL THEATRE ROYAL.-A grand amateur per. formance took place on Monday evening. when Mr. George Lewis's celebrated romance The Castle Syectre' was performed; Farl Osmond was ably sus tained by Mr. Powell, who has on former occasions delighted the Bristol audience with his performance of 'Shylock,'' Othello,' Falstaff,' &c. We were much pleased with the manner in which Earl Reginald was personated. Kenrick was acted with great spirit. Hassan was nobly and eloquently performed. The deep pathos of his manner when speaking of being torn from his wife and children, at once thrilled through our hearts, and left an impression which will not soon be eradicated. Mr Angel pleased very much by his humorous acting. We never saw Miss Tyrer to such advantage as in Lady Angela. The Alice of Mrs. W. H. Angel was acted in her usual style, which could not fail to please her old friends the Bristolians. We were much disappointed with Earl Percy his not knowing his part, standing like a post, and speaking as though his mouth was full of parch'd peas. At the conclusion they were called before the curtain to receive the congratulations of a numerous audience. Two farces concluded the performance.

·

Signor Perugini's concert took place at the Victoria Rooms, on Wednesday last, but was we are sorry to say indifferently attended; this circumstance is probably to be attributed to some uncertainty which prevailed as to the day on which it would come off, a change from the original intention having taken place, Madame Castellan was in splendid voice, and sang the pieces allotted to her with her wonted taste and brilliancy. She was rapturously encored in Mozart's La ci darem' with Signor Carradi Setti, also in Ah non credea from Somnambula which latter she gave in a charming and expressive manner, and displayed her high attain ments by presenting the audience upon the repetition with some new and difficult cadences. Mdlle. Corbair is a chaste and beautiful singer and acquitted herself admirably in several duets and concerted pieces. Signor Perugini is an effective bass singer, he was particularly happy in the dulcimara part of the Love Spell duet. Signor Corradi Setti is most undoubtedly a singer of high talent, but he did not come up to the expectations we had been led to form of him. Signor R. Costa is but a moderate tenor, but formed an agreeable aid to the concerted music. M. Jacques the eminent French Pianist played in a brilliant manner a trio by Hummel, in which the Messrs. Salmon of Bath supported the Violin and Violoncello parts. The Concert as a whole gave great satisfaction to all present,

BIRMINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL. [Lessee Mr. H. Simpson.]-The second amateur performance, in ad of the fund for the endowment of a curatorship for Shakspeare's house, came off on last Tuesday. On the first occasion we had the pleasure of witnessing Every Man in his Humour,' but now the play selected was The Merry Wives of Windsor,' which served well to elicit the various talents of the respective performers. We cannot refrain from noticing Charles Dickens as Justice Shallow, and Foster as the Jealous Ford. Mr. Foster has struck out almost a new character in Ford, and Charles Dickens represents the old Justice to the life. Mr. Mark Lemon as Falstaff, Mr. Leech as Slender, and Mr. G. Cruikshank as Pistol,

lent. Mrs. Cowden Clarke was the only lady amateur, and the talented authoress of the Concordance showed as Nym would say, "the humour" of Mrs. Quickly. Mr. Romer as Fenton, and Miss Romer as Ann Page, Misses Montague and Kenworthy as the 11erry Wives, rendered efficient assistance, Miss Romer sang one song with her usual sweetness. The after-pieces were 'Love, Law, and Physic,' and 'Past Two in the Moraing.' The house was crowded, every availing seat in the pit and boxes being secured early in the day, and the gallery was very full, though not so crowded as the other parts. The audience were highly respectable.

CARLISLE THEATRE. (Lessee Mr. J. Daly).— This theatre has been well attended during the past week; the pieces have been She Stoops to Conquer,' 'Married Life,' 'Heir at Law,' and The Windmill.' Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Alfred Davis, and Mr. John Chester, have all appeared to great advantage.

