For the other great feature of the theatrical week we
must go North- wards—to Sadler's Wells; where Antony and Cleopatra, a play almost un- known to the stage, has been produced with remarkable splendour. As, in consequence of its character as a "history," it has many portions which are dramatically ineffective, though they may please the reader of Plutarch, Mr. Phelps has very judiciously thrown himself with full vigour into the work of decoration, resolved that when the interest flags the pictorial illus- tration shall attract. The drunken party on board Pompey's galley is a remarkable instance of a comparatively insignificant scene being lifted into. importance by the completeness of decorative details, and the spirit even of the minor actors. The whole of the scenery, compiled from the copious stores of information which we now possess respecting Roman and Egyptian archreology, is in excellent taste, and shows the most laudable degree of care. The celebrated lovers are represented by Mr. Phelps and Miss Glyn; and the performance of the lady is one of the most remarkable features of the piece. Her Cleopatra is really a very thorough conception of a most peculiar character, wrought out with a high degree of elaboration, and that without any precedent. She not only gives force to the stronger passages, but her penetration into the under-current of wickedness which exists be- neath all Cleopatra's fascinations, displays an acumen constantly exercised. You feel that the spiteful rage with which she receives the news of Oda- via's marriage, and which would vent itself with Oriental cruelty on the messenger, is only the stronger manifestation of the lurking devil which peeps out in her blander moments. The stiff mannerism, which was so'
unpleasing in some of this lady's earlier Performances, she has not wholly cast aside; but she has softened it down with a judicious corporeal disci- pline, by which she produces many attitudes of statuesque effect.
Previous page
