On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    _81g__ ___... - _: THE LEADjL [Ko, 438, ...

  • 

    A Danger at Tiikatjiks.—>'A Subscriber" ...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    He» Majesty's Theatre.—Mr. I/Umley, Who ...

    tion ; and as far we have had opportunities of judging , has been met more than half way by public feeling and ^ opinion . The heroine's part in the Traviata has been as brilliantly supported during the past season as- it was heretofore created before a London aadienc * by Mdile . Piccolomini , and was sustained by her on Saturday night with undiminished spirit and , indeed , success . She also , witli Signor Giuglini , sang an extract from the Italianised Bohemian Girl , from "which the audience selected " You'll remember me" for an encore . la the course of the evening the national anthem was introduced , in compliance with time-honoured custom ; and the performances closed with a ballet , ia which Madlle . Boschetti vras the leading artiste .

    koyal Italian Opera . —We are somewhat at issue with our German friends and contemporaries , who find the Martha of Herr IFlotow a masterpiece of comic opera ; but we are irk no "wise inclined to censure the light , music-loving portion of our operagoing public who so enthusiastically applaud its silver strains at each repetition . To the latter , we look upon music as agreeable , in proportion to the relief it offers from all the cares and ills that Britons of all quality seem doomed to inherit . The former , who have time and brains to spare for the appreciation of more serious works , have , we sometimes think , really , no business to have installed such , operas as Martha among operatic successes . Our dear

    national " Iiast rose of summer" is alone sufficient to account for our sympathy with the composer , who has so flattered our taste as to set it as a gem among the minor sparks of his own device ; and on Saturday , as erst , this choice morceau carried the burden of the entire composition to a brilliant success . Mr . Gye has effected arrangements which have enabled him to " have the last word" in the operatic campaign . While Piecolomini is en route for America , and Mr . laiinley perhaps , with characteristic diligence , already on the move in search of novelties , the Co vent Garden management has presented the Bon Giovanni , on Monday , and , on Tuesday , HeroWs 2 umpa . The simple intimation , the hero ' s partis

    taken by Signor TamberJik , is sufficient to assure the reader of its correct reading and lyrical treatment . The marine picture in the second act was a perfect masterpiece of scenic art . Thursday ' s opera was Les Huguenots , and that for to-night , the closing one , will bring , we trust , to a satisfactory end the three months' season of 1858 . Having opened under circumstances of considerable disadvantage , and having had an up-hill game to play against those illfounded rumours of deficiencies and unhealthiness which it is so vexy safe and pleasant for the laudatores temporis acti to indulge in upon the

    inauguration , of every new theatre or place of public resort , where capacity for sound and public comfort are especially demanded , Mr . Gye has , to our thinking , redeemed with marvellous exactitude his promises to the portion of the public whose support he most courted . Ten operas have been produced during the season , and we fully agree with a contemporary , who says that , -when it i 9 considered that every scene , every dress , and every piece of machinery was cf necessity new , it is impossible to over-estimate the spirit , diligence , and zeal of the administration , or to withhold the praise which is justly due to th « managers of each and every department

    . Lycedm Theatre . —Mrs . Howard Paul having sufficient engagement in her entertaining entertainment of Patchwork at the Egyptian Hall , and Mr . Ira Aldridge having quitted us for Prague , where his powerful Shakspearean delineations find even more favour than in this country , the Lyceum Theatre has subsided from tragedy and operetta into drama and farce . We had sincere pleasure on Saturday last in welcoming once more our old favourite , Mr . Leigh Murray , whom ill health has long parted from his London admirers . As we hoped—but tliat , alas ! was against hope—for the return of Tyione Power , we so have hoped for one more season of Murray , a comedian whom it is no exaggeration to style unapproachable in his particular line of parts .

    Considering how full the town is of emptiness , the Lyceum , we thought , could boast of an nmple audience on Saturday , who were mainly collected by the magic of a name . Still Waters run Veen was the comedy selected for the rentrie of Mr . Murray , and though manifestly only convalescent , and therefore something below the mark in physical power and nervous fire , we were glad to hear the familiar worda of the gifted author in the once familiar voice of our favourite actor . Mr . Murray had not , wo believe before played the part of Mildmaj / in a metropolitan theatre , and from this cause , possibly , or from that previously hinted at , his reading of the part struck us as somewhat too unimpasBioned for even such a cool hand as the John Mildmay of Mr . Tom Taylor ' s conception . In the great scene , again , with Cavtain

    JtawlteiUji QM * . Fitzjamcs ) , he had to contrast with a something too highly coloured , and , at that time , imperfect performance , and to this may in some jneaeux © b « j attributed the « paleness" of hi * reading .

