In consequence of the indisposition of the Gentleman who usually supplies this article, the notice of various novelties, produced at both Theatres, during the past month, is unavoidably deferred till our next number. The following observations are furnished by a Friend.

DRURY-LANE.

JAN. 22.-Greatheed's tragedy of the Regent was revived this evening, in which the sublime talents of Mrs. Siddons, in Dionora, are so eminently conspituous. The run of this play was interrupted, on its first appearance, by the king's illness in 1789. We have few modern tragedies equal to this, either for interest or pathos. The maternal affection of Dionera is finely contrasted with the unfeeling and blood-thirsty Regent. Kemble was extremely animated, and gave all requisite energy to the character.

Urania, or the Illuminé, an entertainment, with songs, (written by the Honourable Mr. Spencer, son of Lord Charles Spencer) was presented this evening. The scene lies at Tarentum, where Manfred, (a) a young nobleman, after having travelled into Germany, has imbibed a strong passion for the occult sciences. He believes in the existence of supernatural beings of various orders, and, despising the frail daughters of the earth, wishes to hold commerce with the pure and immaculate inhabitants of the sky. The principality of Tarentum is at this time held by a female of great beauty, Urania,(b) who falls in love with this eċcentric philosopher. She communicates her passion to his father, (c) by whom it is encouraged, and they form a plan to convert his regards from visionary to substantial happiness. Adjoining to the palace of Tarentum there is an inn, to (a) Mr. C. Kemble. (b) Miss De Camp. (c) Mr. Powell.

One of the apartments,

which Manfred comes with Conrad,(d) his friend. supposed to be haunted, Manfred seizes with great avidity, in hopes of feasting his eyes with some ghostly visitant. His father, disguised as a sorcerer, (in a dress precisely similar to Munden's in Mrs. Inchbald's Wise Man of the East, to which the character bears a close affinity) appears to him, and promises to disclose the secrets of the invisible world. The walls of the chamber suddenly give way, and the fair figure of Urania is seen floating on the clouds. Manfred is transported. She descends-she tells him his long labours are about to meet their due reward-after which, she again ascends. Several mysterious interviews follow, when, at last, Urania is discovered to be neither more nor less than the Princess of Tarentum. His attachment is infinitely too strong to be easily broken off, and their union is the result. Manfred, of course, quits the shadow for the substance-and thus the piece concludes. There is a sort of underplot-Pistro (e), Manfred's valet, falls in love with Jaquelina (f), maid to Urania, in which he is unsuccessfully opposed by Roderigo (g).

Of these very slender materials is this piece composed. The main incident is borrowed from Marmontel, but dramatized with far more ingenuity by Mr. Prince Hoare, in My Grandmother. The wit is bald, and the sentiments, uttered by Charles Kemble with considerable force, are worn threadbare by repetition. Bannister's part is not sufficiently prominent for his talents. We observed a few lame puns, which the good sense of the audience passed over in silence.

is

The music is principally composed by a brother of the author, except two songs of Kelly, very charmingly set indeed. The poetry of the first song exquisite; it is, however, a close imitation of one of the odes of Anacreon, where we are told of Nature's giving teeth to the lion, wisdom to man, and beauty to woman.

The manager and proprietors deserve praise for the liberal and splendid manner in which the piece is produced, and our only fear is that they should not be reimbursed. The scene in which Urania descends is most magnificent. Here, however, the first act should terminate: the chorus in the concluding scene is superfluous.

A very clever prologue, written by Lord John Townshend, was delivered with infinite drollery by Bannister.

25.-Mr. Pope appeared, for the first time at this theatre, in his favourite character of Othello. He was greeted on his entrance with universal plaudits, and he played the part with his usual energy and feeling. Iago, for the first time, by Barrymore. We have been recently accustomed to see this character acted, with unbounded applause, under a conception so very dissimilar to the mode Mr. Barrymore has adopted, as, perhaps, in a slight degree, to warp our judgment unfavourably towards Mr. B. The audience, however, were unanimous in their approbation of him throughout the play. Miss Biggs was an interesting Desdemona, and Mrs. Powell gave very great force to Emilia. The Michael Cassio of Mr. C. Kemble was exhibited with spirit. We regret the continuance of Mrs. Pope's indisposition. She was to have performed Desdemona this evening. We shall hail her return to health and the duties of her profession with great satisfaction.