DUBLIN THEATRE ROYAL. [Lessee Mr. Calcraft]. -The engagement of the operatic troupe is now at an end; they commenced on Whit-sun Monday and terminated on Saturday the 1st inst. During their stay here some pleasing operas have been produc d but, we regret to say, the house has not been so well attended as might have been wished. The principal artistes consist of Miss Poole, Mr. D. W. King, Mr. H. Corri and Mr. T. S. Atkins; and amongst the most successful productions we may mention,- La Sen nambula,' Haydee,'' Bondman,' Beggar's Opera,' and The Daughter of the Regiment.' In the latter piece Miss Poole appeared to great advantage; she gave the 'Rataplan' in an admirable style, and her singing lesson scene was exceedingly clever. She appears to have gained a complete mastery over the drum ; in fact it has stamped her as a great favourite in the Dublin musical world. As we have before intimated the last performance took place on last Saturday; on that occasion Miss Poole appealed to her friends, and the entertainments selected were the means of securing for the fair beneficiary a bumper. We shall, probably, give a review of the two past seasons at this theatre in

our next.

DUNDEE THEATRE ROYAL (Lessee, Mr. J. W. Anson.)-This establishment closed on Monday last and we trust the season has been a remunerative one it has if good houses will ensure one. Mr. Anson has gained for himself here a great name as a manager from his good generalship, and we hope he may be long among us to reap the reward of his exertions.

EDINBURGH ADELPHI THEATRE. [Leseee Mr. W. H. Murray].-This elegant little theatre opened for the season on Saturday the 1st, withļa most power< ful company. Mr. Hudson is the star; and the company consists of Messrs. Webster (the dancer), James Bennett, Cooper, Whyndam, Younge, Lloyd Murray, Eburne, Josephs, Vaudrey, C. Lloyds, S Lake, and Mr. Henry; Mesdames Nicol, Parker, Rosa Henry, Vivash, Les Soeurs Saint Louin, Josephs, and W. H. Eburne, and the Misses Coveny. The opening pieces were "Born to Good Luck," "Raising the Wind," and "His Last Legs." Queen" was sung during the evening which meeting God Save the with some opposition was applauded by her Majesty's loyal subjects with great vehemence; the solos were sung by Miss Coveny, Miss H. Coveny and Mr. W. H. Eburne.

66

HUDDERSFIELD THEATRE. (Lessee Mr. John Mosley). The production of the Life and Death of Napoleon' for the benefit of Mr. Preston, whose faithful portraiture of the exiled Emperor, gained him the appellation of 'The Napoleon of Manchester,' brought

an excellent house and the piece has been played every evening since, during the past week, in the second act of this drama Mr. Mosley and Mr. Coefield told particularly effective as Corporal Steadfast and Molly Malony the latter gentleman's making up' for the character was excellent. On Monday, July 3d, the clever little actress Miss Kirk took her benefit, when we were glad to see the most fashionable house of the season.

'Money' and 'The Cabin Boy' were perform. ed in excellent style, the present is the last week of the

season.

LEEDS THEATRE.-Before saying a word upon other matters, we have to announce, with the utmost plea sure, that Mr. Pritchard, the lessee, is rapidly recovering from the severe facial injury he received on Wednesday se'nnight, from the sword of Mr. Macready, whilst playing 'Macbeth.' Indeed, he is so far advanced towards convalescence, that he plays Rob Roy' on Monday. On Tuesday he takes his benefit the mere announcement of which, we feel assured, will be sufficient to secure an overflowing audience. Everything combines to require this from the lovers of the drama resident in Leeds: his talents as an actor, conduct as a gentleman, and the spirited, most liberal, and zealous manner in which he caters for the amusement of his patrons-demand it. On Monday evening, Mr. Holmes took his benefit, the performances being the 'School of Reform' and Raby Rattler.' In the former Mr. Lysander S. Thompson, the well known and inim、 itable delineator of Yorkshire characters, played Tyke in a style which elicited reiterated bursts of applause and procured a call for him before the curtain at the play. Mr. Holmes played Lord Avondale extremely well; and indeed the whole play went off with great spirit. The house was a good, though not a full, one. Two or three new pieces have been produced during the week and were well received. The theatre, we perceive, closes on Wednesday next, with Miss Adeline Lonsdale, the clever danseuse's benefit, on which occasion will be performed The Heir at Law,' and "The Pilot.' Mr. L. S. Thompson sustains the parts of Zekiel Homespun, and Long Tom Coffin."The performances will be under the patronage of the Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry, officers, of Leeds. The London Times, speaking of Mr. L. S. Thompson's parformances at the Olympic, says: As the deline ator of rustic characters, he stands alone; the stage has not his equal. He is as unrivalled in this particular walk of the drama, as Mr. Macready is in the highest rank of tragely. Nothing can surpass the excellence of both his Tyke and his Žekiel Homespun.'

