better. 18. After the tragedy of King Lear, for the benefit of mr. C. Kemble, was produced, for the first time, a little interlude of one act, called, The Day after the Wedding; or, A Wife's firft Leffon.' The ftory is the taming of a termagant; but it differs from the fable of Catherine and Petruchio in this particular, that Petruchio breaks the fpirit of his wife entirely by violence; whereas the hero of this piece effects the reformation chiefly by working on his bride's feelings. His ally does, and therefore he played flexion-and rifes and falls with ease, grandeur, and devoid of difcordance, from or to the highest founds of anger, pity, refentment, or love. conceptions (alike in tragedy as comedy) are grand, original, natural. He fupports not the bufkin with rant, or the fock with grimace.-His features feem better adapted to comic archnefs than tragic expreffion. But where the glow of indignation-or the frenzied emotions of fuperior agony demand that animation of the whole countenance, it must be owned, he is fomewhat defective. But he fupplies its abfence with the voice, with fuch founds as no actor but himself can command; the glare of tragic expreffion undoubtedly belongs to John Kemble and his fifter; but the harmonious power of voice, with all its diverfified founds and magical effects on the ear, is Ellifton's.-His. action, it fhould be remembered, is alfo, in the highest order, graceful; and his judgment ftrictly correct, as far as it regards the arrangement of the paffions. In the difficult charac The dialogue is lively, the moral good; and the piece was very well received. Original Dramatic Critique. WE fhall confine our remarks to the after-feafon. Mr. Ellifton made bis first appearance (thefe two years) in the character of Octavian. Hapin the fimeft voice on the ftage, it may naturally be imagined what fuch an actor must do with Octavian.ter of Cheviot, in Kenny's new coHis frantic entrance-his fcene at the medy of The World,' (a character Goatherd's his reconciliation with abounding with with abfurdities, Floranthe, were marked with the which, in moft hands would appear towering grandeur of original fenti- very ridiculous) he harmonizes the ment, and dignified with the moft whole, and reduces it to the standard mafierly and graceful elocution. of humanity. and When we mention the variety of We were peculiarly ftruck with characters in which Ellifton appears, his Belcour.-The fire and vivacity the reader must be ftruck with fur- with which he uttered the fentiments prize at the verfatility of dramatic the vigorous eafe of his actiontalent which he poffeffes.-What the elaftic fteps with which he feempieces of fine acting are his Frederick, ed almoft to in the after-piece Of Age Tomorrow! and his Deleval, in Matrimony! • Tread on fairy-ground,' It will naturally be enquired, if he is in fhort, his whole manner were fo equally excellent in the oppofite cha- ftrictly in unifon with the generous racters in which he appears.-It may fiery Weft Indian, that he engroffed be fairly replied, If he is not uniformly, he is generally fo.-His voice one of the moft harmonious that ever pealed its liquid notes on, the human organ-is capable almoft of any inJune, 1868 the attention and admiration of the whole houfe. We much doubt, if ever the following fpeeeh was fo well delivered, when Stockwell afks him what has turned him fo, on' a fudden : 2 Z A woman A woman, one that turns, and overturns me and my tottering refolutions as fhe will.-Oh, Sir, if this is folly in me, you must rail at nature: you must chide the fun that was vertical at my birth, and would not wink upon my na •kedness, but swaddled me in the roadeft, hottest glare of his meridian beams.' One of the morning prints fays, that Ranger has never been performed fo well fince the days of Garrick-This is high, we had almoft faid uuqualified praife. On the moft mature confideration we are, how ever compelied to give it our affent. Graceful amidst all his eccentricities, a polifhed gaiety Heds its luftre over the whole performance-his throwing the filver among the chairmen, and the fubfequent fcene with Clarinda were taken as detached efforts-fine fpecimens of legitimate comedy; and his delivery of the following fentence to Mr. Strictland, received the applaufe of the whole houfe, and in addition challenges that of the prefs: Mr. Ellifton greatest advantage. but between them criticil Get thee to bed.' We fondly imagined that the preparatives were the prelude fomething wonderful to come. Da how were we difappointed by h ftarting in the front of the stage, d recting his eyes to catch the upp gallery, as though the imagina weapon had been fufpended from i railing!