Wignal was long delayed in England; but, in the summer of 1793, he arrived in the river Delaware, with a company which would have done credit to a theatreroyal. At this time the yellow fever first broke out in Philadelphia, and raged to a most alarming degree. The actors were landed at Wilmington, 30 miles below the seat of contagion; and, in the winter, opened their campaign in an elegant new theatre in Chesnut-street. The other theatre, with what was called the old American company, had also commenced the season; and at no period during the management of Garrick at DruryLane, and Rich at Covent-Garden, was rivalship carried on with more spirit. The inhabitants flocked alternately to each, and the comparative merits of the companies formed the principal subject of the day. Mr. Hodgkinson had become deservedly very popular; and, to oppose him, Mr. Fennel, as the champion of the new company, came forward in Othello, and was received with bursts of applause. In comic operas Mrs. Wrighten had delighted the audience, supported by Mrs. Hodgkinson, also a first-rate singer. To these were opposed Mrs. Oldmixon, (late Miss George, of Drury-Lane,) Miss Broadhurst, from Covent-Garden, and Mrs. Seymour, from the Portsmouth theatre; and thus both houses gave a rich musical treat, alternately with comedy and tragedy, every night during the season, and to overflowing houses. In Wignal's company were also Chalmers, formerly the harlequin at Covent-Garden, but now a first-rate comedian; Darley, from the same theatre; young Blisset, from Bath; Warren, Francis, Biddle, Green, Finch, &c. all eminent in their line of acting. Tragedy, from the support of Mrs. Merry, was decidedly in favour of the new company; the other house having no actress to stand in competition with her. On the other hand, with the lively acting of Mrs. Hodgkinson, Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Hallam, and Mrs. Morris, comedy seemed to incline to the old American company. The ballet-dances, at the new theatre, had a powerful attraction. They were led by Byrne, from Covent-Garden, assisted by Francis, a good dancer, and a favourite comic performer. Philadelphia, notwithstanding the fever in the summer, was a scene of gaiety in the winter. Besides the attraction of the theatres, Rickets and Lailson had each amphitheatres, whose rival horsemanship and burlettas were also well attended. A NEW inorning paper called the Pilot, has given a long criticism on Mr. Elliston's performance of the character of Fitzharding, in which the critic condemns the actor, for substituting the word " regiment," in place of "valiant troop," a mistake (according to him) peculiarly absurd, as no body of men were called "a regiment, at the time the scene is supposed to have passed-and this, it is added, on the third night of representation!—with a note of admiration, intimating extreme carelessness or stupidity in the performer. It is but justice to Mr. Elliston to state, that the word "regiment," made part of the original copy of the Curfew-that "regiment" held its place in the speech, on the first, second, and third nights of the performance, but that after the third night, Mr. Tobin, (brother to the author) desired that the words "valiant troop," should be substituted. M. C. THEATRICAL MISERIES. Coming to London, from a great distance, for the sole purpose of gratifying your loyal curiosity, once before you die, with a sight of the Royal Family at the play; then, on entering the house, finding that the place kept for you is directly over their heads; so that, when you have painfully stretched yourself farther and * I am informed, that both these men, at different times, were drowned in returning to Europe, with the property acquired by their exhibitions in America. farther over the front of the box till you are in danger of getting a fuller view of them from the Pit, you at length succeed in catching the tip of a Princess's feather, or- if you are still more fortunate-of a royal nose! After going very early to the Opera, for the sole purpose of hearing a celebrated duo, in the first act, (for which you had always come in too late) learning from the bill, as you take your seat, that you are to be cut short off with the second, which you already know by heart. At the Play-just as you are beginning to recover yourself, after a song of unequalled length and insipidity, to which the singer has added the deficiencies of taste, time, and tune,-" encore! encore!"