330 THINGS THEATRICAL. 



shrugged, he grinned, he spoke through his nose, just as he did when 

 he personified the French Kuffian in Victorine, (an admirable per- 

 formance by-the-by, and a good play). Nothing could be worse, 

 however, than his acting in this piece, or than the piece itself ; ac- 

 cordingly, it was cried up by the journals as a perfect picture of 

 French manners during the time of the Regency ! Of French man- 

 ners ! bad enough they were, Heaven knows; but, at least, they 

 covered their indecency with a delicate veil of courtly politeness. 

 Even the profligate author of the book, here dramatized, never offen- 

 ded by actual word ; and, in some measure, redeemed his fault by a 

 beautiful language, a sparkling and graceful wit. His spirit again 

 was the spirit of his age, and his society of the brilliant court which 

 fascinated Burke, and shared in the revels of Marie Antoinette. 

 Fancy these faithfully represented by Mr. Yates, Mr. Reeves, (the 

 gentleman who is reported to " Flare up !"), and a low company of 

 comedians in the Strand ! 



The exhibition did not possess a single claim to popularity, and yet 

 it was lauded by the papers, and eagerly sought by the public ! This 

 play was followed by one entitled Isabelle again the manager as the 

 young seducer, and Mr. Reeves with his tipsy indecencies. But the 

 crowning piece was Lurline, or the Revolt of the Naiades, a pretty and 

 innocent ballet, with nothing against it except play bills after the fol- 

 lowing fashion : 



LURLINE. 



ADELPHI NAIADES. 

 SPLENDID WOMEN! 



and another 



LURLINE. 

 NYMPHS BATHING & SPORTING! 



Now, was there ever a greater insult put upon the public than the 

 general posting of these bills ? But the brutal stratagem has an- 1 

 swered, and people are nightly turned away from the doors. 



We may as well here drop the subject entirely, for one sickens at 

 thinking that the drama is but a toady to the times that it merely 

 expresses the public opinion, and flatters it that poor Hamlet's so- 

 liloquies are real now, and not spoken to listening thousands that 

 the stuff for dramatic entertainment is supplied from the stable or the 

 stews and that the public panders prosper and fatten. 



In the mean time, until this course of horrid abuses shall have 

 its end, we have determined to remain at home on evenings, passing 

 our time in reading, drinking, or other healthful exercise. So that 

 the public have now, probably, received our last dramatic lucu- 

 brations. 



These remarks were written last month, but as the same pieces 

 are still played the same observations perfectly apply, and will most 

 probably to the end of the season. 