(d) Mr.JHolland. (e) Mr. Bannister. (f) Mrs. Bland. (g) Mr. Wewitzer.

KING'S THEATRE.

The stage direction of the opera, this season, is committed to Mr. Kelly, whose taste and science we have so often had occasion to applaud. Mr. Jewell is the manager, and this vast concern could not possibly be vested in better hands. Many foreign engagements are on the tapis, which, when completed, will no doubt render the opera uncommonly attractive.

ASTLEY'S, WELLCLOSE SQUARE.

The industrious young manager, by a pleasing variety of entertainments, continues to fill his theatre every evening. Mrs. Astley is idolized by the inhabitants of the east, and the Phantasmagoria has been a delicious treat to the honest tars.

EGYPTIANA, LYCEUM, STRAND.

We promised, in our last, a particular account of this ingenious exhibition, and we lament that want of room should now prevent us. We can only add, that crowded audiences, night after night, are the best demonstrations of the esteem in which it is held by the town.

MISS LINWOOD'S EXHIBITION.

Since the additional pictures have been placed in the rooms in Hanoversquare, it has become a most favourite lounge, not only for our fashionable belles, but also for the Bond-street beaux.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &zc.

Theaire Royal MANCHESTER.This theatre has been entirely new painted, and very elegantly decorated, against the commencement of the winter season, which took place on the 6th of Dec. with an occasional address-the Belles? Stratagem and the Village Lawyer. The address written by a gentleman of the town, and containing some very neat and happy allusions to the peace, (so favourable to the manufactures of the place) was delivered, for the first three nights, by Mr. Ward the manager. The company seems to be on a very respectable footing indeed. Our old favourites Messrs. Ward, Bellamy, Penson, Gordon, Faulkner, Swendall, and Bengough, have been more than once mentioned in the Mirror, with due encomiums on their several talents, with which they still continue to give universal satisfaction. The new candidates among the male performers are Messrs. Huddart, Carr, and Hollingsworth, Mr. Huddart comes from the Dublin theatre, and has indeed very strong claims on our favour. This gentleman performed Othello at Covent-Garden theatre some seasons back, in a very creditable manner, (according to the report of a critical friend of mine who is now upon a visit to me from London.) He made his entrée on these boards in Frederick (Lovers Vows) which he supported sq ably as to draw down the loudest applause we remember ever to have heard in this theatre. He possesses very considerable requisites for the stage, and has great advantages of voice, figure, and expression of countenance. We could only wish to recommend to him a little more firmness and majesty of deportment, though in that respect he is at present far from inelegant.

Mr. Carr possesses much versatility; he performs a great variety of characters, and evinces, in all, much real respectability of talent, and correctness of judg ment. His Frenchmen, from the specimen of Mons. Le Medicin, in the Anatomist, we conceive to be particularly happy. Mr. Hollingsworth (late of Drury Lane) is well known in London, and has a rich comic vein of natural and unforced humour, that is highly relished by the Manchester audience. From our list of females of last year, we have to regret the departure of Miss Griffiths, who has, we are told, accepted an advantageous engagement in the Dublin theatre. Her loss is, however, very ably supplied by Mrs. Addison, a lady whose abilities are well known in the musical world, and who, we doubt not, will make a rapid progress in the favour of our amateurs. Mrs. Huddart has performed but once; we wish, therefore, to decline any present opinion of that lady. Mrs. Carr is a lively actress, in the line of chambermaids and country girls, and possesses a pleasing voice in singing. I cannot conclude without making honourable mention of Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Bellamy, and Mrs. Bernard, but their talents have been well known in the London theatres: the latter lady is particularly entitled to much praise, for the justice she does to the line of old women, lately performed by Mrs. Powell, now of Covent Garden. We have had some Christmas pantomimes, Mr. Editor, but I cannot satisfactorily proceed beyond the mention of Mr. Hollingsworth's clown. Verbum sat! Manchester, 16th Jan. 1802.

AMICUS.

