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1809.

MEMORANDA DRAMATICA.

COVENT-GARDEN.

Dec. 16. Exile.-All the'World's a Stage.*

Dec.

*The rebellion being now at an end, and concession on the part of the theatre having ratified a peace† with the public, the critic will again return to his former occupation. We shall on this day, however, amuse the reader with a few extracts from a very ingenious epilogue on the subject of the theatrical riots, which was written by Mr. PAGE, an under-master, for the representation of the Phormio of Terence by the Westminster boys. After this, we hope never more to have to meddle with a theme so tedious and disagreeable.

The speakers from the dram. pers. of the play are eight. Demipho begins, and talks of the noises at the theatre, which are thus well enumerated:

"Per crepitacula, cornua, cymbala, tympana, tintin-
nabula, campanas, sistra, tubas, crotala;
Exululando, concrepitando, vociferando,

Cum strepitu, crepituque, et fremitu, et gemitu."

He then asks Dorio what he is? Dorio replies a merchant.—Dem. What kind?-Dor. Muliebre genus-woman-kind.-A he-bawd!, says Geta. He is then asked what reason he has to complain; and he immediately attacks the private boxes, on account of their being taken away from his girls:

Honestis

Quod nova me fraudant ista theatra lucris.
Matronis datur ille severis, virginibusque,

Qui locus ancillas ceperat ante meas.

Demipho defends them by saying that they are now nearly the only places in the theatre where a modest woman can sit without offence. Hegio is introduced as a lawyer, which seems a hit at Mr. Clifford.

Dem. Proh pudor ille reus,

Hegio, consultus juris, cultuque forensi!

Heg. Pol mos cuique suus.-.
-Dem. Possimus iste tuus.

Cratinus

It is called The Treaty of St. Clements, because of the meeting at the Crown and Anchor.

Dec. 18. Hamlet.-Don Juan.*

Dec.

Cratinus excuses the grunting, braying, and hissing of the O. P.'s, because man is an imitative animal, and as it is lawful and fit to imitate every thing natural, why not hogs, asses, and geese? -homini certè facere ista licebit,

Quæ porcis, asinis, anseribusque licet.

Est homo natura σαν μιμηλικον-ergo
Quis boat, aut balat, sibilat, aut ululat,

Qui rugit, et mugit, gannitque, et quinnit, et hinnit,
Omnia naturæ convenienter agit.

We now come to the Jew-ruffian boxers. Davus complains of the blows he had received. Phormio says that he beats his friends as he loves them-quos amo, tundo magis:

-statui compescere turbas:

Simplex hæc istis nostra medela malis.

Quem frustra tentes convincere vi verborum,
Pugnos in fauces ingere, mutus erit.

that is, supposing Young Harris to be speaking: I proposed to quiet the disturbances: this is our simple remedy for these evils-Having tried in vain to convince a man by the force of words, ram your fists into his chops, and he will be silent!

Captain Cook tells us of certain people in the Pacific Ocean, who are pummelled by slaves till they go to sleep. Mr. Harris had certainly read this account, but, in applying the recipe, made an unfortunate mistake in the latitude.

* A note was thrown on the stage, relating to the article of the treaty respecting the private boxes, but no notice was taken of it. Mr. Kemble was frequently called on during the first act, but he turned a deaf ear to their enquiries. The answer is now given. To give it extempore, is not so easy to Mr. Kemble as people may imagine—the following anecdote will prove it. At the O. P. dinner, one of the party leant across to Mr. Kemble, and said—“ Pray, Mr. Kemble, get up and speak to the company- -a few words from you will do more than the longest speech from Mr. Clifford." "Sir," replied Mr. K. “I have not the art-I have been so long used to repeat the words of other people, that I find it very difficult, without previous study, to deliver any of my own." "Stuff!" cried the gentleman, "I don't want you to make a set speech-a word or

two

Dec. 19. Merchant of Venice.-Poor Soldier.

20. Hamlet.-Is he a Prince?

Dec.

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two-can't you jump upon the table, and cry O. P.! O. P.!-they'll understand you then, as well as if you were to talk to them for a month."

Mr. Kemble in Hamlet never looked or played better. It is a noble performance, and full of intelligence, hut it is impossible not to feel that it might be acted in a manner more congenial to our natural feelings. Finely artful as it is, it is not a perfect triumph of art, for the art does not conceal itself. The applause was prodigious and indiscriminate; but the meb always run from one extreme to the other. Now they suppress their hisses when they are dissatisfied, and indeed restrain their laughter, lest they should be thought to do it offensively. So when Mr. K., as Hamlet, said,

"The time is out of joint; Oh, cursed spight
That ever I was born to set it right."

they did not stir a muscle-no, nor even when he said...“ Oh, the RECORDERS; let me see one." No disapprobation either was shewn when he told the pit this simple truth-" The groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing, but inexplicable dumb shows and noise."

