THE THEATRES.
THE performances • of -the week .do not call for particular notice; the most remarkable novelty being the Queen's state-visit to Drury Lane, on Thursday. The entertainments were Rossini's opera of William Tell, with' Duprez as Arnold, and Clan. The Royal box was superbly fitted up, and - the appearance of the house was brilliant. The conjunction of two such stars as the "Star of Brunswick" and Duprez enabled the speculators
. in.seats to realize large prices; a guinea being asked for admission to the -boxes, and half-a-guinea to the pit. The Royal visiters were right loyally welcomed, and staid out the whole of the performances; which ended early by special command. . The trifling novelties promised at other English theatres faded to no-' thing. A Railroad farce, announced at the Haymarket, was thrown out of the bill, that it might not interfere with the more weighty business of re- ' hearsing Douglas Jerrold's new comedy Time Works Wonders, which is fixed for tonight. The Haymarket manager, in virtue of his assumed office .eif conservator of the legitimate drama, celebrated Shakspere's birth-day on Wednesday, by a tableau representing the great dramatist surrounded • '.by the principal characters in his plays. Mr. Webster—who "makes up" into a capital stage-resemblance of Shakspere—represented the poet, seated at a table in the dress and attitude of the Stratford bust ; and the rest of the company formed groups extending all round the stage; Mr. Farren as .11alvelio being conspicuous in the foreground, and the representative of .Ariel dangling like a doll at the door of a rag-shop from above. Mr. Webster is to personate Napoleon at the Adelphi on Wednesday, for the
. :benefit of Madame Celeste. Gomersal and Bunn have been before him in taking off Nap; but his bald head is as unique a qualification for-playing Shakspere as Stephen Kemble's corporation was for filling the part of.
• Falstaff.
A brace of Morton farces have been let off at the lyceum this week ,- but neither of them hit the mark, and one missed fire. The _Drunkard's Gla.ss did not suit the taste of the public; and the manager prudently re-1 frained from pressing it. A Good Name found more favour; though it is. not likely to endure. But better farces than these would mot supply the:
- avant of a good first piece at this theatre; which offers its main attractions: to half-price visiters.
The Hunchback is played at the Princess's with a very efficient casts mas Clifford excepted, whose representative, 'Mr. Leigh Murray, a -young debutant from the Edinburgh theatre, has no higher requisites than a good person and discretion. Miss Cushman overacts Julia • but her: vehement earnestness carries the audience along with her. Mr;. Stirling's ' ;Helen is charming for playful ease and arch vivacity ; and Compton's Modus' la the best personation of the bashful book-worm we have seen. Wallack plays .Master Walter with tact and judgment ; and Oxberry is very comical'
• Fathom.
The French plays flourish:with the combined attractions of 'Mademoiselle Flew and M. Ravel. Ravel's quaint, dry, pantomimic humour, is understood =ad relished by the audience; and, having recovered from his indisposition,. he gives full scope to his drollery. Of both the two new pieces in which he appeared this week, La 'Tante Mal-gardee, and La Rue de is Lune, he is the butt; and his comic enjoyment of discomfiture adds to the merriment created by the ludicrous mischances. Le Tartgre was played on Wed-1 nesdaty Plessy performing Elmire to admiration. Her exquisite delivery . of the dialogue is most appretiated in the best authors: what Rachel is to Racine and Corneille, Plessy is M Moller° and Beaumarchais. Ondinot is riot subtleiand wily enough for Tartufe: his personation of the arch-hypo- crite was deficient in depth, force, and finesse. Cartigny is so excellent as' ¥, that one can hardly wish him to exchange the part of the .dupe for: that of the impostor. Mademoiselle Bonval, the prettiest of soubrettes,, ;played the honest, plain-spoken waiting-maid, with great gusto.
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