At the Haymarket, Mrs. Seymour, formerly Miss Alison—who made her
debut at the St. James's when it was first opened under Braham's manage- meat—is taking the lead in genteel comedy. She has played Miss Donlon in Mrs. Inchbald's comedy of Wives as they Were and Maids as they Are, and Lady Teazle; and was applauded in both. Mrs. Seymour sacrifices the consistency of a character to making a few strong points, that tell only with the unreflecting portion of the audience. Her performances are de- ficient in unity throughout: a high-sounding burst of tragic declamation is succeeded by a display of vivacious merriment, more joyous than refined; both the gayety and pathos being overdone. Mrs. Seymour has gained experience without judgment, and possesses cleverness but not tact; so that she offends the cultivated taste as often as she propitiates the vulgar. And having neither powers of personating nor of forming a just conception of any character as a whole, she is unable to impress by the assumption of various natures. In Miss Dorillon and Lady Teazle she appeared the saute individual—the taught stage-mannerist, seeking opportunities for display.
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