NEWCASTLE AND POTTERY THEATRE ROYAL The present company, under the management of Mr. Walton, has been received with considerable encou ragement. Mr. Walton is a talented comedian, and Mrs. Walton is undoubtedly equal to the principal characters she has sustained. Mr. E. Whyte is clever and'experienced, his Master Walter in the Hunchback' was very superior-indeed, has been seldom surpassed. Mr. Bathurst is one of the most valuable members of the company, possessing more than ordinary personal advantages. with careful study and quick personation of character. Last evening, the performances were patronised by Major Kidd and the other officers of the 87th Fusileers, now stationed in the district.

OXFORD.-A full rehearsal took place last Monday, Haydn's "Creation" will be performed on Tuesday, a miscellaneous concert on Wednesday, and Handel's "Messiah" on Thursday morning. The performances will take place in the theatre (not a playhouse) which has been prepared for the occasion. Principal vocalists -Madame Tadolini and Mdlle. Schwartz; Misses Birch, Lockey, and Emma Lucombe; Messrs. Sims

Reeves, Lockey, Benson, H. Phillips, and Signor Lablache. Conductor, Sir Henry Bishop; principal violin, Mr. H. Blagrove.

SHEFFIELD ADelphi Theatre ROYAM. (Lessee, Mr. Richard Cockrill.)-This spirited manager opened this theatre on Monday June the 26th, with the celebrated Van Amburgh and his trained animals. He appears for three nights more in the ensuing week, after which he proceeds to Birminghsm to open on the J0th inst. We are happy to see an old favourite of his favourite characters in the School of Reform,' announced, Lysander Thompson, who appears in two and Fortune's Frolic,' from what we have already he will be well supported, as it is full and very efficient, seen of the company we have every reason to believe consisting of Mesdames Chadwick, Terry, Harcourt, Glenville, Hill, and Rimbly. Messrs. Falconer, Wade, Ellerton, Chadwick, Terry, Frimbly, Frederics, Gunny, Hill, Jameson, Hudson, and Mr. Cockrill, whose comic capabilities are peculiarly eccentric and original he is a great favourite with the public at Sheffield, and we wish him every success.

Sr. ANDREW'S [Lessee Mr. J. Anson]-The theatre here opened last Friday very successfully. We noticed the leading families of the city present. The company is very numerous and very excellent, and from the satisfaction Mr. Anson gave last year, we doubt not of his success. We are crowded with visitors.

COVENT GARDEN.

Donizetti's beautiful and impressive opera La Favorita,' was performed at this theatre, 'by special desire.' Her Majesty and the Prince Consort were fashionable audience were attracted by the excellent present on the occasion, and a crowded as well as most programme of the evening. The only novelty, howof M. Massol, of the Paris Academie Royale de ever, in the cast of the opera, was the first appearance Musique, in the character of Alphonso, which was previously filled by Carradi Setti. This was an interesting as well as desirable change. The reputation which M. Massol has obtained, imparted great interest to his debut on the boards of the Royal Italian Opera, He is an important addition to a company already sins gularly strong, and combining an amazing variety of first rate musical talent and vocal celebrities. His voice is more remarkable for sweetness and roundness than for power though by no means deficient in the latter respect.

