The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-27 00:00:00

ES. E. LTE stage is no es, or ;her a r even lo had have been lip of ;pecial )irited estore imate igerial ce has Drury Lnder were them, raffia, opened r part, doors or the which Laura urttin eadful whist lungs, at the Even John make play ,eemed came stem(' them given d any house, ets for cony e- )cifera 'mined y itself pant o n that arbors, ending ler the n the m into fourth earlier coin by the rioters .e they ird this ly de -never acted• mnanly in this ras the scene 'tinned at the vard to as now n. Zia )rt, re ed, and home direc ks Mr. he cer so with th• best the pen P . and Bess. Christ tlebrate ,dy, or, greet Queen tomim® mime. ,ed fun tg, and ter ; the Deulin woe of of her titers of he finds wife of gedy of SpanisEt is take and ser- Deulin) re ), the and the ye seen 3ted the posture juvenile mderful a l the tdy i° ail ed the bits old most m oving of Her which Led, r he day 3 the a- When ared in all the these Christmas SaturTali.l—would tllow, went off extremely well. The play was the 31.relzwit of Venice, with Mr. Anderson as Shylock, Miss Laura Adlison as Portia, and the other eharaCers filled by lir. F. Vining, and some other actors new to these boards. A. very considerable portion of the perform ance passed off literally in dumb show ; and the lessee had several times to come forward and strive to propi late the uproarious crowd in the pit -and gallery, by off e rs of money to be returned and so forth. But all was in vain ; they did not want either money or quiet—they wanted the pantomime. The pantomime at last came; and a capital one it is—enough alone to carry Mr. Anderson over the early difficulties of his season, till he shall have had time to organiz? his future arra igemen's. HAYMARKE 2' THEATRE. The Loving Woman, Ring Rene's Daughter, and a r.ew fairy burlesque entitled The Ninth Statue ; or, the Jewels and the Gem, constituted the entertain ment provided by Mr. Webeer for his boxing night friends. Contrary to usual boxing•night custom, the two first pieces were not interrupted by the un seemly calls from the gallery fur the burlesque. Not that there was a deficient attendance of gods, on the con trary, Olympus was crowded to excess, and with Ln ordinary boxing-night audience ; but the dramas which preceded the novelty were full of interest, were not of tiresome length, and were admirably performed. The gods listened with attention, they became interested, their enthusiastic applause was bestowed with no niggard hands, but it was always properly bestowed, and among the many triumphs of Mrs. Charles Kean not the least is the one she achieved last night of fas cinating even a boxing night audience into decorum, and from the chaos of a boxing night assem blage creating an orderly, an attentive, an enthusiastic audience, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean and Mr. Wal lack were enthusiastically applauded, and never was applause more richly merited or more liberally bestowed. The burlesque, which is styled by the play bill " a piece of bijouterie," is founded on the story related in the " Arabian Nights," of Zeyn Alasnam and the King of the Genii. The subject is well suited for dramatic treatment, and the authors have, in constructing the action of their piece, adhered as closely as possible to the leading incidents of the fairy tale. Zeyn Alasnain (Miss P. Horton) is the " fast" young King of Balsora, who, since his father's death, has plunged into every species of ex cess, and brought his kingdom to the verge of a national bankruptcy. But he has an unknown, though powerful, friend in the King of the Genii (Mr. J. Bland), who had promised his father to watch orer and protect Zeyn, and who reveals to him in a dream the exigence of a vast treasure concealed beneath the palace. With the assist ance of his private secretary, Loosfisch (Mr. Muayard), Zeyti discovers a subterranean grotto, in which he finds gold and jewels enough to pay off all his debts, and provide him with an inexhaustible civil list, besides eight diamond statues, each standing on a pedestal of solid gold, im ported by the latest arrivals from California. On a ninth pedestal lies a psper, which informs Zeyn thlt all this wealth is bequeathed to him by his father; but that there is in the world a statue worth infinitely more than all the rest of his possessions put together, - and that his future happiness depends upon its acqui sition. While Zeyn is trying to solve the mystery involved in this communication, the King of the Genii " rises (from the trap) to explain," and promises to give him the ninth statue on condition that Zeyn shall procure for the " Genii Museum" a young lady who can be warranted perfect in every respect. To aid him in his search after this rather Uncommon specimen, Zeyn is furnished with a Magic mirror, which grows dull when a wo man with any kind of