Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS FOR AUGUST.

[blocks in formation]

Selico is tied to the stake, to be burnt alive; and, while in that dreadful situation, Berissa and his mother appear-the one as his fellow sufferer, the other as a mother in despair, explaining the nature of her son's couduct, and soliciting his release. The King, touched with the singularity of his story, not only grants him pardon, but bestows on him the hand of his beloved Berissa, as the reward of such rare virtues.

The fable of this piece is taken from the French of Florian. The different characters of the brothers are strongly marked; and the serious part is conspicuous for its simple dignity and unlaboured ease. The passions are not forced beyond their natural level: there is a controuling taste in their wildest extravagance; they ebb and flow under the influence of human nature, and, wheresoever the hurricane rages, the effect is not inadequate to

its cause.

The comic part of this Play is principally rested upon the shoulders of Mr. Mug, a turner in ivory and wood, from Snow-hill, slave in Africa; and, by an equally unexpectFleet-street; by a sudden misfortune made a ed change, raised to the dignity of Secretary of State to the black monarch of Mandingo.

This character was eminently fertile of hu mour in the hands of Mr. Colman.-There was some very pleasant raillery upon the forms of Cabinet Ministers, "official dispatches," and the ceremony of Parliamentary debate.—Mr. Mug was, in truth, as pleasant a fellow as we have lately met with on the stage. He now and then dealt about him some unnecessary

Selico is enamoured of Berissa, the daughter of an African Priest. Every thing is prepared for the celebration of the nuptials, when in the midst of the ceremony, the Chief of the Mandingo warriors suddenly attacks the town, which he destroys by fire, and involves every thing in ruin and desolation.-Selico is persuaded that Berissa and her father have fallen in the general massacre, and flies to the relief of his mother, who had escaped into the woods under the protection of two more of her sons, by all of whom she is most fondly beloved. But although she escaped the cruelty of the enemy, she is on the point of falling a victim to famine, to rescue her from which, every stratagem is anxiously thought of by the filial affection of her sons, particularly by Selico. He first endeavours to get himself sold as a slave, that C the purchase money may procure a sustenance for his mother, but failing in this, he endea-puns, but the tenor of his discourse was in the vours to procure a large reward offered by the King for discovering the person who allowed the favourite slave he had taken in the town to escape from his camp. That slave is no other than Berissa. Selico prevails upon one of his own brothers to carry him before the enraged King, as the person who favoured the escape of the fair captive, that he might receive the reward, and thus secure the means of comfort to his mother-in this he succeeds, but is himself condemned to a cruel death. Hence arise the most affecting incidents of the Piece:

happiest mode of ridicule and farce: he commanded an incessant laugh, and cadae on and went off the decided favourite of the night.-It would be unjust not to add, that Liston's performance of this character was an unrivalled piece of comedy.

The characters of the Play were very well supported by the other performers, particularly by Mr. Young, Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. Farley-The Music was by Mr. Kelly-The Play was received throughout with great and merited approbation.

[graphic]
[graphic]

Engraven for La Belle Assemblee No35 Sept'1808.

« ПредишнаНапред »