His style and taste are of the best orpresent occasion, despite the anxiety under which he der, and were displayed to great advantage on the obviously laboured. Notwithstanding this, however, he was exceedingly successful, and gave general and great satisfaction by the artistic and accomplished manner in which he sang the music allotted to him, It will be more agreeable to hear M, Massol in a cha. racter which will afford him a fairer opportunity of tage. Grisi was altogether excellent as Leonora, and showing his distinguished vocal abilities to more advan her performance, as well as singing, was throughou t remarkably effective. She deseruedly and constantly, elicited the most ardent plaudits, and was honoured, at the conclusion, with a, beautiful shower of 'floral in somewhat weak voice, but he rallied as he advanced, offerings, Mario was, in the earlier part of the opera, tainments terminated with the divertissement of Flora and was, subsequently, truly admirable, The enteret Zephyr,' from the ballet of Manon Lescaut.' Mdlle, Lucile Grahn again appeared therein with great

success

VAUXHALL GARDENS.
Despite the unsettled state of the weather, these

gardens have been well attended during the past week The following distinguished members of the haut-ton visited the "royal property on Thursday evening: Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Viscount Emelyn, Earl and Countess of Bruce, Earl of Shelburne, Countess of Dnnmore, Count de Neuskell, the Hon. George and Lady C. Duncombe, the Hon. Thomas and Lady Emma Vesey, Sir Edward and Lady Butler, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Trelawney, Hon. Charles Butler and family, Hon. John Buller, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl of Munster, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Wrottesley.

SURREY GARDENS.

Her

These delightful gardens were honoured on Tuesday, by a visit from Her Majesty, who was accompanied on the occasion by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred, Col. Bouverie and suite were in attendance, on the royal party. Majesty was conducted through the establishment by Mr. Tyler, the proprietor, to whom the Queen was graciously pleased to express her approbation of the exhibition. The view of Rome, obtained the especial notice of her Majesty, and the Prince Consort, and the youthful Prince's were much pleased with the aried attractions of the menagarie tigress and the dog the same cage exciting their marked attention.

in

AMERICAN CORRESPONDENCE. [Our readers will perceive by the following letter from our correspondent that tidings of the foreign invasion at Drury Lane have reached the United States.-ED.] New York, June 20, 1848.

So, the doors of Old Drury are about to be opened for the admittance of a troupe of Foreign artistes;this intelligence I derive from an advertisement which appears in the London newspapers just received in this city. My informant says:-" Drury Lane.-On Wednesday next, June 7th, the Theatre Historique of Paris will commence its representations with the first part of "Monte Christo," a grand drama in five acts and eleven tableaux, by M. M. Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Magnet." Surely the English public will not disgrace the "great establishment" by allowing such proceedings to take place on the boards where the late Edmund Kean, the Kembles, Henderson, and Miss O'Neil, have won "golden opinions." The result is anxiously looked for here, but in the mean time it is to be regreted that''native talent" should be so far neglected as to find Old Drury turned into an asylum for Wild beast, French eqestrians, and a French corps drama ique. But enough of this, let us now look to what has transpired at our theatres during the past ten days.

99 66

and the whole concluded with "The Hunter of the
Alps." His exertions secured for him a bumper.
Last night the proceeds of the house were for the be-
nefit of that charming actress, Miss Fanny Wallack.
A repetition of "Fashion" and "A Day after the
Wedding" comprised the bill of fare, and was the
Mr.
means of drawing an overflowing assemblage.
Niblo is progressing favourably at his theatre near the
Broadway formerly called the Astor-place opera house.
The entertainments put forth by him consist of ballet,
supported by the Viennoise Children, and light pieces
in which Messrs. Walcot, and Chippindale, and Mes-
dames Moeder, and Kate Horn, appear. Some of the
productions are "Handsome Husband,"
later
"Miseries of Human Life,"
"Thumping Legacy,'
Mr. Scott has been re-engaged
and "Uncle Foozle."
at the Bowery Theatre; he re-appeared last night in
"The Feudal Times" was produced for the first time
at this theatre. The piece was well put upon the stage
and met with a warm reception; it was cast thus:-
Walter Cochrane, Mr. Scott: Lord Angus, Mr.
Stephens: King James III, Mr. Clark: Queen Mar-
garet, Mrs. Jordan: Margaret Randolph, Mrs. Phil-
lips. There is a clever actress now playing at the
Bowery; I allude to Miss Mary Taylor who has estab
lished herself a great favourite here. The Castle
Garden has been thrown open for dramatic perform-
ances under the managing direction of Mr Holland
who is an excellent comedian, at this establishment
the Lycenm pieces are all the attraction.