-Mr. Garrick made a trem bling reluctant fep or two across the Tis as you fay, Sir, when we are fober and reflect but ever fo little, we are forry • and ashamed—afhamed and ferry--and yer, the very next moment, we launch in-flage, and flarted at the tremendou to the fame abfurdities.' On Monday evening, (June 27,) mr Elifton appeared before the public, (the fecond time fince his accident) in the arduous character of Macbeth. He trod the ftage with his accustomed eafe and gracefulness during the first four acts; but in the fifth (owing to his exertions in the banquet fcene which is in the latter end of the fourth) he appeared very lame; and in his dying fcene two of the attendants were obliged to affift hin in his falling. We fear the accident may teruinate feriously to this valuable performer. Shakespear took unufual pains with the Scottish tyrant.-The fituations are highly favourable to the actor;, and the rapid tranfitions from one paflion to another, with which the character abounds, give opportunity for the diplay of talent to the vifion, as though it croffed him i his path and prevented his entrand into the chamber-then darting h beaming eyes (fuppofing it to mo forward) exclaimed in a tone of ho ror Thou marfheleft the way that I was g ing! a convulfive trembling of agon fhook his whole frame-when tur ing from it he gave vent to the fee ings of remorfe "Such an inftrument was I to use!' The audience plainly faw the eff to flife that remorfe, and (like a ma who ummonfes defparation to an a of mifchief) he made an half hat flride toward the King's apartmen which was ftopped by another terrifi ftart at the dagger's abfence, bendi his wonder-ftruck orbs of vifion vacan cancy-and fobbing (yet articu- It was Shylock in petticoats, riding on a broom-ftick! je !!!) ◄ There's no such thing!!! It is the bloody bufinefs That informs thus to mine eye !!?? This was the divine painting of ature herself.-But of this mr. El fton did not betray the most remote onception. Could he be unacuainted of the manner of Garrick : -If fo, has he no friend to inform im of particulars fo effential to an Ator poffeffed of his powers and caabilities ?—Or did he entertain the idiculous hope of excelling that which the best judges of the ftage alnoft despair of ever feeing equalled? The fcene after the murder, preented us with none of thofe horrible whifperings which Kemble (to fay nothing of mr. Garrick) fo fuccefs-fully introduces. However, in the exit (on the knocking at the fouth entry) he rofe beyond all conception. The great effect in Ellifton's acting arifes from his voice. And it is but justice to him, to obferve that the anguish of remorfe, and the agonies of vain repentance never were more powerfully produced than in his Sits in the foggy cloud, and waits for me." and all this while the little fpirit and the foggy cloud were at her feet!!! -- This witch fcene and chorus is not Shakespeare's-it is fir John Davenent's abfurd addition. But furely Hecate (with the powerful affiftance of the carpenters) refined on abfurdity!) Mr. N. Jones is an induftrious actor-we think we can, without flattery, a little compliment him on the fcore of improvement. But, for the love of grace, or propriety, or what he pleafes, we conjure him to reflect, the next time he enacts Banquo, and wears the large old military gauntlets on his bare arms, that it is as abfurd as if he were to walk down DameAtreet with his legs naked, in a pair of boots!!! Mi's Walfleins lady Macbeth is a fine piece of acting; but we with he would take a little more pains in reading the letter.--Mrs. Siddons's divine break ought to be univerfally adopted. Had Shakefpeare himself lived to fee her, he would have thanked her for the idea.-It certainly could be no difgrace to mifs Walttein to follow it it. We will present our readers with both and then let them judge for themselves Ellifton's. Tell me why finks that cauldron ?' • Shall Banquo's iffue ever reign in this (Cauldron finks) Tell me How natural is the one, breaking in the midst of the interrogation? what a happy inflexion for the voice!-How ftiff, tame, and laboured the other! Polonius's Beard. MR. EDITOR, AS your magazine is daily becoming more and more looked up to in theatrical affairs, permit me to ftate what appears to me an error in the tragedy of Hamlet. When the player King is reciting before Hamlet, Eneas tale to Dido,' Polonius exclaims This is too long, to which Hamlet replies, It shall to the barber's with your beard, Now this allufion to the beard of Polonius, evidently points out the propriety of his having one in the reprefentation: but the eye of the fpectator looks in vain upon the fmooth fhaven chin of mr. Fullam, for that longitude of beard which requires diminution, This therefore, is an error, which ought to be amended. Yours, &c. Private Theatricals, MR. EDITOR, fociety: I allude to the private theatre fcattered through every part of this town. It was faid in a newfpaper, fome time fince, that it was furely more commendable in young men to amule themselves in theatrical exhibitions, i than in drinking at alehouses.' Were thefe exhibitions the only object that thefe worthies have in attending fuch places, no one could difpute the propriety of their thes amufing themfeives; but I have good: reafon to believe, that