EPIGRAM ON THE FAMOUS LION IN THE MEDICI GARDEN AT ROME. Written 1772. By an ENGLISH Traveller. UNGUE oculoque minax, orisque horrendus hiatu, Hunc catuli fugiunt conjux fulvique parentes, MEMORANDA DRAMATICA. 1808. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. Sept. 22. Love in a Village *.-Citizen. Oct. 1. He Mr. Scriven, from the Edinboro' Theatre, smelt the London lamps for the first time, in Hodge. He is a very old stager, and had acquired some character in the country, which he will not improve here, by the comparisons that must unavoidably be made to his disadvantage. in some degree resembles the late Suett, but the recollection excited is nothing in his favour. His countryman is cunning rather than simple, therefore injudiciously individual instead of general. He is not, however, without humour in his acting or singing, though noise and assurance seem more familiar to him than taste and science. On the whole he may with justice be pronounced an useful actor-where he is wanted. A word here to the Board.-We suppose that Mr. Scriven may receive about six guineas a week, but this is saved a thousand ways by the new management. For instance they have discontinued the morning delivery of small play-house bills, by which, it is said, six guineas week are saved. The saving is bad-Let them induce Mr. Scriven to return to Edinboro', if ever man did return that road, and find their better account in spending the six guineas as they did before. + For the interesting fable of this piece, as borrowed from the French by Mr. Skeffington, (See Vol. III. N.S. p. 459.) After having been played three times last season for benefits, it was repeated on this night, but though the public cannot be called foes, they seem to differ from what is termed friends; and their judgment taken on this occasion, was decidedly against any future repetition of the Mysterious Bride. The plot, as we observed, is interesting, but is just to confess that the workmanship is far inferior to the materials. Mrs. Jordan made her first appearance this season in the Country Girl, and on this night she performed Violante, in the best of Mrs. Centlivre's plays, The Wonder. This child of nature and exquisite art, like Mrs. Siddons, exhibits in a strong point of view the superiority of mind over matter-for she no sooner opens her mouth and displays her genius, than you forget the mortal incumbrances. Such intellectual powers Oct. 1. Rule a Wife and have a Wife (Leon first time, Mr. Elliston). Weathercock. Oct. 4. powers compensate for her form—its as broad as its long. Mr. Elliston, who is an excellent comedian in general, has become a little pursy since last year, and did not play Don Felix quite so well as usual. In the sham drunkard, and in the disguise of an old woman, he e never shewed much judgment. If he would read how Garrick made his points here, he might improve. We observe that he still adheres religiously to his Old English, saying “Lissardo and Flora imitate you you and 7.” By his correspondence with us, it seems that he sometimes peeps into a Dictionary Perhaps it would be too much to ask a leading actor at DruryJane Theatre, to pay the same respect to a Grammar! Miss Mellon played Flora, and gave up Donna Isabella to Miss Boyce-their distinct figures and manners called for the change. Bannister's Lissardo, Holland's Colonel Briton, and Palmer's Gibby, were exceedingly well done. Mr. Matthew's Don Pedro, and Mr. Penley's Don Lopez, were both cold and humourless. After the Comedy, The Fortune Teller, a new musical piece, was acted for the first time. Here follow the Dram. Pers. and Fable. The fable is comprised in this-Charles and Margery are in love with each other, and Joe, the young squire, tries to spoil their sport, but succeeds only in adding to it, by making himself a laughing stock. Francis and Lady Worthland are also, like poor Darby, over head and ears in love, but her ladyship is merely known to him under the feigned name of Emma, and he, seeing no prospect of success, turns soldier. The fair dame puts on the garb and manners of a gypsey, pursues him, and opens to him the book of fate, with a most veritable spirit of prophecy, for she foretells that he will be married to her, and marries him directly. This Fortune Teller, like others, could not foresee her own fate. The piece was in preparation last season, and is now brought forward, we shall venture to say, without any impeachment of the judgment of the new board, by wlrom, with Mr. Sheridan at their head, we are sure no such Oct. 4. Rivals*.-No Song no Supper. 6. World.