officers, they challenge Tom, Jerry, and Green, whose fears are most laughably painted by WILKINSON, the consequence of this meeting is a visit to the prison of the Prefecture of Police, from which bondage they are shortly released by the interference of the ladies. The discovery takes place at the fair of St. Cloud.

The dialogue is of the most common-place kind, and we do not recollect a single instance of a good thing" being spoken throughout, and it was only the eccentricity of WILKINSON that at all raised a smile upon our countenance, no thanks to the author. The piece is so very deficient in incident, and the same individuals appear so continually throughout every scene merely "to make up a show," that any novelty the piece may otherwise possess wears completely off before the end of the first act. It is merely a continued opening and shutting, letting down and drawing up of painted views (like a penny show), from beginning to end, till the sight becomes palled, and is "fixed on vacancy and nothingness." Some extremely novel clap-trap or other (of about a hundred years standing) is introduced at every opportunity, as impertinent as it is disgusting, but which we are happy to say met in every instance with deserved reprehension. This piece is far inferior to one of the same kind, called "Life in Paris," produced at the Cobourg last season, (Vide Vol. II. p. 305,) and from which most of the author's ideas seem to have originated, at the least the best of them, and the "VIVE LA BAGATELLE; or, Tom and Jerry on the other Side of the Water," now performing at the same theatre, is also far beyond it in point of originality, comicality of situation, and superiority of language. Those who have seen the wo pieces, will, we are certain, agree with us.

But we must do justice to the actors; they were every thing that could be wished from highest to lowest, and, but for their powerful exertions, the thing must have been condemned. WRENCH's style of acting is well known; he was lively, animated, and spirited as ever. HERRING'S Logic very excellent. J. REEVE's Jerry very so so. He really should pay more attention to his part than his person, (which, by the bye, is not the most graceful). He was so extremely negligent, that we at times felt our cho

ler rise, and determined to punish him, by giving our exasperated feelings vent, in the way so inimical, to an actor's reputation, with

"The dismal hiss,

The hideous sound of public seorn."

We, however, give him this piece of advice, publicly, to place his hands before him, to look at the personage who is speaking to him, or to whom he is himself addressing, and to give up all attempts at singing until he has improved himself in the science of music. It really was grating to hear him "straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps." Of WILKINSON; we dare not trust our pen upon bis inimitable performance, for we shall certainly run into a continued strain of eulogium, which might almost fill up a number. The only thing we can advise our readers to do is to see him themselves, and that cynic must have an un.. natural heart whose face be not lit up with the "laugh of of joy" at this truly whimsical performance. His best scenes were in the cabin where he (with the rest of the passengers), is

"Oh si sic omnes-they're all on board,
With brandy and cork jackets stor'd,
Qualms and a storm-the usual trick
When half seas over they are sick!"

At the Cafe des Mille Colonnes, when he is in liquor,
"And yielding to the champagne's force,
Rides home on a new sort of horse."

At Harriet Dunn's (the Old Bailey beef shop of Paris), where

"Tom, Logic, and friend Green, all three,
At home! are at dinner to a T."

And at the Bois de Bologne (the Chalk Farm of Paris), where he makes his will, and displays his terror at the sight of the instruments of death. His acting in this scene was exceedingly ludicrous. The minor parts of the piece were all excellently filled. Ikey Flash, (employed in the gas works, from Peter Street, Westminster,) by Mr. WALBOURN, was well sustained, and the agility he displayed in some very difficult manoeuvres, when dancing with La

Mere Radet [Mr. SANDERS], and which con house with laughter, deserves the highest applau bestow. Mr. W. REEVES as Saucy Sam, gu Dover Mail; Mr. BUCKINGHAM as Andrew W horse-dealer; Mr. SALTER as Jack Ballast; and N MERSLEY as Mad. Genevieve (in search of an En band), were all respectively excellent iu their ances. The scenery is beautiful, particularly D Calais, Tivoli, the Thuilleries, Palace of the Luz the Champs Elysees, Porte St. Dennis, Versailles rious others. The Vintage Fêté, (from the "D de la Fêté des Vignerons de Vevey, 1819,") was managed.

WEST LONDON THEATRE.

