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Ko, -44#i October 16, 1858.] THE L E A P...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Theatres And Public Entertain-. . Ments....
concludes with her glimmering hope that the lunatic may be induced by drinking of it to rid her ot the danger she is in while he lives . The third act and scene are laid in a corridor of the Frankfort dead-house . A lengthy explanation has here to be given—which among inhabitants of the town would have been a disgusting superfluity—of the custom of bringing all dead bodies to this Morgue that the fact ot death anay be established . In each coll down that long gallery is supposed to be a corpse , and -attached to * a ch a cord connected with a bell and dial , ihe -slightest movement after death would tlierefore give a , signal . Here we have a repulsive carouse between the drunken watchman and JIans Grimm , who will
not believe in his master ' s death . Madame Bergmann and Keller are there too , from different and obvious motives ; but the excitement of her position and the frightful attitude of the drunken maniac are too much for the former—she faints and calls for drink . The deadhouse watchman ' s wine is handy , and the " red vial" is produced by Hans Grimm , who demoniacally empties its contents into her glass . She returns to consciousness just long enough to find that the fate she had designed for Rodenberg had a-ecoiled upon herself . As the death chill comes over her she sees the hand of the dial turn slowly round . This is sufficient proof that Rodenberg lives , and the < : urtain conies down upon her agony and the triumph
of Hans . None who have seen this play , and few who have read the above summary , will deny the author ' s power ; but , for all that , the unbiasedgroundlings have pretty well settled that the piece is not to be a great success . They are probably right , aud , if right , the reason why—of which they reck but little—is , that though the lied Vial has enough dramatic situation and enough beautiful and vigorous language to make a half-dozen more successful pieces somewhere and in some hands , there is too little ' distribution of force in it to make it answer where it is now presented . In the character of Madame Bergmann is concentrated a vast amount of interest and strengthof which a scientific dramatist would
, have spared some for the figures of Sinrui , Rodenberg , and Karl , now colourless . But Mr . Collins is more of an artist than an engineer . He has powerful , romantic thoughts and beautiful word-colour at command ; but used ( figuratively ) to stippling and small panels , he is not at home when -hc . ^ to cover an acre of canvas with a pound brush . Thus , he has splendidly painted the figure of the Widow , used up-all liis . colour , and left round her some pretty sketches only . The attempt to achieve a very startling novelty by making a great part of Hans Grimm—if such an attempt had been contemplated—is unsuccessful . The repulsive introduction of a half-maniac we can get over ; but
it is lamentable , continuing our former train of thought , to sec how it has caused a waste of power instead of its accumulation . The great artist who undertakes flans Grimm painfully beats the head of his own genius against the wretched cell in which liis author has imprisoned him , lie is even inclined to make Grimm , as the author has made him , a reasoning idiot . Scene after scene the actor ' s power is screwed down , when both he and his hearers are aware of a grand opening . The " result is a series of disappointments ; for if Grimm reasons , liobson is
wrong ; if he is all drivel , Jlobson is thrown away upon starts , howls , and twitches . It surely , after all , seems as unnecessary to have made JJan . t half-witted « s to have made Mr . Rotlenberg . a Jew . The- dog-like devotion of the former , which at present is made to lay in the only illuminated chamber of his mind , would have been perfectly compatible with his sunity , and , with the exception of that devotion , we imagine ho is intended to be a blank . The characters and combinations of characterwhioh sane persons offer to the dramatist and the actor aro still so
numerous that neither of them need yet be driven as a dernier rcaaort to try a lifelike portraiture of " nothing . " The attempts of Mr . Kobson to do something with Uuns Grimm , without overstepping the conditions by which he was fettered , were , wo need hardly fiay , productive of , occasionally , fine results . His first burst at Madame Burg , mann , his description of his straw-laid cell iu the madhouse , his seizure of the red vial from the widow ' s hand , were as magnilicent as her recoil from him in the first instance , and ia the last , as her superb reply to his query about the contents of tho flask . This gifted uetrusa infused all her power into