bodily or mental detect looks into it. A " grand exposition of the (young-lady) Products of all nations ' is accordingly held in the and after. ,numberless competitors have been tucted ; the tmagic mirtor remains unsullied in the Preeeniie of - Zutiii.leatfi: (Miss Kathleen Fitzwilliam), of the fifty 'Oriixt daughters—we cannot be Pattieular to half a clOzen—of a Balsora Nobleman Darned Mobarec (Mr. C. Selby). Of course Zeyn falls over head and ears in love, and wishes to keep the damsel and give up the statue; but the King of the Genii is not to be softened by entreaties, and carries her off from the enamoured monarch, only to deposit her on the ninth pedestal, where Zeyn sub sequently finds her instead of the statue which he expected. Out of these materials the Messrs. trough have put together one of the most clever burlesques that has ever been produced on any tteige. The success of the piece, which is sure of running fifty nights at the least, was immense. Bland, as the King of the Genii, had a part that fitted him to a hair; and Miss P. Horton, Miss K. hlunyard, and Selbv exerted themselves to the utmost to insure the burlesque a favourable reception. It was admirably mounted, and the " grotto of statues" in particular elicited loud and long-continued plaudits, as did the allusion to a " statute fair," ending with a general dance of the characters at the termination of the piece. We shall not mar the pleasure which all visitors to the theatre Will derive from the representation, by telling them beforehand what capital jokes and laughable parodies they will hear; it is enough to say that these are ' Plentiful enough to keep the risible muscles in con-. start exercise. ADELPHI THEATRE, The new piece at the Adelphi Theatre List night Was an extravaganza (composite and polytechnic) entitled Frankenstein ; or, The Model Man. The subject is derived from various sources; but Mrs. Shelley's novel of the same name as the piece fur fishes the main incident. The scene opens at a Ger tnan Gasthaus, or Students' Inn, near the University of Krackenjausen. A body of students are assembled , drinking Rhein wein and Barerisches bier, and dis coursing of their loves and hates, as young men are Wont to do upon such occasions. It appears that a certain Agatha (Miss Harriett Coveney), the daugh ter of an adjacent baron, Thundertentrouck or Don nerandblitzen (Mr. C. J. Smith), has been destined by her father as the wife of Frankenstein (Mr. 'Wright), who is senior wrangler at the university, and a great mechanician, like Tubal Cain, though anything but a handsome youth. Otto of Rosenberg (Miss Woolgar), " a very nice fellow," also a student of the aforesaid seat of learning, is in love with her, and resolves, will ye nil ye, to make her his bride. In the meanwhile Frankenstein is employed Upon a model man—" The 'What is it" (Mr. Paul Ledford), whose effigies he has finished after a fashion, and for whom he wants only vitality. This is granted him by Zan - 1M (Mr. 0. Smith), resuscitated for the Purpose from the opera of Der Freischritz ; and the monster walks forth into the world a terror to his Maker and a horror to mankind. The Baran gives a grand fete in honour of his daughter's approaching Marriage, whereat young Otto has promised to be, albeit uninvited ; but it is settled that the fair Agatha is to elope after they have " danced but one measure, drank one cup of wine" together. The guests are assembled; the Baron is in his glory, drunk with delight and Liebfrauenmilch, and the masquers are Making a merry dance, when lo and behold " The What is it" breaks down the door, enters the ball- room, smashes the china and glass, frightens the females, scares away the men, and sets fire to the castle, which burns to the ground in the twinkling of an eye ; not, however, before a brigade of sapeurs Pompiers, clothed in white muslin, short Petticoats, and pink satin bodies, enter at th e tail of a little engine for the purpose of extin guishing the blazes. They have been sent by the water nymph Undine (Miss E. Harding), who has taken the young lovers under her especial protection. The freaks of the Model Man are very amusing. Subse quently Frankenstein, his maker, is brought before the Herr Baron, in his magisterial capacity, to answer for the misdeeds of the monster ; and as he pleads his Innocence, the Baron's daughter and her newly-wed sPouse rush on also to beg his worship's blessing. It teems that, after the fashion of Sir Huon of Bor deaux, in the epic of Oberon, the young spark ha s tamed " The What is it ?" by the music of a tune less fife, presented to him by Undine for the occa tion ; and as Paul Bedford, or rather the Model het, promises to behave unexceptionably in future, is bound to his good behaviour, and obtains a situ ation. The characters are classed under three heads " those which belong to the story in the ori iglnal legend ;" " those which