This halcyon spirit also happily prevailed in favour of the kings and queens of the piece. Mrs. St. Leger, the Venus mammosa of the company, had cause to rejoice, and the ghost of Mr. Egerton to sing Psalms. When we use Hamlet's language, and call it a poor ghost, we do not pretend, with our brother critics, to know how fast a ghost ought to walk, or talk, or deport himself in any way, but we feel that a spirit, uttering such words as he does, should not be ludicrous. Therefore, and nevertheless for having seen him perform Don Juan, we shall be glad to find that he has given up the ghost. This Don Juan should have been played by Mr. C. Kemble. Mr. Egerton has no look or action for the part, but he may still be useful in the piece-he is fond of the ghost-let him be put upon the 'horse. Of old Murray's Horatio, Hamlet's youthful schoolfellow, "the antique Roman," we shall say nothing, nor of Miss Bolton's sorry Ophelia, and only a word of Mr. Davenport's Player-King.— His judgment of course teaches him not to play this part with all his usual powers of acting, but we must presume to think, with deference, that he contrived to underact himself rather too much.

Mr.

Dec. 21. Man of the World.-We fly by Night."

22. Lear.-Waterman.

23. Exile.-Tom Thumb.t

26. Roman Father.-Harlequin Pedlar, or the Haunted Well.t

Dec.

Mr. Kemble's dress was perfect, but we think the same attention should be paid to propriety throughout. His adoption of the star, the order of Daneburgh, as a stage ornament, is very proper, notwithstanding its disuse. The cloak which he wears at the grave, might, in our opinion, be well dispensed with in his scene with Osprich. It is a custom of long-standing, to let the sides of a room reach the ceiling-the new scenery at this theatre, is above or rather below any such union.

Mr. CLIFFORD, the O. P. King, was in the lower boxes, and with great complacency and condescension, conversed with some of his subjects in the pit.

* To-night we had a new description of placards, all running in favour of generosity and mercy, viz. "Candour and liberality require that Brandon should be restored." Their reception was not altogether flattering, although numbers seemed inclined to support the cause of the fallen. Having compelled his discharge, the next best triumph would perhaps be to reinstate him. Bis vincit, qui se vincit in victoriâ—he conquers twice, who, when flushed with victory, subdues himself.

+ Petitioning placards in favour of Mr. Brandon's restoration, again appeared, and whether they came from the immediate friends of Mr. B. or from the O. P.'s, we think it would be generous in the latter to further their intention. To take revenge on an enemy, is only to be equal to him-to seek none, is to be his superior. However, the cause of this over-vigilant servant does not appear to be much advocated by the managers-a desire on their part to reinstate him would seem to admit that he acted entirely according to their directions, whilst his disgrace leaves the greater share of the burthen on his own shoulders.

The following advertisement at the foot of the play-bills, has appeared since the one copied in our last, p. 386.

"The public are most respectfully informed, that after this season, the entire circle of upper boxes will be open to general use, excepting only three annual boxes on each side of the theatre."§

§ This leaves ten private boxes, as in the year 1802.

Its

Dec. 27. Wheel of Fortune.-Harlequin Pedlar, or the Haunted

Well.

28. Merchant of Venice.*-Id.

66

Dec.

Its origin is attended by some curious circumstances. Not approving of the former concession with regard to the private boxes, a part of the committee, namely, Messrs. Scott, Powell, and Savage, waited last Friday on Messrs. Kemble and Harris, at the house of the former in Great Russell-Street. Having stated their wishes, Mr. Harris hesitated about the terms, but Mr. Kemble recommended compliance. This weighty deputation from the committee, Messrs. Scott, Powell, and Savage, on the part of the public," seeing a difference of opinion, most condescendingly gave the proprietors till the next day at twelve o'clock, to come to a resolution, which, proving adverse to the complaint, was to bring down O. P. vengeance on the humbled foe. Retiring, Mr. Kemble followed them to their carriage (a hack), recommended them to the spirit of health, and continued waving his hands to them till Jarvy drove off. At twelve next day, with Mr. HARRIS and Mr. ESTE, (a friendly O. P.) sure enough he comes-at the house of Mr. PLACE, a tailor at Charing Cross, the managers meet the noble deputies. Mr. KEMBLE was scarcely in the room, when he said, “Come, Mr. Este, come, have you told Mr. Scott the good news? It is all agreed, gentlemen, as you desire. We shall be ruined, but the voice of the public must be obeyed." Much bowing succeeded this information, during which Mr. Brandon's case was favourably alluded to by the honourable deputies, but Mr. Kemble not appearing to travel with them, a further assortment of courtesies and flexions, which lasted to the threshold of the door, backed out the proprietors, and left the Junta, masters in the council as well as in the field.

We have now merely to add, that the O. P. dinner is, in commemoration of this singular victory in the mimic world, to be celebrated annually at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand. Mr. CLIFFORD will of course be in the chair, and it is by no means too much to expect, after what we have seen, that Mr. KEMBLE, will, with an O. P. medal dangling at his breast, be found officiating as his deputy!

* Mr. Cooke was to have performed Shylock, but he absented himself, and the consequence was that a most ungenerous feeling pervaded the house against him. We call it ungenerous, because Mr.

Bull

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