her part ; so much , indeed , tlmt it is quite possible tho Red Vial may , after all , enjoy n " run . " The boautif ' ul simplicity of her demeanour in her first scene , tho eloquence of her apponl to Rcdeitbarg , her passionuto " Look nt my Niinm , " must , indeed , be eeen and heard to bo appreciated : and none who mins tho sight may hereafter ' protend to have seen this groat-actress at her best . Of tho Red Vial it might be justly pretended by the management that ita production was careful and regardless of expense . Wo can reeul no parallel to the beauty and tasto of the costume , which , with tho m ' w en avuito ( of the first net especially ) , announce—as plain as drapery and colour can— the supervision of au accomplished
artiatical taste . The first act presented a series of cabinet pictures , and the perspective of the deadhouse arcade in the last was as perfect a scenic illusion as we remember . Strand Theatre . —W e have still another novelty to ' notice here , and , we are glad to say , another complete success . The management have produced with admirable scenic and decorative accompaniments , a burlesque called The Maid and ihe Magpie , or t / ie ratal Spoon , from the pen of Mr . Henry Byron , the author of Fra Diavolo and The Bride of Abydos . This gentleman ' s version of the old story is set forth in six tableaux . In the first , we meet Fabrizio , the farmer ( Mr . ' Poynter ) , and his grey mare of a wife Dame Lucia ( Mrs . Selby ); Ninette , their maid , the
heroine of the tale ( Miss M . Oliver ); Gianetto ( Miss M . Ternan ) , -their heir , a fast young military exquisite , in love with Ninette ; and lastly , their ne ' er-dowell , stage-struck serving boy , Pippo ( Miss Marie Wilton ) . The latter young person thinks , does , and says everything dramatically , insists that every one within his reach shall do likewise , and is an inveterate young opponent of all rule and order . He has no idea of pathos ( unless dramatic ); he ejaculates , "Oh for a penn ' orth of blue fire ! " at the grand elimax of the drama , and is the greatest plague in life to his fussy old mistress . We should not omit the Magpie , who in due course runs off with " the fatal spoon" the proper time , nor the blister-brained deserter ,
Fernando Villabella , the father of Ninette . In this character , the veteran burlesque King ( Mr . James Bland ) , was most imposing in the detail of his wo e s , and his pathetic recognition of his daughter , Ninette . In the second scene , the Jew , Isaac ( Mr . J . Clarke ) , appears and executes a fantastic duet and nigger dance with Pippo . Then follows the bargain between Ninette and Isaac for the spoon she had honestly come by ; a ballet of bridesmaids ; some admirable after-dinner orations by Gianetto and Pippo ; the missing of the spoon , and the charge of larceny against the maid bv-Madame Fabrizio . We are next conducted to the dreary , dreary moor , where iu "Lear-like agony old Villabella goes mad , and
gets arrested by the wicked magistrate , who , spiteful at being rejected by Ninette , has just done the same office for her . The father and daughter meet in prison , and little Pippo gives them his blessing , and full directions for a decorous and properly tlicatrical exit from their troubles . The denoument comes off as usual . The magpie is detected by Pippo , and the spoon recovered . The procession to execution is stopped , the rancorous magistrate put to confusion , and the lovers Ninette and Gianetto are made happy . The facility with which Mr . Byron has contrived to invest the pathetic story of the Gazza Ladru with the drapery of the wildest farce is very remarkable . He has done it ho
afterwards . The reception accorded to the popular " Charley Mathews "—as he will ever be called by the million , long after he have resigned the remotest claims to the diminutive—his fair bride , and the safe and well-approved comedy of London Assurance , was enthusiastic . ' Rounds of applause at each appearance were succeeded by others at the well-known description of the Chase , delivered very nicely "by the heroine of the evening as Lady Gay Spanher , and at the dose of the play the audience insisted upon a separate walk over for the happy pair of the occasion . Mr . Mathews played the insignificant part of Dazzleof whom it is justly asked at the denouement , "Who is Mr . Dazzle ?"—with all his ancient sprightliness and gentility , and , being a great deal deal thinnerif we may trust our eyes—than when we saw him , last , with more natural , and therefore effective , lightness . Mrs . Mathews , while pleasing and
buoyant in the part of Lady Gay Spanker , has to contend so much up-hill against our vivid recollection of Mrs . Nisbett , that we can hardly call ourselves impartial , and would reserve , therefore , any expression of opinion upon her general qualifications until we have seen her in a part less identified with the memory of one who mainly assisted the author to create it . It is time that Mr . Chippendale passed out of a category in which he is often flippantly classed almost by habit . He has long ceased , in our opinion , to be " this useful , " " this valuable , " this " eminently conscientious" actor , and is entitled to be ranked as a very able and excellent artist who never misses his author ' s intention ,. and , in modern plays , not sejdom seizes finer shades than all playgoers can appreciate . His masterly delineation of the crisp old epicurean man of fashion , Sir Harcourt Cozirtly , we consider a case in point .
