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HISTRIONIC ANECDOTES, REMARKS,

&c. &c.

THE BEGGAR'S OPERA.

This piece was unquestionably the production of several hands: that the wits of the day contributed songs to it is notorious, and it is not improbable that some of them may have contributed to the dialogue.-" When you censure the age," was written by Swift; "Virgins are like the fair flower," by Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, whose amatory poems have been resuscitated by Lord Holland. Chesterfield wrote 66 Through all the employments of life;" and Judge Fortescue penned Peachum's satirical lyric upon the lawyers.

REES, THE MIMIC,

Once appeared in the Court of King's Bench as bail for a friend; Garrow examined him, and said, "You are, I believe, an imitator: are you not?" "So they tell me," says Rees.-"Tell ye, Sir! you know it; are you not in the habit of taking people off?" "Oh, yes," was the reply; and I shall take myself off, the moment you have done with me."

HINTS AS TO AMENDING THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT, AND A FEW QUESTIONS ASKED.

Two widely different systems form the basis of modern theatrical policy, i. e. either a very expensive company of first-rate talent, or a very meanly remunerated corps of no talent at all. To elucidate:-The English Opera had three performers engaged last season, whose salaries when playing each exceeded one hundred guineas per week, whilst the pay of the whole company of another theatre in

this metropolis, does not exceed one quarter that amount. The minor theatres, some few years back, used invariably to have a celebrated comic singer; this rule has been abandoned at the Coburg, Surry, Adelphi, and Olympic Theatres-why, we do not pretend to guess. Surely, not from a dearth of comic vocalists; London possesses many; and the provincial stage can render H. Sloman, Woulds, Martin, Flower, Wyatt, &c. &c.

Covent-Garden Theatre has no performer to supply the -place of Liston, (why have they not tried W. Chapman?) no adequate substitute for Mathews, and no one at all to sustain the line Harley plays at Drury-Lane. When Fawcett declared himself too old for Whimsiculo, why was not a younger performer sought? It is an absolute fact, that that theatre could not get up Wild Oats, last season, for want of representatives of Ephraim Smooth and John Dory. Drury is as badly off for walking gentlemen as Covent-Garden is for low comedians. We have at present in London two first-rate tragedians, Young and Macready; no worthy successor of Miss O'Neil at either house; twe singing gentlemen, Braham and Sinclair; three vocal ladies, (Mesdames Stephens, Paton, and Tree ;) three light comedians, (Jones, Elliston, and Kemble.) Drury-Lane has no one that can play an Irishman. Mark, we only speak of the performers as the managers enable us to judge of them; of the talent that they immure, we, of course, do not speak. We would ask Mr. Charles Kemble why Bartley is not pitted against Dowton? Bartley is the best Falstaff on the stage. Why Mrs. Ogilvie remains in obscurity? why Blanchard is not tried in Liston's line? why Farley does not play the Frenchmen? and why Duruset, who cannot sing, is preferred to Pyne, who cau? We would ask Mr. R. W. Elliston, (under favour, and trusting he will not be offended,) why Sherwin is not opposed to Rayner? why that fascinating actress, Mrs. West, has been shelved? why Browne was not suffered to play Young Contrast, instead of Penley? why Horn is preferred to Pearman or Melrose? why Miss Kelly left the theatre? why Wallack was not played last season? and, lastly, why he (Elliston) will still play " the young gentlemen" himself?-W.

EXACT COPY OF A PLAY BILL IN GARRICK'S TIME.

N. B. The Year was never affixed to the old Play Bills.

THE EIGHTH DAY.

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL IN DRURY LANE, This present Tuesday, being the 27th of January, will be presented a Comedy in Five Acts, called THE WAY TO KEEP HIM.

The Principal Characters by Mr. Garrick, Mr. Yates, Mr. Palmer, Mr. King, Mr. Ackman, Mr. Fox, Mrs. Yates, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Bradshaw, Mrs, Hippisley, Mrs. Clive, and Mrs. Cibber.

To which (by desire) will be added,

THE DEVIL TO PAY.