Theatre WOLVERHAMPTON.-This theatre opened on the 28th Dec. 1801, with the Merchant of Venice, and the afterpiece of the Poor Soldier. The principal additions to the company are, Mrs. Farren, late Miss Perry, from the theatre royal Edinburgh, and Mr. Archer, of Drury-Lane, both of whom are the leading characters for the season. Mr. Archer, in the character of Shylock, has given much satisfaction to the amateurs of the drama; he possesses some versatility of talent, and may, with certainty, be pronounced the best trage dian that has visited Wolverhampton these several seasons. Mrs. Farren is much admired as a singer, and, as an actress, possesses no inconsiderable degree of merit. The rest of the company consists of Mesdames Gibbon (formerly Mrs. Belfille) Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Chambers, and Mrs. Archer; with Messrs. Fox (our favourite low comedian), Shuter, Chambers, Edwards, Farren (an improving young actor), and Gibbon. We have had Mr. Richer, the celebrated rope-dancer, for a few nights, whose merits are too well known to need any idle commendation that I can give. At the close of the season, Mr. Editor, with your permission, I will further particularize the merits of the company, and give you an account of any novelties that may be brought forward.

Wolverhampton, Jan. 12, 1802.

CIVIS.

Theatre HALIFAX.-In the article respecting this theatre, inserted in the Mirror for November, I saw, with some concern, a very erroneous statement, and at once concluded your correspondent could not have had from observation what was there reported. I since have been informed there is a merry war between the actors and the presumed writer, which at once accounts for the error; but it is to be regretted that your numerous readers should be misled through the H-VOL. XIII.

discontent of an individual. Mr. Martin does not perform the principal business, as set down; that department belongs to Mr. Manly, who is every way qualified, and fully adequate to it. Mr. Martin is a vocal performer, and, though not an Incledon, is very industrious, and labours to make himself useful. The sing-song of the day is, in general, but feebly echoed in the country, nor indeed can it be expected to be otherwise; collateral aid is often denied, the "pomp and circumstance" of pageantry; this, and the band, together with the hasty manner in which such pieces are prepared, merely to "catch the manner living as they rise," ought to be considered, which perhaps would temper the judgment of country criticism. In the other walks of the drama, where something more than sound is wanting, Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Manly stand conspicuous; the latter deserves something more than the negative praise of utility; he has long been considered here as both the utile et duke. The company go this season to Rochdale, for the first time, where there is an elegant little theatre-the scenery by Stanton. The novelty which the managers have to present, after an interval of five years, promises a successful season.

Halifax, 26th Dec. 1801.

A RESIDENT.

BY ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.-Our theatre opened on the 4th of January, with the Castle Spectre and Sprigs of Laurel, (the latter with alterations) for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson: the receipt amounted to upwards of £.70. This season has been more beneficial to the managers, and company at large, than the two preceding ones, though not adequate to the merits of the performers. Mr. Manly, who takes the first line of business, is a very excellent performer, and merits every encouragement. His Penruddock, Beverly, Rolla, Zanga, Richard the Third, &c. are equalled by few. Mr. Wrench takes the secondary characters: his figure and action are more admired than his voice, which is in want of better modulation. Our old friend Sidney has given us many fresh proofs of his abilities, in a routine of characters, particularly Brummagem, Cockletop, Solomon (Stranger), Sir Abel Handy, &c. Mr. Wallis made his debût here this season. We can see many promising requisites in him, and had he Mr. Gordon's line of business, he would probably be the best substitute we have had for that gentleman. Mr. Holmes is a good actor, but rather too fond of rant. Mr. Martin (mentioned in your number for November, as playing the first line of business, which is by no means the case) has much merit, but neither he nor Mr. Walker are sufficiently brought forward. Mr. O'Brien, who may justly be called the father of this company, is a very judicious performer, and bears a most respectable character in private life. Mr. Earl, though not possessed of every requisite to form an actor, has the merit of always being perfect. Mr. Robert son, one of our worthy and much respected managers, as a comic performer, is inferior to none in the country: he never appeared so much in character as in Caleb Quotem. He paints all the scenery. Since the death of Mr. Taylor, the management devolves almost wholly upon his shoulders; every night we see him in play and farce, and, to the astonishment of all, never imperfect. And now I come to the ladies, at the head of whom I shall place our other worthy manager, Mrs. Taylor, who has this se son given us fresh specimens of her great abilities, in tragedy and comedy, which are excelled by no provincial performer