-Deserter. (Henry, Mr. J. Smith, and Louisa, Mrs. Corri, 1st time.) Oct. 8. such drama will ever be read and accepted. The farce opens with a hay-making, and the most patient sunshine lasted till nearly the end of the second act, when a storm, long due, came on, and entirely spoiled the author's harvest. The Fortune Teller may be described as most musical, most melancholy," for it is thickly sewed with ditties, and the dialogue is invariably dull, and uninteresting beyond comparison. A duet between Mrs. Bland and Mr. Smith, and her air in the first act, were deservedly encored. Two humorous songs given to Bannister and Matthews, partook of the character of the dialogue, à dormir debout.That of the latter, (a drunken soldier in a single scene) was nevertheless encored. In Lordly and Joe we had in some measure the Baron and his son, in the Haunted Tower. Lordly wishes in his farming to Blend elegance with rusticity, and endeavours to practise it on his son, without producing any lively effect. He also orders a peasant and his family to be turned out of the only house they can obtain in the village, because he wants to pull down their cottage, meaning to erect a windmill in its place, for the sake of the view, though the situation covers it entirely from the wind-this was a fair hit, and we report it, that it may prove profitable. Mrs. Mountain sang several airs in her usual style. On the whole, the songs, with some of the best of Mr. Reeve's middling music, deserved a better string to hang upon. Mr. Gibbon is a pleasing singer, and we advise him to hold up his head, and not to gaze so much on his toes-he may think to palm it off for modesty, but it looks like nothing but stupidity. Though given out to appear again, the Fortune Teller is so committed as never to trouble or deceive the public any more. * This lively, though somewhat farcical comedy, served to introduce a Mrs. Orger from the Edinburgh Theatre, as Lydia Languish. She played with the confidence of a veteran, and has a pleasing countenance; but a pretty face, with well disciplined nerves, is not all that is required of the representative of Lydia Languish; and in adopting a Caledonian drawl, and in giving to the character ideocy in lieu of simplicity, she did not, in our opinion, by any means come up to the Author's views. Her person at present exhibits the leanness of a native of the Grampian Hills. A few months feeding nearer to the south, may enable her to fill the part as well, though she will not soon act it as well as either of her plump predecessors. Mr. Elliston wisely steering "from grave to gay," exchanged the querulous Falkland for the humourous Captain Absolute. L L-VOL. IV. Oct. 8. Rule a Wife and have a Wife.-Ella Rosenberg. 10. Romeo and Juliet*.-Three and the Deuce. 11. All in the Wrong†.-Caractacus. 1 Oct. 13. Absolute. The testy father and volatile son cannot be better represented than by Mr. Dowton and Mr. Elliston. It is impossible to shew causé against them—Rule absolute. By the way, we doubt whether the following bull has ever been noticed in this play. Captain Absolute, a soldier, hides his sword under his great-coat, alledging that the sight of a sword would create as great an alarm in Bath as a mad-dog; while Sir Lucius, not a soldier, comes to the field with a sword by his side, without exciting any alarm whatever. We are sorry to see Mrs. "Sparks fly upward" into such parts as Mrs. Malaprop. But "man is born to trouble," so we desist from complaint. It would be well, however, for her to know, that humour does not consist in coarseness and vulgarity. *There is not so interesting a Juliet on the modern stage as Mrs. H. Siddons. Mr. Elliston's characteristic excellence was in Romeo a defect. A deep and powerful voice cannot do justice to the whining hero. A live dog (a blood-hound we suppose) wandered among the tombs, and of course made the gods laugh. Mr. E. was, completely at home in the farce. The piece, however, wants the dignus vindice nodus of the poet; and if it were not danced into favour by the agile actor we have mentioned, would soon be forgotten. Even as it is, the audience are driven to the extremity of their complaisance: one more kick from Mr. Elliston's fantastic toe, would have sent it flying up to the prompter's shelf. Mr. Matthews personated the Lacquey with considerable judgment and success. His song of The Assizes, in the first act, was universally encored. When will this valuable actor dis. card his nerves, and recollect the real fact-that the heads of the ma. jority of an audience, are nothing more than wooden pegs to hang their hats upon? + The comedy performed this night is one of the most dramatic pieces in the Stock List. Mrs. Jordan was inimitable in Belinda, and Beverly was well represented by Mr. Elliston. Mr. Wroughton, in Sir John Restless, has properly modernized his attire. This judicious actor had the mischance in the fourth act, to salute the earth with the most prominent part of his anterior, but rose like Antæus, amidst a tumult of laughter and applause. These little incidents excite John Bull's merriment, when Congreve and Farquhar fail. Caractacus followed, for the first time this season.-The King of the Britons was warmly and loyally greeted, and Mrs. Sharp and Miss Gayton received the applause due to their talents. We have always thought the |