the females who attend inftead of going there for inftruction, go there for the purpo of decoying unwary young men, and who in confequence, have fometimes performed the character of George Barnwell before, a greater number of fpectators than they are ufually he noured with in their exhibitions. I can affure you, fir, that, so fat from being a preventitive of, they are an encouragement to debauchery. Thefe theatres are frequented pric cipally by apprentices, and the inferior clerks of attornies and bankers. Now, fir, I fhould like to know where thefe gentlemen find eithe money or time to spend in fo idle and unprofitable a manner: even admitting (which cannot be the cafe) tha they do their mafter's juftice, fo far as to attend in their shops and offices during the proper hours, ftill let it he afked how they employ that time? In conning parts from the drama which they cannot comprehend. Thefe haunts are a fcandal to a go vernment which, by not deftroying H. patronifes them. They are the fin of almoft every iniquity which inge nuity can contrive, or villany execute. IT is furprifing, that you have not noticed one of the greatest pests of this metropolis, and the fource of half the improprieties we daily hear of among the younger branches of If, fir, you think thefe obfervations worth infertion, under the head of Private Theatricals, it may probably have a good effect. I am fir, with respect, Mede Mode of foftening Gontroverfy. fuccefsful retaliation Were the object even to mortify a quarrelfome antagonist in the moft fenfible manner; IN Fabroni's Life of Mozochi, it would generally be moft effectualI met with an anecdote which pleafed ly attained by paffing over his provome much. That learned man had cation without notice. There are been betrayed into unfeemly afperity many to whom a war of words is an of language in fome controverfies in agreeable exercife. They thrive by which he was engaged. Senfible of fuch contention, and are perfectly the fault, when he was apprifed of an, willing to take their fhare of reproachattack made upon a new publication ful language, provided they gain an of his, he requested a friend to perufe opportunity of returning it with intethe picce, and draw up a fummary reft. I heard of a lady of free fpeech, of the arguments, omitting all per- who found herself often provoked to fonal and extraneous matter. Thefe employ her vituperative powers on he fet down and anfwered, without her hufband. His method was alfeeling any temptation to deviate ways to take up his fiddle and play from the calmnets of a more argu- her a tune, without opening his lips, mentative debate. Whatever irritat- whilft he was bursting with vexatiing expreffions there might be in the on. Her violence, augmented by his work of his antagonist, they were tranquility, at length brought her to all dropt, and nothing came before her death-bed; but when near expirhim but objections ftated in the way ing, I think,' faid the, I could reof a friend. cover yet, if the fellow would but anfwer me:' this remedy, however, he was not at all inclined to administer, This, I think, would he an excellent method to be purfued by all thofe who cannot regard an opponent in any other light than that of an enemy, or who are unable to preferve their temper when affailed by illibes rality and abufe. A man of a warm difpofition, in his impatience of infuls, is ready to fay, like M. Harpin, in Moliere, Mai, me plaindre doucement? Even among the philo fophers there are, I fear, very few who would be able to perfevere in the cool indifference to abufe difplayed by the writer who thus begun his reply to an adverfary: Your work confifts of railing and reafoning; to the railing I fay nothing-to the reafoning I answer as follows: A though fuch forbearance is found by experience to be uncommon, I am rather furprized that it fhould be fo, confidering the manifeft fuperiority, it gives to the party practifing it. Who does not feel that there is a grandeur in thus treating with filent contempt the effufions of petulance of maligpity, which is forfeited by the most To return to the prudent expedient of Mazochi.-One who thould be unprovided with a friend capable of ferving him in the manner mentioned, might, perhaps, perform a fimilar office for himself, by refolutely turning over every page of his opponent, which a glance of the eye fhould inform him to contain nothing but perfonalities, and ftopping only at the argumentative parts, which, to make fure of them he might cut out, and ftudy by themfelves. At any rate,. a controverfialist who is confcious of being prone to irritation, might make it a rule never to publifh a reply without firft committing it to the examination of fome fuber friend, who fhould have full authori ty to expunge every word he did not approve. There is no doubt that this would operate as a fufficient damper: for there are few who cannot with to lerable patience bear the abufe levelled at a friend. 4 I remember a comic inflance of the |