do not exactly belong to the story, but which, being creations of the authors' own, they maintain they have a right to do What they like with ;" and " those with Which, honestly speaking, the authors have no busi tress at all." The piece is rather smart than witty, but it flags for want of action in some scenes. Indeed not half as much is made of the monster as might be t r thde, if the authors only chose to exert themselves. the scenery is excellent, especially the ball-room scene and the " glittering termination"—a beautiful water scene—descriked in the bills as " a picturesque Portion of the Rhine, unknown to modern guide books." Much was dnoe by the actors to insure the Fuccess of Frankenstein, in particular by the gemini I Vright and Paul Bedford. Miss Woolgar and Miss Ellen Chaplin alto contributed their share to the Rerieral result; hut, nevertheless, it excited no en thusiasm Even on the holiday audience gathered together to witruss its representation, and must be considerel only as a partial hit, to say the best of it. pretty child, whose name does not appear in the Programme, danced a pas suel with great aplomb, and r eceived more h.sarty applause than all the rest of the Performers. The authors are two brothers, gentlemen named Brough, favourably known in the burlesque dramatic world as the concoctors of several successful Pieces, Th e Will ow C o p se p rece d e d, and Mrs. Bun- L 'l 4 '7l's Spoons follow ed. The hou , e was crowded, and the audience, though merry among themselves, were Very orderly. f LYCEUM THEATRE. Pew theatrical managers have done so much to illustrate laity legends, or adapt them to the vviahea end feelings of the age, as Madame Vestris, and, per haps, still fewer dramatic writers hive drawn more upon the mythology and nursery fictions for their subjects as Mr. Planche. Numerous, however, as their triumphs have been ie that respect, the mine from whence they have gathered materials to concoct so many extravaganzas would seem to he far from exhausted, and we may yet hope to witness the pro duction of an amusing piece of this character when ever the accession calls for one. The wit of the author of The Mand of Jewels—the title of the present attraction at the Lyceum—fails before the lavish munificence of the manageress in placing it upon the stage ; but, nevertheless, the verse contains sufficient point and fancy to make it palatable, and it certainly ought to yield as much gold to the treasury of the theatre as it, undoubtedly, adds another gent to the pearly wreath that already encircles the brow of the accomplished manageress. The incidents of these entertainments, generally speaking, bear so remarkable a similarity to each other, that it is almost unnecessary to do more than enumerate the characters that work them out, but during a season of festivity it is nut inexcusable to occupy space with the details of a story turning upon the cross purposes of a good and evil spirit, and, though improbable and extravagant, serving to inculcate a sound moral truths. According to Mr. P/e.nche's edition of the Countess D'Aneis (Serpentine Vert), the story is briefly this—if, indeed. it be not much like that of the "Needy linifegrinder" —Gingerbread the Great, King of Pharitale (a potentate vs hose corporeal representative is Mr. Frank Matthews), and his Queen Tinsellina, with that melancholy forgetfulness so common in all such cases, in summoning the fairies to attend the birth or christening of their twin daughters, Princess Bellotta (Miss Kenworthy) and Princess Laidrometta (Miss Julia St. George), forget that notoriously malevolent old fairy Magutine (Miss E. Ilonner), who avenges the slight in the ordinary course of nature by rushing in at the festival and casting such glamour round Lai drometta as to make her appear odiously ugly to her pa rents, who very properly banish her from Court for such a grievous offence to a lonely tower by the sea side. Here, however, she is consoled by the fun and kind ness of her maid Fidelia (Madame Vestris), and by the delicate attentions of a large specimen of the boa constrictor species, which hisses vows of eternral fidelity from all manner cf impossible places. Princess Beiiotta is about to be married to Prince Prettiphello - (Miss I. Dickenson), and Laidrometta having in vain attempted to get an introduction to the ball, returns to the seashore to deplore her fate. The transition from the ball-room of the royal pavilion, filled with a glorious company of cavaliers and ladies in sky blue turned up with gold (in which, too, a tolerable at tempt was made to render the perspective complete by introducing some very tiny children at the back of the stage) to the lonely tower was very well managed. A boat without any one in it appears by the seaside; the Princess and Fidelia embark; Magotine raises a storm at sea, which does great credit to her creative powers, and but for the serpent, who, in this case, turns out to be the real sea animal, the Princess would be lost on a reef of rocks off the Gold Coast. She and her faithful attendant, however, are: safely landed in the Island of Jewels, and express their satisfaction in a very pretty duet. Here the courtiers and suite of the master of the territory—Viscount Carbuncle, Earl Topaz, Lord onyx, Lady Pearl, &c.