aoe CU eo 
. 
181.] 
tual to attempt prematurely to stop the 
public delusion, * 
It may appear extraordinary, that the 
diurnal critics should so well agree as 
they do, in the sentiments they express ; 
but, when the system is known and con 
sidered, the wonder will vanish. The 
stage is at present occupied by a body 
of writers, whose talents are of a par- 
ticular cast, and who have brought the 
taste of the town to such a standard, that 
there is little danger of the intrusion of 
d@unarists of a different description; and 
accordingly, a new play, not built on the 
present model, has littie chance of being 
received by the managers, and if re- 
ceived, it would certainly be dainned by 
the critics. he managers, authors and 
critics, therefore, all perfectly under- 
stand each other, and combine to lead 
the public to have their palates pleased 
only by the style of cookery they set he- 
fore them.. Indeed, the novelties of the 
day are so much of a character, that I do 
not despair, in the present high and im- 
proving state of mechanics, of seeing 
them inade to any pattern, by a steam- 
“engine, on a construction somewhat Si- 
milar to a barrel organ, 
One advantage our dramatists emi- 
nently enjoy, namely, that, besides all the 
glare and pomp of scenery, dresses, and 
decoration, they are sure to have their 
productions well performed, in their most 
prominent and attractive parts; the 
characters being drawn expressly to 
Shew the abilities of a Munden, a Faw- 
* This was the case with respect to 
Master Betty, denominated the young Ros- 
cius, and held as superior to any performer 
of any age. The crowds who pressed to 
witness with admiration the spouting of this 
phenomenon, even for two seasons, were in- 
conceivable; and ail was the work of the 
journalists, who, it is well known, had in- 
structions to panegyrise him to the skies for 
a while, and then leave him to Kis fate. 
Accordingly, on the third season, his trum= 
peters lowered their notes, and this modern 
Phaeton fell from his height, never to rise 
again. Mr. Kemble, and Mrs. Siddons, much 
to their credit, absolutely refused to sanction 
this delusion, by appearing on the stage 
with the boy. Mr. Cumberland, who was 
behind the scenes one of the first nights of 
his performance, exclaimed to thuse around 
him, ‘§ The damnedest bumbug Lever saw!’ 
Yet among the higher classes, and those who 
pretended to critical judgment, young Betty 
could boast as many names of enthusiastic 
admirers as, a few years before, young Ire- 
Jand could of firm believers in the authen- 
ticity of the Shakespeaye manuscripts. 
i 
On Theatrical Criticism. 
509, 
cett, a Matthews, a Liston, and other 
drolls of the day; nor, while a Johnstone 
and an Emery tread the boards, can a 
new comedy be complete without an 
Irishman or a Yorkshireman.* This is 
evidently a great improvement, in as 
much as a coat made te measure will 
always fit better than one made by 
chance. And as the comic characters 
just quoted, have ail an intimacy with 
the Yeporters, the latter cannot well 
abuse the play without somewhat in 
juring their friends, the players; unless 
where they themselves, dissatisfied witla 
their characters, go hand in hand witla 
the critics to damn the piece. As the 
plays are thus suited to the performers, 
so also are the sentiments adapted to the 
times; and the expressions vulyarly de+ 
nominated clap-traps, seldom fail to at- 
tract the applause they demand, and not 
unfrequently give a temporary currency 
to the whole.t 
Thus, theatrical criticism is no difficult 
task, and can hardly be misunderstood 
when directed to those pieces and actors 
which are the rage of the day. But, 
were a comedy with the merits of a 
Congreve, a Vanbrugh, or a Farqyhar, 
now to find its way berore the tribunal, 
we should be told, that the dialogue was 
obsolete, that the wit was altogether un 
suitable to the taste of this age, and 
wanted the point now so happily intros 
duced ; that the characters were deficient 
in colouring, that the plot was mere 
commons-piace, and produced none of 
those surprising situations which inva+ 
riably captivate the audience in the com- 
positions of a Reynolds, a Lewis, or a 
Dibdin; that the piece was in every re- 
spect unfit for representation, and that, 
if it possessed any merit, it must be dis- 
covered in the closet, should the authot 
* It would be unjust to these comedians 
not to observe, that all of them are qualified 
for better parts; and that, were mumming 
not so much encouraged, their performance 
would better please the judicious. 
+ The play of Pizarro, notwithstanding 
all the artifice and stage-tricks employed to 
give it eclat, and all the puffs of all the 
papers, would neyer have enjoyed such an 
immense run, had it not been tor some ex- 
pressions judiciously introduced in Rolla’s 
harangue to, his troops, and which never 
failed to attract the loudest applause, at a 
time when an excess of loyalty was so much 
encouraged by the great, as to counteract the’ 
less gratifying sentiments of the swinish mul 
titade, and induced Majesty itself to re-visit 
Drury-lane, after an absence of years. 
venture 
. 