Sadler ' s Wells . —Mr . Phelps , according to his annual custom , has made choice of a character not hitherto delineated by him , to display his varied histrionic talent , and appeared on Wednesday as Dr . Cantwell in the old and almost obsolete comedy of the Hypocrite , In dealing with this character , Mr . Phelps has judiciously read it anew by the light of modern times , and , instead of making it a loud , canting specimen of hypocrisy of the coarsest sort , has given it all the slyness , cunning , and smoothness of an arch impostor . He is soft almost to sappiness ; humble to crawling ; and his feigned sanctimony is of the weeping and watery kind . His feelings are ever overflowing at his eyes ,
and his pocket-handkerchief is cunningly used to veil as . much as to heighten his appearance of suffering . When detected , after his many doublings and deceits , his ferocious nature breaks out , and Mr . Phelps was no less terrible in this phase of his wickedness than he was oily and subtle when it suited him to keep on the mask . His master-points were with the young lady when he makes the bargain to sell his consent to her wedding her lover , and his audacious effrontery and -wickedness when lie takes possession of his benefactor ' s house . Although the satanic nature came out when he made adulterous love to Lady Lambert , yet ive haye seen that scene more elaborated—a process , by the way , considering its disgusting nature , by no
violence , and has preserved the incidents intact ; but he lias embodied with them so much elever word ^ play , V" ° M- chosen popular music ; and ridiculous effects , that the dramatis perso / ue , themselves exhilarated , find no difficulty in communicating the infection of risibility to the audience . The theatrical company exerted themselves to the utmost , and did every justice to the author , who has every reason to congratulate himself upon a strength of cast which , at the ' moment , lie might have sought in vain at other houses . Tho unquestionable dramatic talents of Mrs . Selby , Misses Oliver , Ternan , and Wilton , and of Messrs . Bland and Clarke , found such ample scope in the several situations that Mr . Byron has
means desirable . Taken as a complete , delineation of a peculiar phase of character , Mr . Phelps ' s Dr . C ' antioell may bo pronounced to be highly artistic , and full of adm irable satire and portraiture ; and it certainly should be seen by all delighting in tho higher processes of dramatic art . Mrs . Charles Young , as Charlotte , was very lively and clever , giving full effect to all the naive and smart payings and doings of the somewhat forward young lady . Mrs . Mnrston was admirably quaint and grotesque as Old Lady Lambert , and Mr . Marston gave the manly young Colonel with the true feeling and gusto of a thorough gentleman . Mr . Young enacted Mawworm effectively . The house was well attended , critically attentive , and judiciously applausive .
very ingeniously planned for the display of their capabilities , that selection wouldappear almost invidious . We shall , however , be safe in naming as a great and successful piece of burlesque conception and execution the grand scena , travestied from the opera of La Sonuambula , in which Ninette , accompanied by the whole cast , protests her innocence . The Strand company is eo rich in good voices that Bellini ' s beautiful strain of " Hear mo swear , thou , " supported by the chorus , was very satisfactorily sung . This is of itself a treat ; and tho anti-pathetic vagaries of tho principal characters wore so humorous without vulgarity , that the passage was as unanimously as deservedly encored .
Moxs . Jl'llikn announces everywhere that his twentieth and last annual series of concerts , which he proposes to entitle his " Concerts d" Adieu" is to tako place at the Lyceum Theatre ; tho first to be given on the 1 st of November . So natural is tho Jullien to London , so necessary , that one inquires almost pettishly , Why should ho go ? Where can ho go ? Ought ho to be let go ? " Concerts d' Adieu , " owe adds , " fiddlesticks ! ho will never march . " Jullien ,
liow-Haymakkkt Tiieatuk . — Tho London managers , it would seem , combined on Monday night to put their great rival attraction , the comet , out of countenance if for ono night only , by a strong pull , and a pull altogether ; and if tho crowd that uontrivod on that niglit to get into this theatre was but equalled at every other place of amusement that announced a new attraction , the harmless' Tradu Union may bo congratulated upon having gone some way towards the
ever , would seem to bo in earnest , for Ins bills throw out mysterious allusions to a travelling caravan of musical , artistio , literary , and scientific celebrities , and to tho world-wide promotion of a noble and philanthropic cause , As the Mons . encourages communications , wo shall avail ourselves of some future opportunity to inquire into the mystery of tliid propagandism . Several talented foreign emissaries are , wo dare say , already at work , and tljio interiors ot flddlos will not bo sac-rod at the continental customhouses for months after such an announcement ^
its aim . There was no question about density of the tail at tho pit door , nor , indeed , of tho cohesion of the particles funning the nucleus . Attraction there evidently was , and all wo niiosod was gravity ; for tho return of Mr . Charles Matliows , after two years' waiuloring in tho United States , was seized by a thousand or two of Britons as an opportunity lor indulgence in good honest laughter to an extent whloh your Englishman gonerally wants an pxcuso for first , and . - alludes to somewhat apologoticully
Him ¦ Majkstv ' b Tiikatjih . —Wo would inquire > of . Mons , Jullien , vn j >«*««»< , if he could not l > ' ; "Wf ° suffluloutly widely tho necessity o Julhen to tho Om House iu the L- aynmrkot . ™« ° ** £ «} closed—aud sumo say closed for over . AU sorts of
Ko, -44#I October 16, 1858.] The L E A P...
Ko , -44 # i October 16 , 1858 . ] THE L E A P E R , _ - jjgg _
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 16, 1858, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16101858/page/15/
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