—visit them, and announce that King Emerald (an invisible green Prince, or rather an invisible green-prince) claims the hand of the Princess on the understanding that she will wed him without seeing his face ; to which, as there is abundant proof of his being well to-do in the world, she consents. The King performed by (the bills say) Herr Karl Von Voxetprmtereanihil, is carried on in a golden litter, and sings a song, in which he certainly does not make the most of his voice. It is needless to say that the King is the ser pent lover held in durance vile by Magotine—that the devotion of the Princess, a little impeded by her curiosity, however, and the assistance of the Fairy Benevolentia, restore him to his proper form, that of an interesting young monarch, and bring about a happy matrimonial conclusion. The success of an extravaganza frequently depends more upon the splendour of the dresses, the ingenuity of the machinery, and the beauty of the scenes, but the author should always endeavour not to destroy the unity of glittering pictorial illusions with occa sional flashes of wit, and sly hits at the follies of the hour, which in the present instance Mr. Planch‘ has failed to do. His verse is smooth enough, it is true, but it wants more point, less verbosity, and some thing like originality in the humour. Audiences have got tired of laughing at jokes made at the expense of the orchestra, while their pockets have suffered too much to admit of their seeing the force of a railway pun, or tittering even at the gib beting of the deposed Railway King. The dialogue is too dull and meaningless, and had it not been for the splendour of the "getting up" the fate of the Island of Jewels would have been scaled. Nothing, however, has ever surpassed the magnificence of the scenery; from first to last it was one continued suc cession of gorgeous pictures —now exhibiting the sunny landscapes of the east, anon the fresh green sea, then stupendous mountain passes and dreary caverns, and finally closing with a sparkling spectacle, which language would fail to describe and the fancy of a poet never realise. When wickedness has beers duly punished and virtue rewarded, a vast column of palm leaves at the hack of the stage slowly opens, each leaf bending towards the stage, and discovers a group of nymphs on a cushion, bearing aloft " the crown jewels." Of what they are made we cannot say,—what the nymphs are dressed in it would be impossible to assert. It seemed a web of silvery light; the jewels sparkled with more than the lustre of diamonds. All was a blaze of the most dazzling colour, and the curtain fell on a most enthusiastic and astonished audience, who will readily agree with us that the piece owes more to the pencil of the artist than the pen of the author. Madame Vestris and Miss St. George impersonated the chief characters, and sang some of the songs with which the extravaganza abounds with much spirit and animation. The fair managress herself was encored in a parody on Jetty Treffa's song, " Trab, trab, trab," and well she deserved it, she did it with such fascinating archness. Miss St. George made her first appearance at this house, and laboured most arduously to please her audience. Her vivacity and youth is agreeably refreshing, and allied to the great ability she possesses, serves well to invest her part with absorbing interest. Miss Isabel Dickenson, who has resumed her former position at the Lyceum, had a slight character entrusted to her, but the exquisite beauty of her costume, with her commanding figure made it occasionally attractive, alight though it was. Frank Matthews came out with great force, dressed as a king—such a one as you sometimes meet with in a pack of cards— and in the last scene, where disappointment in some currency speculation has made sad havoc of his intellect, and he determines to draw bills for impossible sums and on all sorts of imaginary people, he is irresistibly droll. The house was full, and it is a safe prophecy to predict that it will remain full till the piece is worn out, when it is to be hoped its place will be immediately supplied by some of those drawing-room bUct sketches which once made Madame so mighty at the Olympic. THE SUN, OLYMPIC THEATRE. The new Olympic Theatreeivas opened for dramatic entertainments, for the first time, last night, and was well filled with as good-natured, merry, and well behaved a Christmas-holiday audience, as one could desire to witness. As if, with the improvements in the new erection, were