Mr. Wing, of ragged merriment, was a very prince of the blood. He tottered on the extremest verge of the ridiculous ;—another hole or two in his coat would have touched the sublime. His hat bore resemblance to a pot-lid without the handle; and the scantiness of his skirts illustrated Goldsmith's pathetic sentiment, "Man wants but little here below, Bartley was very efficient in Elderberry. Put Bartley in a fluster, and he has all the qualities of a parched pea; the stage becomes too warm for him, and he capers about with the nimbleness of an elephant dancing upon hot plates. But the best performance in the piece was Wilkinson's Geoffry Muffincap. We cannot quite compliment Mr. Keeley on his assumption of the part; he wanted the drawling sing-song voice, and old-fashioned physiognomy of his predecessor, but he gave the song very humorously. Wilkinson looked as if he had never been out of the reach of the beadle's staff-as if he had been drilled and drubbed into a stiffness and formality, that, by long habit, had become second nature. He appeared to live, move, and have his being, under the eye of some formidable supervisor, as queer and as frumpish as himself. If his gravity was by any chance betrayed into a chuckle, he involuntarily cast his eyes about him, apprehensive of the visitation f some cudgel, to repress his profane merriment. Mr. David Dulcct, and his compeers, are menmortal men-that do very well to fill up a farce. Mr. Pearman, in the former, only served to remind us how Braham and Incledon did not sing. The author of this farce is the son of Mr. Richard Peake, the faithful and well-tried treasurer of Drury Lane Theatre, for a period of forty years. He was born in London, on the 19th of February, 1792, and educated for the profession of an artist, serving a regular apprenticeship with James Heath, esq. A.R.A. the eminent engraver. But the drama was a study more congenial to the talents of Mr. Peake. In 1815, he was appointed treasurer of the English Opera House, which situation he has continued to fill with a zeal, ability, and integrity, no less profitable to the manager than honorable to himself. In private life, Mr. Peake is cheerful, friendly, and intelligent. DG. Costume. DAVID DULCET, ESQ.-Black coat, white waistcoat, and trow. sers, &c. MR. O. P. BUSTLE.-Brown or snuff-coloured coat, light waistcoat, and trowsers, &c. WING. Very old and mended green or brown coat, buttoned close up the breast, a pair of darned worsted light pantaloons, a shabby pair of old hessian boots, an old small flat-crowned hat, put on wrong way. BERRY.-Dark surtout coat, pantaloons, and half gaiters, &c. ELDERBERRY.-Brown breeches, light worsted stockings, shoes and buckles, light silk waistcoat, flannel jacket, large white or straw hat; second dress, brown coat, gold buttons, black hat, cane, and white cravat. TIMKINS.-Grey coat, an apron turned half up, breeches, worsted stockings, shoes, and buckles, &c. GEOFFRY MUFFINCAP.-A charity boy's dress, cap, leather breeches short at the knees, worsted stockings, and shoes. MISS MARY HARDACRE.-Neat white muslin dress, hat, and mantle, &c. MRS. MARY GONERIL.-Crimson silk dress, with extravagant flounces, reticule, large French bonnet or hat. 10 Cast of the Characters as performed at the Theatres Royal, David Dulcet, esq. (a Mu- .... ........ Timkins, (Elderberry's Factotum) Geoffry Muffincap, (an elderly Charity Boy, let out as a Servant at Bustle's Lodging) Miss Mary Hardacre, (a fu- \ Mrs. Mary Goneril, (a Stroll- Miss Boden. Miss Henry. Mrs. Pincott. Mrs.J.Weip- MissJones STAGE DIRECTIONS. part. The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances. EXITS and ENTRANCES. R. means Right; L. Left; D. F. Door in Flat; R. D. Right Door ; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door. RELATIVE POSITIONS R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right of Centre : L. C. Left of Centre. * The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage facing the Audience. R. RC. C. LC. L. AMATEURS AND ACTORS. ACT I. SCENE I-A Garden, part of Elderberry's House visible, K. U. E. with railing and garden-gate in centre. Morning. Enter DULCET, cautiously, from Garden, L. U. E. Dulc. NOT here! I am before my appointment-just six o'clock. That is her window, and, luckily, the remainder of the family sleep at the other side the house--I will give the promised signal, for there is not any time to be lost. [Sings.] Whither, my love, "Ah! whither art thou gone?" [At the end of the verse, Mary opens the window above the door of the house.] Her window opens-Mary, 'tis I-Hasten down, my dear girl; the morning is fine, and the moment propitious! Mary. For heaven's sake, do not speak so loud-I tremble! Dulc. Nay! no time for trembling now-rely on the love and honor of your devoted admirer-hasten down, or you will be the cause of discovery. Mary. I will not be a minute. [Disappears and shuts the window. Dulc. Dear enchanting girl!-Now should I feel certain twinges of conscience, but that I know my designs are honorable, and this my only mode of snatching the fair prize. Three years have I existed upon her smiles-three months has she been wavering how to act-three weeks has she promised to put herself under my protection-three days will unite us-three hours will carry us safe out of reach --and yet three minutes may overturn our whole plan. SONG-Dulcet. Composed by Mr. Price. Let pining swains, their love revealing, More bright the flame my bosom feeling, Come then, mirth, in joyous measure, Source of bliss and cheerful pleasure Is the love I ever feel. What can thus delay her?—I'll break open the door, [Noise of unbolting the door heard.]-and-hush, she comes! [Mary is seen coming down the stairs' window. Tim. [Within.] Let me unbolt it for you, Miss. Dulc. What's this! an intruder ! Mary. [Within.] Pray don't trouble yourself, Mr. Timkins. Dulc. Mr. Timkins! Now who the devil is Mr. Timkins? Oh! her guardian's factotum-well, as I cannot bribe, I must strangle him, the moment the door is opened-I shall be discovered. [Retires, L. U. E. Enter MARY and TIMKINS, from Cottage. Mary has a hat on, and a mantle over her arms. Tim. (R.) Nice murnin, Miss—all nater seems gay-No answer-hem! Mary. (L.) I must get rid of this coxcomb [Apart.]— Eh! have you called Mr. Elderberry? Tim. No, Miss; he is, as the poetrys say, still in the arms of Murphy. Mary. [Aside.] Fool!-Will you have the goodness to go to his room? Tim. Yes. Mary. And [Aside.] I tremble while I give it-and when he comes down this letter is for him-but-eh ! not till he comes down. Tim. Oh aye! I know. Mary. What do you know? [Winking significantly. Dulc. [Behind, L. U. E.] I will look for a spade, and dash his brains out, if he has any. Tim. Lord bless you, I know what you are going at. [Alarmed. Tim. You mean it as a surprise to him-Lord! how you look. Well, I'll go up and tell him all about it. And he |