THINGS THEATRICAL. 581 



advice of the best critics, both ancient and modern. We do not 

 hesitate to say that it will be in the creations of Shakspeare's mind, 

 which demand in their representative every variation of thought, 

 feeling, and passion, that Mr. Vandenhoff will soon be acknowledged 

 the first actor of the day. 



The greatest novelty during the month at the large theatres has 

 been a trans-atlantic importation of a six-foot young lady, named Miss 

 Clifton, who, in one respect at least, is something out of the ordinary 

 way, being to all appearance half a head taller than the rest of her 

 sisters of the sock and buskin. She has, however, another very great 

 recommendation that of perfect intrepidity, and a readiness to per- 

 form her part, whatever it may be, in a bold business-like manner. 

 Miss Clifton is, perhaps, the fittest prima donna for such a sized stage 

 as ours, having a faultless figure, and sufficiently good looks to shew 

 well enough at such a distance without the aid of a telescope. She is 

 'plainly an actress of the mechanical class, and does not seem to wish 

 to be thought any thing more. This, to any one who has an exclusive 

 fondness for nature and simple passion, is a fatal objection j but pro- 

 bably will not be such to the public, who seem to shew very little 

 taste for those qualities. The dull tragedy of Bertram has been re- 

 vived. The play possesses scarce a single merit, but a very pompous 

 and full-sounding versification. Some sort of pleasure or admiration, 

 however, it did seem to give, since Mr. Denvil was most vociferously 

 applauded through the whole of his performance, and as loudly called 

 for at the end, which he had the sense to refuse. He gave indeed 

 abundant proofs of the possession of very uncommon powers ; but the 

 whole representation was, perhaps necessarily, of that artificial cha- 

 racter which we must own ourselves utterly incapable of appreciating. 



The English Opera has proceeded triumphantly. John Barnet's 

 music appears never to tire, and it is only withdrawn for a time to 

 allow fair play to others. Mr. Serle has produced a little piece of 

 considerable interest, called The Widow Queen, in which he played 

 the principal character with great success. We are happy to say 

 that Mr. Arnold's exertions in favour of British talent have been 

 amply rewarded by full houses since the commencement of the season. 



The Adelphi has opened without any very great eclat. Mr. 

 Buckstone has availed himself of a comic paper which appeared in 

 our magazine some few months since, called the et Bloomsbury 

 Christening," to build a farce upon, which he likewise calls The 

 Christening. Our pages seem to be pigeons which every dramatist 

 thinks he is at liberty to pluck without leave or hindrance. The 

 Monthly has furnished no fewer than seven dramas, performed at 

 various parts of the town during the past year, without our having 

 received from any one of the talented concocters a single note of ac- 

 knowledgment. We are not aware that there is any law to prevent 

 such appropriation, neither do we consider it necessary that there 

 should be ; but we do think that those who condescend to appro- 

 priate the ideas of others to their own gain ought in common courtesy 

 to ask permission of the author. 



M.M. No. 107. 4 F 



