702 THINGS THEATRICAL. 



devises some means to check this evil, he naturally enough excites 

 their wrath. In former days, when the theatre was the resort of all 

 the genius and fashion of England, when the stage was graced by 

 talent of the first order, no such salaries where thought of; and now 

 when patronage is withdrawn, and every thing appears upon a me- 

 diocre scale, actors are dissatisfied if they do not receive the income 

 of princes. As genuine worth declines, greediness is on the advance ; 

 but of this we feel assured, that the stage never can hope to regain 

 its former popularity, until it ceases to be a ruinous speculation to 

 managers until the salaries of actors are brought to a level with 

 other professions the rent reduced with all other rent authors pro- 

 perly treated and the prices made suitable to the means of those 

 who would willingly go if they could afford it. Till this is done, all 

 the rest is patch- work. Managers may adopt temporary means of 

 relief, it will not ultimately avail a thorough reform is wanting to 

 meet the means of the public. 



A debutante for theatrical honours lately appeared at COVENT 

 GARDEN, in the character of Rosina and is a very graceful pleasing 

 little person. We understand that she was formerly a pupil of 

 CRIVELLI, who, in fact, formed her voice ; but that she has latterly, 

 unfortunately, been receiving instruction from a gentleman who is 

 a flute player, or a fiddler, or some such thing, but certainly without 

 experience as a singing master, and altogether unfit for the task of 

 qualifying such a singer as Miss ATKINSON for the stage. It is to 

 be regretted, that the young lady did not pursue her former course 

 of instruction she would, by this time, have had no reason to fear a 

 competitor as it is, her talent is of first-rate order, and her success, 

 in the character of Rosina, was complete. Her performance of 

 Mandane, in " Artaxerxes" was equivocal : for the part is altogether 

 unfit for her voice, which is of mezzo-soprano quality. The music of 

 Mandane requires a soprano voice of full compass : therefore, placing 

 Miss ATKINSON in such a position was not only ungenerous to her 

 individually, but grossly unjust. 



We hear she is refused an engagement, because she was not so 

 successful in a part where she ought never to have been placed. 

 Such is theatrical justice ! 



The new piece of " Gustavus" at COVENT GARDEN, continues to 

 attract large audiences, and has been profitable to the management. 

 It is C( adapted from the French/' by PLANCHE, and is certainly a < 

 very splendid spectacle. The music, however, is by no means to be 

 laid to the fault of poor AUBER, who has sins enough to answer for. 

 It is principally got up, contrived, and worked into the piece by a 

 Mr. CARTER, who might have been more advantageously employed in 

 some other business. This opera was introduced at the VICTORIA, 

 and, if we except the grand scenic effects, to our mind much better. 

 The music was arranged and partly composed by Mr. BARNETT, a 

 composer of acknowledged reputation, who executed his task most 

 successfully. The costumes were, likewise, arranged with greater 

 accuracy; we were not astonished there by the appearance of Napoleon 