required a revision of the code of laws which generally regulate the conduct of a theatrical audience, and are sometimes unmercifully exercised, there were none of those rows, fights, and catcallings, which invariably characterize the pro ceedings of a boxing night. Indeed the gods and pittites put up with the delays consequent upon a first representation with a degree of patience and for bearance seldom Before witnessed. On entering the edifice, which, Phoenix-like, has sprung up from the ashes of the old Olympic, we could not but compare the rapid and beau tiful transformation which had been made to a change of scene effected by the Harl equ i n ' s wan d i n a pan tomimic representation ; where before was a cramped up unsightly erection, which in the course of a long career had been cut about and altered so as to possess little of its original form, there is now, perhaps, one of the most elegant, best arranged little theatres in London, in all the bloom and freshness which can belong to a newly-finished building. A detailed and accurate description of the whole edifice having already been given in this paper, it is sufficient to say that every possible arrangement has been made to conduce to the comfort and convenience of the spec tators; and that the gallery, boxes, and pit hive been planned so that an excellent view of the stage may be obtained from every part of the house. The company, which is one of remarkable strength, is collected from nearly every other metropolitan establishment, and contains, among others, Mr. C. Davenport, Mr. Compton, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. Meadows, Mr. J. Reeve, Mr. A. Wigan, and Mr. Holl ; Mrs. Mowatt, Mite Fenny Vining, Mrs. Seymour, Miss L. Marshall, and Miss L. Coleman. The curtain rose amidst loud cheers shortly aften seven o'clock, when the whole of the performers appeared upon the stage, and sang " God save the Queen," in a style which elicited the loudest applause. Mrs. Mowatt shortly afterwards came forward, and delivered with great taste the following address, which was written for the occasion by Mr. Albert Smith, and was through out received with hearty bursts of cheering. now some nine enoell.s since—nay, start not, friends, To no stage narrative my tale extends— 'Tis now sows nine months since—the date to &x, LON DON, March twenty-seven; tune, evening, hall-past six; The neighbourhood, so papers made allusion, Was thrown into a state of great confusion; Thigh shot the flames, fiercely the fire-plugs pley'd, Loud swore the band or Braidwood's bold brigade; The engines laboured with unceasing noise, Policemen scuffled, and huzzaed the boys— Seeing what once would lave been more enjoyed, A French ship's west by English fire destroyed; Whilst, grand effect, the first time far an age, Beal water flooded the Olympic stage; Of, from the engine -hose, in streams projected, Produced an overflow quite unexpected; And long before the following morning broke, The lessee's hopes had ended all in smoke. But English cnterprize now laughs at time; E'en did the Geni of the Eastern clime For one night more Aladdin's palace raise, It would not much surprise us now-a-days! So our new theatre—all checks despite— Opens, as promised, upon boxirg•night ! And our new host has sent me on the stage Your hands and approbation to engage— Himself not much accustomed to appear, To say how glad he is to see you hero. You might have thought allusion to assist, The Pbeeniy:, as a type, could not he missi'd; But those who've studied from the Regent's Park, Or Surrey Gardens, to the Child's Null's Ark, Know, to believe in it, is most absurd (1. do not moan the office, but the bird), lu this most practical, material age, The Pheenix shows not even on the stage; And all that ashes, no.:Y-a-days produce Is soda for the washerwoman's use. Afore trite the simile, still rather old, :at, as the chemists tell tu, doubtful gold, Through fire sent, is purified at last; So let us hope, that through our furnace pass'd, Tho Drama's spirit, chastened and refined, Comes over pure, leaving all dregs behind. Now, one word for myself, in this my speech, _ . Or, rather, for my nation, I beseech; - To you who welcomed with a friendly hand The two pool. players from a distant land— __ Who gsvO America fresh cause to prove Old England's liberality and love; Believe us ever grateful for the weed, Nor visit on a nation one wrong deed. We prize your artists; let me then declare, How proud and glad we are to see them there! [Bell rings.] Oh goodness, there's the bell! I must away, Although I still bad very much to say. Anon `'our verdict we shall come to seek; So, for ourselves, lct our endeavours speak." Shakspere's excellent comedy of the Two Gentlemen of Verona, which followed, was played very effici ently, the principal parts being taken by Messrs. Davenport, Conway, Compton, Scharf, Miss Vining, and Mrs. Seymour. Compton's