MISCELLANEA:

Drury-lane opens on Monday the 17th with the tragedy of Antigones,' a new interlude, and a grand military spectacle, under the management of Mr. Fox Cooper, with every prospect of success,

Mr. G. V. BROOKE is about to proceed to America and Mr. Anderson will shortly return from the New World.

Miss Woolgar is still indisposed; and James Wallack is not likely to appear on the stage for some time to come.

The extensive alterations and improvements at the Theatre Royal Sadler's Wells are progressing rapidly under the personal superintendence of Mr. Greenwood. We are told that the house will presenc quite a new and elegant interior, with increased accommodation for a numerous audience. From the extent of the alterations, it is not expected the house will re-open until he latter end of October or beginning of November.:

Mr. Leigh Murray is to be the stage manager at the Olympic, and Mrs. Brougham the leading actress.

The Adelphi Company goes to the Haymarket, i the course of a fortnight, and Wright will appear in several of Lison's favourite characters.

The Lyceum will remain open until the eud of this month. On dit that Mr. and Mrs. Keeley and Mr. Strutt are likely to become the lessees of one of our metropoliton theatres.

ADVERTISEMENTS,

It is really delightful to witness the brilliant attendance at the Broadway Theatre night after night. The cause of this can easily be unravelled,-in the first place better entertainments could not be provided; and again the audience are treated with the greatest❘ civility from all parties engaged by the management before the curtain. The season at this house is now drawing near a close, and when all accounts are finally settled the affair will turn out a profitable one. Since Mr, Anderson made his exit from the establishment, THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.- The the regulars' have worked well, and and have been rewarded by the very warm applause of the audience. Several benefits have taken place at the house in question lately; on the 15th, Mr. George Vandenhoff appealed to the public, when the comedy of "Town and Country" and "The Liar" attracted a full house. THEATRICAL AGENCY.-E. H. Tarnour, in reThe night of the 17th was set apart for the benefit of Mr. Blake, the stage manager; Mrs. Mowatt's popular lady called "Fashion" [commenced the performances

Legitimate Drama-This THEATRE having been engaged for a term, will be OPENED for the RESTORATION of the BRITISH DRAMA, and the employment of native talent, on Monday, July 17, and conseontive nights, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, of acknowledged celebrity, desirous of TREATING with the management, are requested to forward their communications to the lessee, care of E T. Smith, Esq. acting manager, 92, New Bond-street.

turning his tha nks for the favours he has received during the last twenty-five years. respectfully informs Managers, and Members of the Theatrical Professi on his office is as [beretofore, at 27, Bow-stress, Covent Garden

ALL COMMUNICADS
DRESSED TO 6, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
OBLIGE US BY
CORRESPONDENTS WILL GREATLY
IN
AS EARLY
WARDING TARIR COMMUNICATIONS
WEEK AS POSSIBLK.

AD

FOR-
THE

W. S. SMITH.-A memoir appeared of Madame Thillon in No. 4, but is at present out of print.

8. 8. We never answer questions relative to the merits of different actors or actresses to decide disputes, as it is in many instances quite a matter of taste.

CONSTANT SUBSCRIBERA portrait and memoir of the gentleman will appear shortly.

J. C. R. will be attended to in our next.

W. MAJOR. We will announce it when it is ready.
X. Too late for insertion this week.

6

T. C. (Manchester)-We are much obliged for your communication; it is too late this week, it must not be later than Tuesday.

AN AMATEUR-Send us your address and we will write to you p-por call at the Office.

THEATRICAL TIMES.

SATURDAY, JULY 8th, 1848.

THE LEGITIMATE DRAMA AT DRURY LANE.

A few weeks since we briefly sketched out our views of what might be done with Drury Lane Theatre, stating the probable members to constitute a company, and the style of entertainment we deemed suitable. We had then no idea of an English company assembling there, still less that its probable plans would be so consonant with those expressed by ourselves.

