206
(...) Our first favourite was Captain Copp. This is a glorious character and was performed faultlessly [by Benjamin BLUSTER-JH]. From the first moment we made his acquaintance until we took a reluctant leave of him, our heart was kept in a continuous glow by his honest face, his blunt, sea-faring manner; his rugged but kindly touches of feeling, harmonically blended together as they were by his ceremonial bursts of good humoured jollity. Every time he broke out with his favourite stave
'In the time of the Dump
When Old Admiral Trump'
we felt a strong inclination to hear more of it and were scarcely pleased with Mary for stopping it so abruptly. (...) Mary's taste in the choice of a lover was unexceptionable - a compliment which cannot be said with truth, of pretty girls generally. The page who was the favoured suitor deserved his good fortune: he played well and sung sweetly. It is some time indeed since we heard on the stage or elsewhere a song given with so much taste and expression (...). No wonder the pretty Mary melted under the influence of the mellow tones of such a music master". And Mary? She was played of course by Mrs NESBIT who "as usual placed before us a lively picture of the piquant and coquettish, but withal modest and pretty niece of the host of the 'Grand Admiral'; and she looked so enticing as to make some of those who were present and near us wish that they too were actors provided there was plenty of kissing in the play and such a delightful subject as herself to practice upon”. (NCH 20.3.1858). Again it should be stressed that all female characters were portrayed by men, which, paradoxically, probably allowed the critic to write in such a vein!
5.5.1858 (Wedn)
J. COURTNEY: "Time Tries All" (1848)
T: Drama (2 acts)
J.S. COYNE: “Urgent Private Affairs" (1856) T: Farce (1 act)
W.B. RHODES: "Bombastes Furioso" (1810) T: Burlesque tragic opera (1 act)
C: Amateurs
F: Music by the band of H.M.S. Highflyer
Th: Theatre Royal (C)
N: Third and final performance of the season
R: For a house that was "crowded to the doors" the curtain rose on a new drop scene **of a light and pretty character". Once more Mrs. NESBIT could be admired, in Time Tries All, as Laura Leeson and "too much credit could not be extended on her for the manner in which she brought before us the wilful, pettish but withal warm-hearted woman". As her husband, Mr. Leeson, "Mr. ROLLER was most successful; he has made for himself a 'spécialité' in this line of characters which it would be difficult to surpass or to replace. Mr. PICKWICK played the role of Matthew Bates and by **his judicious, quiet acting gained considerable and well-merited applause". Mr. TINTINNABULUM (who also sung a "pretty Irish ballad") as the Hon Mr. Yawn "was capital and exercised the propensity with which his cognomen so plainly gifts him with such arts as to make many of the audience strenuously follow his example"; whereas Miss Fact and Mr. Tact found fit representatives in Miss WALTERS and Mr. BRUSWOOD. Some of the actors again appeared in the closing piece; Bombastes Furioso when Mr. Beverley NEWCOME impersonated General Bombastes, “a creditable performance, but the role was evidently not so well suited to the powers of that gentleman as other parts in which we have seen him". King Artaxominous was taken by Mr. PICKWICK, Furbos by Mr. TINTINNABULUM and Destafina by Mrs. NESBIT. Concluding, the reviewer was "especially pleased with the scenery of this and other
206
(...) Our first favourite was Captain Copp. This is a glorious character and was performed faultlessly [by Benjamin BLUSTER-JH]. From the first moment we made his acquaintance until we took a reluctant leave of him, our heart was kept in a continuous glow by his honest face, his blunt, sea-faring manner; his rugged but kindly touches of feeling, harmonically blended together as they were by his ceremonial bursts of good humoured jollity. Every time he broke out with his favourite stave
'In the time of the Dump
When Old Admiral Trump'
we felt a strong inclination to hear more of it and were scarcely pleased with Mary for stopping it so abruptly. (...) Mary's taste in the choice of a lover was unexceptionable a compliment which cannot be said. with truth, of pretty girls generally. The page who was the favoured suitor deserved his good fortune: he played well and sung sweetly. It is some time indeed since we heard on the stage or elsewhere a song given with so much taste and expression (...). No wonder the pretty Mary melled under the influence of the mellow tones of such a music master". And Mary? She was played of course by Mrs NESBIT who "as usual placed before us a lively picture of the piquant and coquettish, but withal modest and pretty niece of the host of the 'Grand Admiral'; and she looked so enticing as to make some of those who were present and near us wish that they too were actors provided there was plenty of kissing in the play and such a delightful subject as herself to practice upon”. (NCH 20.3.1858). Again it should be stressed that all female characters were portrayed by men, which, paradoxically, probably allowed the critic to write in such a vein!
5.5.1858 (Wedn)
J. COURTNEY: Time Tries All" (1848)
T: Drama (2 acts)
J.S. COYNE: “Urgent Private Affairs" (1856) T: Farce (I act)
W.B. RHODES: "Bombastes Furioso" (1810) T: Burlesque tragic opera (1 act)
C: Amateurs
F: Music by the band of H.M.S. Highflyer
Th: Theatre Royal (C)
N: Third and final performance of the season
R: For a house that was "crowded to the doors" the curtain rose on a new drop scene **of a light and pretty character". Once more Mrs. NESBIT could be admired, in Time Tries All, as Laura Leeson and "too much credit could not be extended on her for the manner in which she brought before us the wilful pettish but withal warm hearted woman". As her husband, Mr. Leeson, "Mr. ROLLER was most successful; he has made for himself a 'spécialité' in this line of characters which it would be difficul to surpass or to replace. Mr. PICKWICK played the role of Matthew Bates and by **his judicious, quiet acting gained considerable and well merited applause". Mr. TINTINNABULUM (who also sung a "pretty Irish ballad") as the Hon Mr. Yawn "was capital and exercised the propensity with which his cognomen so plainly gifts him with such arts as to make many of the audience strenuously follow his example"; whereas Miss Fact and Mr. Tact found fit representatives in Miss WALTERS and Mr. BRUSWOOD, Some of the actors again appeared in the closing piece; Bombastes Furioso when Mr. Beverley NEWCOME impersonated General Bombastes, “a creditable performance, but the role was evidently not so well suited to the powers of that gentleman as other parts in which we have seen him". King Artaxominous was taken by Mr. PICKWICK, Furbos by Mr. TINTINNABULUM and Destafina by Mrs. NESBIT, Concluding, the reviewer was "especially pleased with the scenery of this and other
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