THE THEATRE. Olf 



of the king by the play — the closet scene with his mother — and 

 the concluding scene. Miss Jarman's Ophelia was well acted, 

 and her singing beautifully adapted to the character. Mr. Kean's 

 cunning of fence found a very good foil in the Laertes of the 

 night, Mr. J. B. Hill. 



Jan. 13., SardanapaLuSj and Mt/ Neighbour s Wife. 

 Under the patronage of Admiral Codrington. My Neighbour's 

 Wife is a highly laughable extravaganza, in which Mr. Hield 

 acquits himself admirably, and Miss Hemipel performs conamore. 



Jan. 14., Last night of Sardanapalus. 



Jan. 16., The Wedding Gown, Lock and Key, and Mi/ 

 Neighbours Wife. 



The first of these is the story of a refugee Polish noble. Count 

 Lubeski, (Hield) and his daughter, Augusta, (Miss Mason) are 

 in England with very precarious means of subsistence. The 

 Count finds a friend in Mr. Beeswing, (Vivash) whose nephew, 

 (Hill) by especial command of his uncle, is about to contract a 

 marriage of interest with a Lady Margaret, (Miss Jarman) Lady 

 Margaret cordially hates her intended bridegroom, having pre- 

 viously intrusted her heart, to the keeping of Effingham, (Moore) 

 a man after her own desire. The nephew as magnanimously 

 detests Lady Margaret, having plighted his troth to Augusta 

 Lubeski, two years before, at Dresden. The course of these two 

 couple of true lovers is, as usual, thickly beset with most disastrous 

 chances, moving accidents, and hair breadth scapes ; however, 

 as usual, they are all surmounted : Lady Margaret allows 

 Effingham to run away with her, and the good natured priest 

 who has been summoned to unite her to Beeswing's nephew, is 

 doomed to effect a comfortable splice between Augusta and her 

 devoted swain, much to the satisfaction of all parties. 



The dialogue is spirited throughout, and the interest well 

 sustained ; — but one incident towards the close of the piece is as 

 unnatural as it is uncalled for. — The Pole knowing that his 

 daughter loves Clarendon, (Hill) and that he is equally attached 

 to her, commands her to act as bridesmaid, at his expected 

 marriage with Lady Augusta, and she consents; — this may be 

 heroism after the old Roman fashion, but not after the fashion of 

 poor human nature. The piece was well cast and well acted 

 throughout. 



In " Lock and Key,'^ Vivash, as old Brummagem, performed 

 with abundance of humour; and Norman, as Ralph, made a 

 very good hit: we owe it to the latter actor to say now (what we 

 VOL. v. — 1835. M 