Boxes, 5s. Pit, 3s. First Gallery, 2s. Upper Gallery, 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Mr. Varney, at the Stage Door.

No admittance behind the Scenes, nor into the Orchestra. No money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up. N. B. Nothing under full price can be taken.

KEMBLE AND MATHEWS.

When Kemble retired from the stage, he distributed his costume of Coriolanus amongst his brethren. To Mathews he gave his sandals, upon which the comedian exclaimed, "I'm glad I've got his sandals, for I am sure I could never tread in his shoes."

LITTLE KNIGHT.

When this actor led his second lady to the altar, Tate Wilkinson said to her, "I wish you joy on your weddingday, Madam, but I lament that you'll have but a short night."

SHERIDAN.

This celebrated wit once said to Erskine, "Ah, Tom, had I stuck to the law, I might have been what you are;

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but, curse it, Mrs. S. or myself were always obliged to write for our daily leg or shoulder of mutton." "Ah!" said Erskine, "I always heard your literature was a joint

concern."

TOLERANCE.

When the old story of the Spanish Jew (who was salted to go to Jerusalem in a barrel), having been eat by the sailors, by mistake, for pork, was repeated to Mr. Rhe coolly remarked, "Well, it shewed that they had some bowels for the poor fellow, though he differed in sect from them."

MISS FOOTE.

This lady told a comedian that she thought no pleasure surpassed that of rapid travelling."I must differ from you, Madam," said he; "for I should think no pleasure so great as to travel on foot.”

ELEGANT ERROR.

In Simpson and Co. Mrs. Fitzallen has this line,"Does he still retain his influence at the India House?" An actress, at Aberdeen, lately varied the reading thus, "Does he still maintain his infants at the India House?"

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KEAN AND OXRERRY.

Kean and Oxberry were, at one period, constant companions, and the following whimsical circumstance occurred, in consequence of their agreeing to take a morning ride, to shake down the libations of the preceding night." They were on horseback, and, at Deptford, found that a company of comedians had issued their bill of fare. Kean thought they would fare better if they dined with him, and, in consequence, Kean, Oxberry, and the corps dramatique dined together. During dinner, it was agreed by the metropolitans, to journey as far as Gravesend; the horses were ordered, and Kean's horse had turned round his head towards London, conceiving, perhaps, that his

master had been long enough in the country. Kean mounted, without observing what had occurred, and the two friends galloped off in opposite directions, each priding himself on the superior speed of his horse. Kean declares he never discovered the mistake, until he arrived at his livery-stables; and Oxberry found himself, next morning, at a small public-house five miles from Gravesend.

IMITATION.

Much has been said of one actor's adopting the style and manner of another, the following are amongst the many instances:-Fawcett, when he first appeared, was accused of imitating Edwin; Farren has formed his style upon that of Fullum, of Dublin. Oxberry had imbibed somewhat of the style of Suett, whilst Suett himself was, in his old men, a servile copy of Parsons. Harley presents us an admixture of Mathews, Bannister, and Fawcett; and Cowell was an imitator of Harley. Terry resuscitates the manner of the late Mr. King. Keeley's Rumfit was taken from Russel's Sneak. Wrench is an imitator of Elliston, and Young of John Kemble; Booth grossly of Kean, and Kean partially of G. F. Cooke, especially in Shylock and Richard. Mrs. C. Jones, (of the Haymarket,) in common with many others, closely follows the model of Miss Kelly; and the late Mrs. Alsop was a copy, in water-colours, of her mother (Mrs. Jordan). W. Bennett is a double of Blanchard; and, whoever beholds Mrs. Bartley, instantly recognises the style and manner of Mrs. Siddons. We do not mean to infer that these persons have been all wilful copyists, but that a likeness has occurred frequently from physical formation, and more frequently from imperceptibly imbibing that which they have often seen and admired.

W.

PIZARRO.

A lady, speaking of this play, said, "How beautiful is that scene where all the virgins range themselves, each with a little sun at her breast."-This is very well in a theatre, but having a little son at the breast might endanger the virgin character elsewhere.