---from every mouth in the house but your own, which is fully taken up with hissing, and gaping alternately. Kemble in comedy---with a great-coat on. The present reformed state of the Dramatis Personæ at the Theatres, consisting of a total transposition of ages and characters among the performers; the matrons and seniors of the stage frisking and dashing through the parts of romps and rakes; turning Grecian daughters into grandmothers, and young lovers into rheumatic twaddlers; while their little ones are laying down Tom Thumb, the Children in the Wood, &c. and getting leave from their mammas to "round their baby-brows with crowns and tiaras, as the toddling Zaras and lisping Lears of the scene. I last night went to the house, in a humour to be rationally amused, and little thinking to find any thing under full age and size upon the boards--and there did I see one of these tyrants from the nursery (it was in Bajazet!) turning its trip into a strut, like a Lilliputian grenadier, trying to knit its brow, and flourishing its little falchion at an overgrown victim of its vengeance, who was bending half way down, to hear more distinctly the penny-trumpet tones in which he was threatened; he was discreet enough, however, to seem quite unmoved by it all; for fear, no doubt, of acting upon the wrong muscles in the countenances of the audience.--Why, now, we may laugh, or swear, at all this, as we please; but the public sees no joke in the case: the boobies are now getting to choose their players as they do their pease ---the smaller and younger the better!---Plague take the folly, where will it stop? For as to what I have now stated, it is nothing! absolutely nothing!---In the country, they are getting far beyond us; it was but last week that, as I was riding by a provincial theatre, my eye was caught by the huge letters of a bill on the walls: you may guess what I felt, when, on looking it over, I found what follows:-- At the Theatre Royal, On Monday next, will be presented THE TEMPEST. In which, by particular Desire, the Part of CALIBAN MISS BIDDY SUCKLING, An Infant, not yet quite Four Years old! and who appeared in the same Character, almost Two Years ago, with such universal Applause at the Theatre, Dublin. N. B. The INFANT CALIBAN Will introduce (for that Night only) a Song, in Character, written and composed, and to be sung and accompanied, by herself. To which will be added LOVE A-LA-MODE. The Part of SIR ARCHY MACSARCASM, by the Child. The Parts of CORIOLANUS, King Henry THE EIGHTH, and SHYLOCK, have been some time in Rehearsal by MISS BIDDY, and will be performed by her as soon as the daily Bulletin shall declare her sufficiently recovered from her Hooping Cough; a Disorder, which the Public must have perceived, is rather friendly, than otherwise, to her Performance of CALIBAN, in which she will, therefore, continue to appear, during the Remainder of the Season. The Pit will, as usual, be laid into Boxes, on every Night of Miss Biddy's Appearance in CALIBAN, The Manager further respectfully acquaints the Public, that, in consequence of the numerous and calamitous Accidents which have arisen, from the unexampled pressure of the Crowd on the Child's Nights, Skilful Surgeons will, henceforth, be regularly stationed in all Parts of the House. Vivant Rex et Regina. LACHRYMAL GLUM. Mr. CONDUCTOR, POETRY. ADDRESS TO HEALTH. IT is said of a celebrated Roman, that he generally triumphed over bodily indisposition by intense adplication of mind. For the last three weeks I have been doomed to a recumbent posture, in consequence of a severe surgical operation. On the first day of my confinement, the maxim of Cicero occurred to me, and I have had ample opportunities to try its efficacy. Success hath realized my expectation, and my hours have passed with uncommon tranquillity. The following verses were composed to beguile my pain; and they are sent for publication, not from any idea I entertain of their superior excellence---but in hopes that the design which gave them birth may reach the ears of some fellow-sufferers, and enable them to triumph over a few, at least, of those "thousand ills which flesh is heir to." Indeed, an individual, long disciplined in the seminary of affliction, (which hath been my case, in no small degree, these last nine months,) natura ly outlives every desire---but that of being useful. With sincere wishes for the success of your promising Miscellany, I am, Sir, your's, &c. April 18th, 1807. ADDRESS TO HEALTH. Wrapt in thy robes of rosy hue, I ask no earthly stores or power, Far nobler boons I would obtain, What were the charms of growing wealth, And glowing tints divine? Yet touch'd by thine inspiring wand, And there enraptur'd sings. W.. |