Launce was an inimitable piece of acting, and elicited loud bursts of laughter, and it is but justice to say of the dog Crab that he perfectly understood his master, and knew that he was playing to an audience. As a matter of course, however, the great event of the evening was the new, original, grand, comic Christ mas pantomime, entitled, Laugh and Grow Fat; or Harlequin Nutcracker, which is the production of Mr. elson Lee, and we presume founded on the fairy talc well known in nurseries, in which we learn that the hand of a beautiful Princess was offered in marriage to any facetious individual who could move the risible faculties of a certain dull, melancholy and taciturn Prince " Whoe'er the Price can move to laughter, Shill wed the Princess and be King hereafter." The great representative of merriment is "Jovial Christmas" (Mr. Morrison), whose faithful assistant, Nutcracker, is engaged in the task of carrying good cheer into the Court of King Nonsense (Mr. Stanton), the father of Prince Melancholy. A number of per sonified comestibles and kitchen utensils, represented with a great deal of grotesque humour, form the retinue of " Christmas." Nutcracker is a capital caricature of the eccentricities of Sir Charles Napier ; he parades and inspects the formidable battalion with great strictness; and lays considerable stress upon the small carpet bag outfit required by an officer on a campaign. His enemy is Humbug (Mr. Morris), an evil potentate, whose palace, supported by two gigantic blowers of soap-bubbles, cleverly sets forth the various " humbugs" of recent times. That evil may not pre ponderate to the detriment of dramatic justice there is a troop of Naiades, who dwell in a pearly palace, and pay allegiance to Queen Sincerity (Miss M. Oliver). In this palace a new contrivance is employed by which day is converted into night with very beautiful effect. After divers perils the Christmas party reaches the Palace of King Nonsense, which is another instance of scenic in genuity, the absurd character of the monarch being illustrated by the strangely composed figures which form the columns of the building: The attempts to move the melancholy heir apparent to laughter prove abortive until an unpatronised artist, with the charac teristic name of "Humble Merit," brings a portrait of Grimaldi, when the down-drawn corners of the Prince's mouth are drawn upwards, and his emaciated form swells into a comfortable obesity. On the transformation of the personages into the character of the harlequinade, Humble Merit becomes Harlequin (Mr. Corinna), and the Princess, whose hand he has gained by his skill, becomes Columbine (Miss Mal colm), and mighty King Humbug is humiliated to the condition of Pantaloon (Mr. Morris). The Clown (Mr. T. Matthews) starts from the picture of Grimaldi, as the living representative of his illustrious predecessor. The tricks were all cleverly arranged, but presented little of a novel or original character. The allusions to the political and other events of the day were not numerous, but such as there were told well with the tudience. A hit at the Russian interference in Hungary was amongst the best. By magic influence an unsightly locking bear starts from a package of bear's grease, a fine turkey from a parcel of Turkey coffee, and the former menaces the latter; but two little, miniature beings, in the shape of a British grenadier and a smart French gendarme ap pear with the same rapidity, when the lean slinks away and the turkey is escorted off the stage by the two gallant soldiers. Mr. T. Matthews made a most excellent clown. He sang " Tippitiwichet," " Hot Codlings," and the other songs assigned to the character in a way which brought down the boisterous applause of the gods, and danced the polka in imitation of the Casino style with a black girl, to the evident gratification and mirth of all. One of the most attractive features in the panto mime was the extraordinary feats of Signor Alveradi and his Lilliputian pupil, who may almost be considered superior to Risley and his son. In the Terpsichorean department we are glad to see a very pretty and agile dancer in Miss L. Coleman, who, in a grand pas de deux with Mr. Mar • shall, acquitted herself in a way which promises well for the future. The scenery was very splendidly got up, and on the whole the pantomime may be consi dered entirely successful. THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1849 ha forthwith transferred from Smithfield to Islington. The whole concluded at past one o'clock with a grand finale, representing a fairy palace and a benignant spirit bestowing on the characters the rewards of vir tue and constant love. The dancing and deportment of Miss Kate Kirby, as Columbine, elicited general applause. " Youth" was fitly and prettily represented by Miss Bullen ; and the feats of agility of Mr. Thorne, a supernumerary clown and afterwards a