THE BEGGAR'S OPERA REVERSED.
THE intended performance, for a benefit, of the Beggar's Opera, with the female characters by men, and the male by women, has called forth the expression of much angry reprobation. The Morning Chronicle correctly- says- " It is by no means a modern innovation to assign the female characters in The Beggar's Opera, on a benefit night, to males. About thirty years ago this was done at the Haymarket Theatre, for the benefit of Charles Bannister, father of Mr. John Bannister, himself the most celebrated bass vocalist of his day. Charles Bannister personated Polly, and Mr. Sedgwick Lucy ; in fact, all the prominent characters in this delightful opera were reversed."
We believe it may be added, that Mrs. KENNEDY, who played one of the male parts, was at the time distressingly large with child ! But the precede pt is no apology for the repetition of the gross foolery. The proposed exhibition is a silly and offensive one, and the propriety of the managers of the Theatre should have prompted them to put the veto on it. They will doubtless plead, that when they have let the Theatre for a benefit, it is out of their hands, and they have nothing to do with the performance ; but surely they will not pretend that it con- sists with propriety to let the house for any indecent use that might be made of it. A private gentleman lets his house subject to the common chances of morality ; but he does not knowingly let it to the amateur of balls after the old Duke of QUEENSEERY'S taste, or for the convenience of paw-paw company, going a degree beyond that afforded by the theatrical saloons. The mere project of the entertainment in question indicates how morbidly diseased is the taste which remains for theatrical amuse- ments; and seems to justify the character we have elsewhere given of the great vats. After all that has been said in objection, we make no doubt that the whimsical grossness will draw a crowded house.
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