Now, although we do not pretend to much knowledge behind the scenes of this theatre hitherto, (inasmuch as our partiality for bad poetry and ill-organised orchestras, and our hatred for the Mysterles of Paris' order of pieces is as great as for the blackguard London imitations of the latter, and as our partiality for horses extends only to riding them across the country in a natural way, or at all events seeing them with a good display of bad actors, bad music, tin foil, and red fire at Astley's) still we believe that the Tragedy company selected for this house will be much what we supposed, and the management is perhaps right in keeping to tragedy and melo-drama

for the commencement.

It appears that Vandenhoff and his accomplished daughter, Brooke, Ryder, G. Bennett, G. Vining, and others whom we mentioned are engaged, and if the subordinate parts be proportionately well filled, there can be little doubt that we shall yet see some 'casts' befitting the regular drama of old Drury.

Nevertheless, we should like some clearer statements as to the probable system of management. The announcement puts forth a New Tragedy' as accepted,' while report hovers between Antigone" which is good, but well worn, and Don Carlos,' which is neither. This sort of novelty will never do. If her Majesty is to pay weekly, nay monthly visits to the theatre, she deserves as good an entertainment as her subjects, and surely neither of the above pieces have claims of novelty to support them.

A military spectacle by Fox Cooper, is mentioned as part of the entertainment. This is a good speculation for half price, but we should like a good melodrama better, or else a good fairy burlesque. The tastes of the public must be consulted, and not those of certain dreary members of the D. A. S., who never pay for their

own places, and whose plays nobody pays to listen to, and so far all is right. Let us suggest to the management the propriety of furnishing a splendid mis-en-scene worthy of the theatre and the pieces, and not a shabby incongruous heap of old stock.' If Antigone' be produced, let a greater area of stage be given than at Covent Garden, and let the building be plain marble, in accordance with the Theatre of Bacchus, not painted in party-coloured compartments.

Greater equability of salary is mentioned as an object with the present management, and we think rightly, the star system' is a bugbear to theatrical matters, and cannot be too soon abolished. If we can see the actors above mentioned appear together, with others of corresponding merit, and if a lively attraction is kept up in the after pieces; furthermore if novelty' be made the aim, and audiences not driven away by the tedious repetition of dull pieces, hacknied by fre quent use, we doubt not that the National theatre will once more be a real fact in Dramatic History. OXONIENSIS.

THE INTELLECTUAL DRAMA.`

It was on the Second of January, 1845, that the Antigone' was first produced before an English audience, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. The audience was a very mixed one, combining not only classical scholars, but unclassical ones; musical critics and musical pretenders; parties of much learning, others of less, and others of none at all. But the fame of the revival of the tragedy of foreign lands had, alike, reached all, and all seemed anxious and expect ant. This very disposition itself formed a slight drawback on the possibility of this whole audience being 'perfectly' satisfied, and of one mind. The elements for entire unanimity were not in amalgamation. There were modern 'Orpheuses' abiding in godlike self-sufficiency, the evolution of the subordinate accompaniments of the tra gedy, and prepared from a perfect love' of their art, to sacrifice the play itself, Sophocles; Tieck, the king of Prussia, and the Vandenhoff's into the bargain-in case the music did not flow to their liking; or worse even than that, provided the chorus, from not having sufficiently rehearsed and mastered it, were guilty of the unpardonable sin of singing out of tune. We are now in little typing out, as far as in us lies, some of the resis tance, and the either frivolus, or inadequate motives for it, which the Antigone' encountered on its first representation, and which nothing but the superb and magnificent acting of Mr. Vandenboff and the perfectly enchanting impersonation of his daughter, saved from summary, though in no respect, deserved extinction on the spot. Supposing a chorus to be somewhat out of tune on the first singing or chaunting of some very difficult music, to be a trifle in discord, in lieu of entirely in concord-is no respect to be had to the music itself? are we to lose Mendlessohn's

inspired strains, because on first hearing, they are somewhat mistreated and mamed? The princi ple of the attempt we witnessed, and resented too, at the time and place. To crush Antigone' on account of the first night's imperfection of the