sprite, appeared to elicit the wonderment of everybody. STRAND THEATRE. Boxing night turned out a bumper to W. Farren, the spirited lessee and manager of this pretty little pill-box of a theatre. Farren, since he has become manager and lessee, has shown himself as good a caterer for the public amusement as the best manager of the day, and has proved that he can play the part of the governor with as much vigour, clSscretion, and excellent acting as be ever displayed in the various other difficult characters he has sus tained, and the performance of which has ren dered him so deservedly a favourite with the public. Although the strict spirit of pantomime was not evoked at by Farren, as is the wont of managers at Christmas time, its absence was well supplied by the production of a new extravaganza, in which the gods of Olympus had a glorious revel upon earth, and entered with spirit into the manners of the present age, and the follies and vices of the present day. The pleasing drama of King Rene's Daughter, translated from Henrik Hertz, com menced the performance of the evening, in which the heart-stirring acting of Mrs. Stirling elicited the most unbounded applause. They were, followed by what may be termed the toast of the night, namely, the new extravaganza called Diogenes and his Lantern; or, a Hue and Cry after Honesty. This is one of that class of burlesque pieces so popular of late years, of which the dialogue, carried on in rhyme, is made the medium for satirising the prevailing vices and follies of the present times- The piece, according to the bills, is an entirely original, mythical, musical, satirical, political, comical, gnomical, and politico economical extra vaganza. The music is modern antique, the scenery, bran new and intensely old; the dresses, from designs by the oldest inhabitant of Modern Athens; the machinery, from the theatre of the Greeks ; and the properties from Pompeii. The time in which the scene is laid is 319 A.C., the place, Oly m • pus, afterwards Athens ; but the events sung forth and stigmatised in verse are patent to all as of the present day. The god Jupiter (a ruler who can't keep things straight), Mr. Leigh Murray, finding every thing going wrong, summons the gods and goddesses, who appear around him in the following order, he seated on his throne, the centre of a system :—Mars (head of a reduced naval and milit ar y es t a bli s h men t), Mr. W. Farren, jun. ; Mercury (the deity of " fast men," the original " gent" of the Greek mythology), Mr. Henry Farren ; Apollo (God o f Ly res , an d pa t ron o f poetry and fiction), Mrs. Leigh Murray; Bacchus (the fine old proof Spirit of " the bottle"), Mr. H. Butler; Vulcan (the Iron King with too many irons in the fire), Mr. C. Bender; Hercules (the King of Clubs--worshipped by all asses in lion's skins), Mr. Tanner ; Minerva (a blue bell in full flower —an amazingly strong-minded and proportionably unpopu lar goddess), Mrs. Stirling; Juno (the Mrs. Caudle of the Olympian family party, Mrs. B. Bartlett; Venus (authoress of " Love's" Lenten Entertainment), Miss Rebecca Isaacs; Diana (the woman in the moon), Mrs. H. J. Turner; and Ceres (persecuted by the Protectionists, and protected by Richard Cobden, Esq.), bass Adams. Having overhauled his staff for abuses. in their various departments, the mighty Jove indignantly winds up by cxclaiining— " You're no more nec, when by y,:ur dci ds I try ye, Than would be so rosny patriot Lords of the Trea sury." _Chroons, Old Time (Mr. Harvey), " The good time coming" (which has been so l o ng on the road), makes his appearance, and finds that innovation and revolution have produced wonderful changes, altering everything, and improving nothing, and he accord ingly makes complaints in accents "loud and deep," and calls forth remarks on men and things, from several of the gods and goddesses, and among the latter, from Minerva, who, in a play on Pallas, has a touch at the "Palace" Court, hinting to 4. Those who look for innovation, to Prepare to pay a swinging compensation." Diogenes (a Cynic philosopher, who once took a tub for his house, and mankind for his butt), Mr. P. Emery, next appears, and anon we have him preparing for " his nice look out," taking a new box, and advertising his " sub." Casinotis, alias Venus, Mi , s Rebecca I•aacs, anxious for an honest man upon her own account, works upon the philosopher, who determines to go in search of one, finds it difficult to meet with such, exclaims 'tis all humbug, and Omits that he is as great a humbug himself as any going. The " collective wisdom" is re.erred to, as indicating "a good time coming," but Minerva, in her character of Wisdom, exclaims— " No, there they scout me, The House of C ,, maions manages without me." Jupiter, in the course of the scene, changes his cha racter, and goes forth as a "Reformer" under the assumed, and not altogether unpopular name of No