We regret exceedingly that it has not been in o of late to pay that attention to this theatre which liar attractions entitle it to claim. We attende second of January to witness the represent GOLDSMITH'S comedy, "She Stoops to Conqu were highly delighted with the effective manner it was performed. The Young Marlow of Mr. was a finished portrait; his mauvaise honte, whe presence of the ladies, was exceedingly natural, trasted powerfully with his cool self-possession boastings when he supposes that he is addressing maid. Mr. LOVEDAY as the father of the heroine us much, and evinced the possession of no mean of comic ability. The Hastings of Mr. CORDELL spectable, and the Tony Lumpkin of DOBBS elicit applause. It can hardly be necessary for us to Miss BRUNTON's Miss Hardcastle was a performa plete with fascination. In every scene that calle her powers the audience were enraptured with the spells of genius and beauty. Her interviews with h ward lover were managed with great spirit and ar and, at the conclusion of the piece, the appeal audience, which the author has put into the mouth

THEATRICAL MAGAZINE.

51

BARNARD as Miss Neville, contributed to the amuset of the house; and, altogether, the most perfect juswas done to this lively production, and the completest sfaction evinced on the part of all who witnessed it.

COUNTRY THEATRICALS.

DOVER THEATRE,

Mr. DRAMA,

I have often been inclined to believe that the "ImmorBard" wrote one line for the critics, though he despised icism, and that line was

"Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice,"

would to God, Mr. DRAMA, that every critic had made I would make these emphatic words their invariable tto, then would many proud ones be held up to proper rn, and humble merit rear its drooping head. Then uld the gaudy tulip succumb to the violet, and the ostenous sun-flower bend to the rose-but to my subject. eratic mode of life has lately led me to review most of Southern provincial theatres, and I could (had you m) fill sheets from my port-folio, but I perceive in your t "communications to Correspondents," that you are her overstocked with the Commodity, I merely select at I consider one of the best companies of comedians, to the subject of my present communication, viz. the Dover Company," who carry on the war under the banof the veteran PENLEY, I was last night highly gratiby the very spirited manner in which the Comedies of -"Hypocrite," and "Ways and Means," were enacted; will not be much surprised at this, Mr. DRAMA, when ell you that Doctor Cantwell was performed by the only ⇒ctor Cantwell on the stage-DoWTON, “who is in him

returning half a dozen times seldomer to tell them " they will all be damn'd"-once or twice does very well, but beyond that "Nature is outraged," A Mr. BARTON played Colonel Lambert with considerable ease, and more than once reminded me of WRENCH; Sir John was sustained by Mr. FENTON, who looked ten years younger than his son, -excepting this, the part was very respectably played, especially the scene in which he discovers the villainy of the "Hypocrite." Darnly and Seward fell into the hands of a Mr. CLIFTON and Mr. MONTAGU-fell is rather an inauspicious word, for true it is they did fall much below what they might have been had they obtained a closer connexion with the author. Miss R. PENLEY was the heroine of the piece, and both looked and played the character with nice discrimination. Mrs. ANGELS young Lady Lambert was not angelical; she played tolerably well, but mouthed her words as though she strove to be unintelligible, and to distort what nature seems to have made very pretty-her face. Betty looked very young,and Lady Lambert very old; this she cannot help, but the wardrobe keeper should have dressed her better. In" Ways and Means,' DoWTON found both ways and means to keep the few that were in the house in a continued roar. Mr. M. PENLY was a very lively Random, but, as TATE WILKINSON said to MATHEWS, "he's very tall." Mr. CLIFTON's Scruple was better than his Darnly. Tiptoe was sustained by a very talented little fellow, a Mr. WYATT, whose abilities ought to command a situation in one of our metropolitan theatres, and in the present dearth of comic talent, our London managers would do well to turn their eyes towards Dover. The part of Tiptoe is too inconsiderable to admit of a full development of his powers, but bis drunken scene gave earnest of something "greater that remained behind." Harriet and Kitty were very spiritedly done by Mrs. FAUCIT SAVILLE and Miss JONAS. And yet, Mr. DRAMA, notwithstanding the superiority of the company, aud the attraction of Mr. DoWTON, I am sorry to say, there was but 66 a miserable account of empty boxes."

Dover, Jan, 11, 1823.

Yours, &c,

PETER PRY,

Printed by T. and J. Elvey, Castle Street, Holborn.