    The farce of Sarah ' s Young Man , which succeeded the play , is an eminently successful importation from the Surrey Theatre , let us always say , when it brings with it its own " sloe-leaf , " Mr . H . Widdic & mb . In certain shades of his rapid intonation this gontlemnn has one singular peculiarity . He reminded us one moment of Mr . Charles Kean , and another of Mr . Robson . He has some little mannerisms which seem to combine those of the latter gentlemen and Mr . Wright . But as no trace of servile copyism appeared on the surface , -we can only leave it to more accurate critics to decide whether these resemblances are singular and original coincidences or involuntary tints of imitation . It seems to us that an artist

    possessing so much genuine vis comica , will , with some little direction and correction of exuberances , be a most valuable acquisition to the cispontine theatrical world , at present lamenting the unavoidable absence of the old Adelphi favourite , Mr . Wright . Mons . Juixien has , we hear , secured the Lyceum Theatre for a series of promenade concerts to commence in November next . His reason for removing this entertainment from its now accustomed domicile at Her Majesty ' s Theatre will be supplied , we suppose , when the winter arrangements of Mr . Lumley shall transpire .

    Koyai . Strand Theatre . —During a provincial journey , in which she is accompanied by an important part of her dramatic company , the fair and popular lessee has resolved by way of experiment on keeping open house at the Strand , the part of the hostess being omitted . She has , however , left a fairly strong detachment to do the honours in her absence . On Monday last was revived with considerable care and elegance Mr . Planche ' s highly-finished little comedy , Court Favour-, in which the principal parts were supported "by Miss Marie Wilton and Mr . Emery . This gentleman ' s performance of the . ¦/>« £ « of Albemarh vras not more crude than might have been expected of an actor transferred from the line

    of strong character parts in which he is so successful to that of the fast man of the lies toration epoch . Miss Wilton is as rapidly advancinginpopularfavour , as her aptitude , sense of humour , and industry deserve . As the Lucy Morion , which is a long part and sustains the -chief burden of the comedy , this lady conducted the intrigues which deceived the timeserving 1 old guardian , Sir Andrew Al / sideSylnred on and put to use the vicious Atbemarle , infused energy into her stupid lover with unflagging wit and perseverance , and carried the drama to a successful end , we might almost say on her own shoulders . Mr . Belford , as David Brown , was conscientiously correct . His utter simplicity was a little too near

    the borders of the stupid ; although , on reflection , any deviation from tlie yet more terrible inanity of the traditional stage lover , any infusion at all of characteristic into his ordinary unshaded character , ought to be acceptable . The mise en scene was , with the exception of a strong anachronism in Miss Wilton's first dress , Temarkubly good : and , to conclude , this very creditable attempt of the management to domicile elegant comedy at their little theatre was received with considerable favour by a numerous audience . Mr . Charles Selby ' s farce , Hunting a Turtle , has been given at the Strand during the week an second piece , Mr . Belford , as Levison , sharing well-deserved honours with Marie Wilton , as Mrs . Turtle . Mr . Clarke , as Timothy

    Dandelion , requires a little toning down . If he introduces no more of physical force demonstrations than is set down for him , we recommend him to reduce on his own responsibility the needlessly strong relief in which that feature of the part has been cast by his author . We may add , too , that the introduced song of "Down in the West Country" could be fitted to a much more successful , yet still comic , air of its class . This artist , and Mr . II . J . Turner , who played Smatter , the " gentleman ' s gentleman , " form together a strong force of low comedy in so small a company , and in Hunting a Turtle , especially , contributed in no small degree to tho delight ot the visitors by their contrast of town and country servant-manners .

    In nE Heru Otto Mundlek . —A long and interesting communication , signed " One of tho Public , " has appeared in tho columns of more than one of our contemporaries- ' One of tho Public" ia a friend of our late export dc la Calorie Nutionnle do Londres , and professes to refute and explain away what ho styles Lord Elcho's egregious misrepresentation of facts . In our opinion ho corroborates tlve noble lord ' s statement ; nor arc wo prepared to acquiesce in tho unsupported assertion of an

    anonymous writer that no more eligible a person than Mr . Mtlndler could have been found to represent our flno art departments abrond , though we admit , at the same time , that he may have been a hard-working , learned , and honest man . It never appeared to us that the enhancement of the market price of pictures by hla known pretence at tho mart * < r new tho atelieTs of the copyists wns imputed to the travelling expert ns a crime or even as a fault . •« One of the Public" has raited this imaginary " charge" only to

