BY W. C. OULTON, 17 70? — 1820 ? PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS, To which are added, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME,-CAST OF THE CHARACTERS, BUSINESS. As now performed at the THEATRES ROYAL, LONDON. EMBELLISHED WITH A WOOD ENGRAVING. LONDON: JOHN CUMBERLAND, 19, LUDGATE HILL. REMARKS. The Sleep-Walker. AMONG the many phenomena that human nature has exhibited that of somnambulism is one of the most extraordinary. The mar vellous stories that are handed down to us of the nightly rambles of those who have been under its influence, would be sufficient to startle even credulity itself, were they not authenticated by evidence the most clear and satisfactory. The subject is not unworthy of philoso. -phical inquiry. Dreams "The children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain phantasy," have never yet been properly examined. That the corporal faculties should be buried in deep sleep, and that the mental should be excur. sive, and in full activity,-that the powers of the mind should be sufficiently alert to raise the body when it has assumed Death's counterfeit, and carry it through a variety of adventures equally surprising and eccentric, is one of the many proofs that we are wonderfully and fearfully made, and that man is himself a mystery, that will for ever baffle the utmost researches of his finite knowledge. Had the matterof-fact philosopher been told of the theory of dreams, before experi ence had given proof of their reality, he would have ridiculed it as a fanciful illusion, and have proceeded to try its fallacy by the test of materialism. But had it been added, that a man might walk in his sleep, and perform a variety of singular offices with the same exact. ness and precision that belong to his waking moments, he would have consigned the theorist to straw and a dark room, with the accompaniments of a shaved head and a straight jacket! We must confess that a somnambulising philosopher would be a pretty odd sort of a figure enough; though it would certainly not be the first time that one of his art and mystery had been found groping in the dark! This pleasant farce introduces a somnambulist in a variety of whimsical situations; and, to add to the effect, he is made a stage-struck hero. The plot is exceedingly slight, and the dialogue not above the level of farces in general. The whole of the entertainment is derived from Mr. Somno, who not only cleans the knives, wipes the glasses, brushes his master's coat, settles his accounts, and takes a bottle of wine from the cellar-aye, and gets tipsy into the bargain, and all in his sleep, bat he performs tragedy, opera, farce, and pantomime; dances the slack-rope, half smothers Alibi with powder, and plays a thousand vagaries with most amusing unconsciousness. The character was written expressly for Mr. Mathews; and the author found his account in so doing; for a droller exhibition can hardly be conceived. The peculiarity of Mathews's look and gesture impressed the audience with the idea that he was really asleep; and they feared even to breathe, much more to laugh or to applaud, lest they should awaken the sleeper, and dissolve the comical charm. Mathews here availed himself of his imitative powers, and was alternately Kemble and Bannister. Every other character in the piece is subservient to the somnambulist; and he fills the ample space assigned to him with great pleasantry. DG. |