DUCROW'S PERFORMANCES.
WE notice Mr. DUCROW'S representations of Tableaux Virantes, now exhibiting at Drury Lane Theatre, under this head, as they more properly belong to the class of pictorial than dramatic performances. They are not, however, so strikingly effective as his personations of Antique Statues, because they are too theatrical. The additions, also, of colour and other pictorial aids, render the outline of the form less defined ; while, by bringing the appearance nearer to nature, they re- quire strong characteristic expression to complete the portrait.
Duceow portrays the Passions by means of the pantomime of action and attitude only ; his face is not "subdued to the quality" of the par. titular passion which he represents. As the Greek Warrior, also, while brandishing his spear or sword with violent action of the finest kind, his features are dressed in the smile of the ballet-dancer, which entirely destroys the effect. In his personifications of the Antique Statues, the expression was merged in the general sculptural look of the head and the whole figure ; his form and attire being of stony whiteness, so that it was like witnessing the animation of a piece of sculpture ; and as he darted into the position of some fine classical figure, a thrill of admira- tion ran through the spectators. His representation of a bronze statue of a Water God was the only part of the present exhibition that ap- proached that which we allude to ; and it was equally fine. The alle- gorical impersonations of the Seasons, Day and Night, and the animated picture of the Last Man, the Victor of the Olympic Games, the Fall of Phaeton, &c. were perhaps quite as meritorious, so far as DUCROW'S attitudes were concerned ; but they were rendered tedious and inefficient by the accompaniment of some puerile verses, recited by another actor, and by the addition of some stage fripperies intended to fill up the pauses (which they did most drearily) between the several changes of costumes. We wish Mr. Du cnow would give his Antique Statues again ; they are fine studies for the artist, and we never tire of seeing them. He also displays his form, his skill, and taste, to great advantage; and the exhibition is one of a really classic description, and appropriate and ornamental to the stage.
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