    have effected , and that his services are of such calibre as to demand our gratitude , is sheer non sense . 3 t is evident that no buyer of ordinary jud <» . ment , with even the limited purse of the National Gallery trustees at liis back , could have failed to add as many square yards of well-covered canvas to the collection ; and as to the taste of the ' selection the aggregate public have not the same abounding confidence itv it as its single atom which takes the lists for Herr Miindlcr . We sincerely hope that the discharged expert—if he really be a deserving manwill find a more easy bed than the British ° serviee . He has not been overpaid and he has clone some work . He may possibly have made a mistake . He may have been taken in . But the cleverest ocea-. ,

    conibafc it . Were the writer of the defence himseT ( whom wshrewdly guess at through his disguise ? T- "f ° i f other lear"e < l » nd competent person * ehgible for the post , to travel as the represenS of the trustees avowedly and openly , the same thin * would occur . Sensible buyers who ransack EuroDe f ™ pictures and curiosities do not , certainly , send herald before them and announce their quality on tlieir visit ing cards ; but setting even that aside , we doubt if an v public commhsionnaire could preserve so strict an ' iii cognito as to escape the vigilance of fine ait dealers wlio are quite as alive to their own interests as oth ^ r tradespeople . To assert that Herr Miindler ' s service have mainly contributed to that conspicuous enrioh mentof the National Gallery which the last tlree vSJ

    sionally blunder , and Lord Eleho himself may have been , as " One of the Public" suggests , the dupe of disappointed and mendacious witnesses . But even if not guilty upon the indictment , we should still regard his sacrifice as a nccessnry evil , or , if his champion will , piece of eruelty . If we could not have had the subordinate , we should have called for Sir Charles Locke Enstlake to be delivered to the I ' ariiamentarv fine art Furies , who , by the way , quite represent the feeling out of doors . The full of Herr Mundler was acceptable , not because people disliked liim , cared about him , or believed ' half the . tales against himfor he was thoroughly immaterial and insignificant

    —hut because he was a little wheel in an objectionable train which-could be dispensed with without throwing the whole machine out of gear . He hardly stands in need of his amiable friend's defence against Lord Elcho . His dismissal was a convenient form of expression for want of confidence , and involves very little reflection upon either his character or talents . liord Lyndhurst has given notice that he should draw attention , at an early period of next session , to the Royal Academy , and their tenure of the National Gallery . As an amateur and the son of an artist , the noble lord has , sis he says , a good right to take a lively interest in all that concerns the body ; but it is sincerely to be hoped that the weight

    of his splendid talent will not be thrown into the scale , now trembling on the beam , against the loudlyexpressed wishes of the public . The decree has gone forth that the Academicians'occupancy must terminate , and were even Lord Xiynilhurst to array himself with the defenders of the abuse , the removal must soon take place . A return of correspondence between the Treasury and the trustees of the National Gallery with reference to the employment and services of the travelling agent , lius been laid on the table of the House of Commons . It appears , from a letter of Sir Charles Easthike , that the -purchase of

    the Pisani picture above the market value was effected by order of the Lords of the Treasury themselves , in spite of his own advice upon the subject . Sir Charles echoes "One of the Public , " who might have signed himself , we think with propriety , " A Friend of the Family ; " and concludes his letter by an impertinently wordod request for compensation to Herr Miindler for hia abrupt dismissal . A year ' s warning is enough in all conscience ; and if the director-general and his lieutenant could not take the very fair notice given : i twelvemonth back , they must have bean obtuse indeed .

    Government . Finis Airr Movements . —It is stated that upon the recommendation of a special committee , composed of Lord John liussuH , Lord Klcho , and Mr . Coningham , M . F ., the Government intend to purchase Sir George llayter'a lnrgo painting ot tho first meeting of tho llouso of Commons utter tho parsing of tho Itefonn Mill . ' It ia expected that the erection of a National Gallery for Ireland will be forthwith put in hand at Dublin . The expense will be defrayed b > y a grunt of ftooi )/ ., passed in this year ' s cstinmtes , smother of 7000 / . promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for next year , and a sum of 11 , 000 / . already applicable to the purpose in the treasury of tho ltoynl Irish Institution .

    _81g__ ___... - _: The Leadjl [Ko, 438, ...

    _ 81 g __ ___ ... - _ : THE LEADjL [ Ko , 438 , August U , 1858 .

    A Danger At Tiikatjiks.—>'A Subscriber" ...

    A Danger at Tiikatjiks . —> 'A Subscriber" to tl »> Times complains of tho cureless way in which people attending tho theatres place their opcru-glasses on 'ho fronts of tho boxes . Ho mentions nit Instance of om > tuinbli ng ilovrn into tho pit atalla ut tho Itoyul luliun Onorit loat Suturdny evening ; and wo b « liovo that tins in of not infrequent occurrence . Tho peril to thorfQ below ia of courao very grent .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1858, page 812, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_14081858/page/20/