Loge in a Village. ciously fond of preventing that happiness in others, she never has enjoyed herself and despairs of ever tafting.

The part of Woodcock was doubtless designed for Mr. SHUTER, and I prefume it will be admitted that no author ever judged an actor's capability better; there is a strong peculiarity of humour moft happily hit off in performance; the character owes its commanding influence much more to features happily laughable, and expreffion truly comic, than the writer's genius; and without exaggeration it may be faid that Mr. SHUTER in this whimsical justice, must have force enough to dilate even the rigid mufcles of methodifm; if it was poffible to transplant a groaning congregation from Moorfields, or Tottenham Court, into Covent Garden, even while their ears tingled with a fire and brimftone harangue; they must unbend their gloomy brows, and fmilingly obey the irrefiftable force of matchlefs humour.

Young Meadows has very little acting merit, therefore is well adapted to that faintness of expreffion fo difcoverable in Mr. MATTOCKS, who nevertheless fupports the fongs, and even speaks better than Mr. DUBELLAMY, a gentleman we never wish to hear speak in public, both in justice to himself and to the audience: Mr. DODD of Drury Lane did this part much better than either of the performers above mentioned; there is an agreeable manner and a fenfible vivacity about him, that the others are entire ftrangers to.

Hawthorn

Leve in a Village.

Hawthorn as he lived, fo we may fay he died with that truely great intelligent English finger Mr. BEARD; who expreffed open hearted glee with amazing pleasantnefs and propriety; every person in this light of comparison appears to great difadvantage; however Mr. MORRIS is far from contemptible, indeed gives a much better idea of the character than any other perfon we have seen.

That inoffenfive perfonage Euftace finds very tolerable accommodation with Mr. DYER; and it is no fmall degree of merit to preserve such an unfeafoned character from the charge of infipidity: Mr. DUNSTALL's Hodge deferves a great deal of praise, and yet we cannot help thinking if Mr. KING was often seen in the part he would discover confiderably more of critical humour; Sir William Meadows may be done by any body without much chance of praise or cenfure.

Lucinda has too little acting for Mrs. MATTOCKS, who makes as much of the speaking as it will admit and fupports the fongs agreeably-Mrs. PINTO'S Rofetta, as to the finging, unexceptionable; but for the reft, mercy deliver us! the part will not readily appear more delicately pleasing throughout than by Mrs. BADDELY's performance, whofe figure, voice and manner all happily concur to feast both eyes and ears-of the country girl we can only fay that Mrs. BAKER makes a very pretty Madge.

The general merit of Love in a Village we must confine merely to being inoffenfive as to its tendenVOL. I.

Ꮓ

cy,

Love in a Village,

cy, with fome spirit, an agreeable share of ease and regularity; most of the characters speak as they ought and the circumftances are well connected but if we look for fterling fenfe, brilliant wit with keen useful fatire; which fo much abound in the Beggar's Opera; we muft fay that this piece is nothing more than fhowy base mettle, favoured with a very indulgent stamp of public favour to give it a kind of critical currency; to which, we apprehend, felect music adapted with real taste contributed not a little; any person who reads the Village Opera may foon perceive what ufe Mr. Bickerstaff has made of it.

ROMEO

ROMEO AND JULIET.

Altered from SHAKESPEARE by GARRICK.

As we have already hinted it is matter of a

ftonishment how Shakespeare could be fo negligent of uniformity, or fo fervile to depraved tafte, as to incumber scenes, which reach true fublimity, with others that may justly be styled poetical babbling; and it is equally odd, how the audiences which relished one, could poffibly digeft the other, however we have felf evident proof of this lamentable inequality in most of his best pieces.

Romeo and Juliet, in which our author has taken very unusual, and very fuccessful pains with his female character, has many weeds in its original state to choak up fome beautiful flowers of genius; we may venture to fay without pruning it would have made but an aukward ap pearance in representation; Otway, a most excellent painter of the tender paffions, faw its luxuriance in that point, felt and transplanted whole fcenes into his plot of Caius Marius, which was an act of gothic depradation; producing a most unnatural connection which only ferved to prove that endeavouring to keep pace with Shakespeare he fell far beneath himfelf.

We have seen an alteration of this tragedy by Mr. Theophilus Cibber which was not void of

Romeo and Juliet. merit; and we recollect fome tolerable endeavours of Mr. SHERIDAN for that purpose but Mr. GARRICK appearing our author's most capable friend, we fhall flick to what he has enriched the ftage, and obliged the public with.

Notwithstanding a quarrel among domesticks, in confequence of animofities which prevail in the feveral families they are employed by, is highly natural, wecan by no means countenance even that small part of the ludicrous fcene with which the play now begins; nothing can be expreffed in more characteristic terms; but we think it an ungracious commencement, nay unneceffary; for the enmity of the Capulets is fufficiently made known, without such mobbish fcuffling; wherefore, we cannot but be of opinion, that the neceffity of fome strolling companies, which for want of number obliges them to cry, " down with the Capulets, &c." behind the fcenes, forces them to an amendment-Benvolio and Montague fhould certainly appear firft, and their fhort fcene, which contains many beauties, would be a delicate opening, indeed what precedes is a farcical prelude to grave events, not unlike a merry andrew skipping before a funeral.

Romeo's abftracted difpofition of mind is prettily introduced through Montague's affectionate concern, and Benvolio's friendly feelings, which appear fo amply verified in the course of the play, not only recommend himself but the persons spoken of to favour; Capulet and Paris are only introduced to fhew that the latter is encouraged as a fuitor

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