
1796.) 
 Covent-GARDEN. 
Saturday, Aprilg. A new comic opera, 
called The Lad of the Hil/s, or The Wick- 
tow Gold Mine. Mr. O'Keefe has here 
given an additional fpecimen of his ta- 
fents for the whimfcal, in a drama 
abounding with eccentric charaéters, and 
humerous dialogue. The incident of the 
gold mine lately difcovered in our fitter 
ifle, affords a fair opportunity for ereét- 
ing a popular and interefting plot, and 
the peculiarities of the national.charaéter, 
manners, and accent, are here happily de- 
lineated and combined. 
The mufic is in part compiled; the 
overture and accompaniments are by 
Shield. Many of the fcenes were new, 
and appropriate; and the piece, when 
properly curtailed, by being cropped of 
fome of its luxuriances, bids fair to be- 
come popular, as indeed moft of -the 
operas written and compofed by the pre- 
fent mafter have been. 
OPERA. 
Saturday, April 2d.— The third. re- 
prefentation of the comic opera called, 
Due Gobbi, with the dance of le Bouquet 
ater ‘the fith aét. At the endef ‘the 
opera, a new ballet, called Alon/o e Cora, 
by Didelot, Rofe, Parifor, and Hhiligf- 
berg. The ftory is taken from Mar- 
montel’s Hiftory of the Incas of Peru, a 
fubjeét well adapted to this fpecies of 
reprefentation. On this occafion, the 
pantomime part was abridged, to give 
more time for the dancing, which is a 
fpecies of amufernent that has become 
furprifingly popular during the prefent 
and former winters. The {cenery, ac- 
tion, and every thing conftituting what 
is technically called the /pedfacle, were 
uncommonly brilliant. Didelot and Rofe, 
who had the chief characters in the bal- 
‘Jet to fuftain, afforded great entertain- 
ment to the audience, as was teftified by 
their frequent plaudits; and the latter 
feemed to exclaim in the words of the 
original author, “ Fe voudrois tout penfer 
—§ joferois tout dive.’ ‘The theatre was, 
as ufual, crowded with beauty and 
‘ fafhion. 
_ ‘Tuefday, April 5tb.—I Due Gobdi. End 
of the opera, the fecond reprefentation 
of the new ballet, called Alonfo e Cora, 
compofed by Oxorat. 
Friday, April 7ib.—Vhe tragedy of 
Iphigenia en Tauride, for the beneht of 
MonruLty Mac. No. HI, 
View of the Drama. 
233 
Madame Bani}, or as fhe is termed in 
the fafhionable world, the Ba-anti. This 
opera, wel! known on the icalian fiage, was 
ated this night for the firf time to a 
crowded _and brilliant audience. The 
compofition is excellent, and the effect 
grand, as it unites all the ‘various attrac- 
tions that can delight either the eye or 
ear; the fcenery being beautiful, the 
dancing exquifite, and the mufic ap- 
proaching to the fublime. It is to be la- 
mented, however, that the RIDICULOUS, 
SILLY, and ABSURD cuftom, of crowd- 
ing the flage, too long prevalent at this 
theatre, intercepted much of the charms of 
the exhibition, as the audience was not only 
deprived of a full view of the charaéters, 
but the working of the fcenery greatly ré- 
tarded. The advertifement, in order to 
prevent this practice, was wholly difre- 
‘garded ; but does of the manager poffefs 
powerand fpirit enough to enforce his own 
regulations > An engraved print, from 
the durin of Bartolozz!, who is about to 
leavethis country, was prefented with each 
box and pit ticket. 
Saturday, April 16th.— A new comic 
opera, called La Modifla Raggiratrice, 
was performed for the firft time at this 
theatre, to a very numerous and fplendid 
audience. The mofic is by Paeficllo, and 
poffeffes all that melody, fo charaéteriftic 
of the works of this great matter. Many 
of the airs were ezcored, and the whole 
was received with greai, and, indeed, uni- 
verfal applaufe. Viagnoni, to whofe 
ftyle the compofition was admirably fuit- 
ed, exhibited his talents on this occafion 
to the greateft advantage. 
N.B. The Dilittanti have been much 
entertained during the prefent month, 
with two very fingular duels. The firft, 
which was 7zfended to have taken place 
between Didelot and Qnorati, was pre- 
vented by the Bow-fireet oficers, who 
crofed over, figured in, and changed part- 
ners. The fecond, which affumed a more 
ferious afpest, was between young Cra- 
mer, the harpfichord player, and Jer- 
novvicchi, the famous performer on the 
violin. This alfo was adjufted by the 
duleet fountls of a magiftrate, who actually 
converted difcord into harmony, and ob- 
liged the two rival muficians to play in 
unifon. The town, as of old, exclaims: 
“Tis odd, fuch difference fhould be 
sTwixt tweedledum and tweedledce |” 
Hh LAW 