taxes. He ascends the rostrum, and proclaims, in good set speeches, against all prevailing abuses, in dulging his own vices by exposing other people's, and giving vent to his virtuous indignation against men and measures, and winding up with an address to his dupes— " You're poor, and so am I, and what of that? If I am poor, why then send round the hat." Mars is converted into Drabidus, President of the " Peace Society," of whose body Prattilus and Borus (Mr. Mazzoni and Mr. Harris) are members, and presently we find them disagreeing, and at fisticuffs with each other, as to how the peace is to be kept, Drabidus, in the melee, exclaiming, like a true son of peace— " Put any State down that does not like another, And lick each man until he lours his brother." Juno becomes a Mrs. Caudle in her way, and gives some admirable lectures to her lord and master Jupiter, on the duties of a husband, which are productive of mirth, and a chapter to be studied by fast gentlemen, fond of remaining out at night, and not remarkable for the fulfilment of the domestic code. Mercury, the fast gentleman, under the assumed name of Telliates, becomes a proprietor of a magic mart, breaking regularly once a year, and thriving on ruinous sacrifices, of which the "poor shirt , makers" and "poor needlewomen" are net the least. Apollo, as Atticus, becomes the poet of this magic mart, and throws off his lyrics as Master of the Mosaic Muse, to the amusement of the house. Vulcan (Mr. C. Bender) vulcanises him ;elf into the charac ter of Mammonides, a celebrated Railway King, an excellent imitation, cooking the shareholders' accounts first, and everybody's goose, including his own, afterwards. Gammonides and Bamboozilus (Mr. Geoffrey and Mr. Doo) represent railway directors doing Mammonides' dirty work, worshipping him while he is up, and blackguarding him when he is down, thus showing the way of the world, its summer friends, its shallowness, hypocrisy, and thorough humbug. Diogenes has at length found "an honest man," as he supposes, in a poor, poverty-stricken Pixenix, a tailor, under the dignified name of Scis sarion (Mr. J. H. Turner), and consoles him, after he has had proof of his honesty, in the return of a lost puree, by telling him to be of good cheer, that " there's a good time coiling," that "honesty is the best policy," and "has its own reward ;" but failing to give him anything. Fine words are cheap ; and so is " humbug,' which the piece, as the quality prevails in the present age, exposed and castigated in graphic and forcible verse. The audience were in raptures both with the sentiments and the company, who were well rehearsed in their parts, and who played to each other with point, humour, and effect. The scenery, principally of the classic cha racter, was very beautiful, and much admired. The extravaganza, as a whole, cannot fail to become popular; at the same time the pruning -knife, judiciously applied, might be of con siderable service. The evening's entertainment con cluded with the representation of Poole's celebrated drama of The Past and Present; or, the Annals of the French Revolution. SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE. Otway's deservedly popular tragedy of Venice Preserved was represented at this theatre yesterday evening, and never on any previous occasi , ,n did we see the house so crowded. Long before the curtain rose the theatre was densely filled from floor to ceiling, and hundreds were obliged to put up with no better accommodation than standing room. Ot late years this theatre has acquired a deserved reputa tion for its maintenance and representation of the national drama in all its purity, and no better proof could be afforded of the thorough appreciation of this highly creditable aim by the public than the crowded state of the house last night. The part of the amiable Jaffier was played by Mr. G. K. Dickin son, and was sustained throughout with great good taste and judgment, despite his naturally weak voice and some few peculiarities of pronunciation which jarred on our ears. The generous t'riendship, the noble and disinterested love, and the touching ingenuousness thrown into the character by the author were given by the actor with singular felicity and effect. The less popular but equally difficult part of Pierre was ren dered by Mr. G. Bennett in his usually effective manner. The deep rich voice of Mr. Bennett, his correct taste, and his manly and natural motions and deportment on the stage, mark him out as a man who will achieve the highest position in his profession. Already has he earned for himself a reputation of which he may well be proud. The author's concep tion of the bold soldier, the generous friend, and the unscrupulous conspirator, embodied in the character of Pierre, were in turn executed by him last night with a fidelity and a force beyond all praise, and which elicited frequent bursts of the heartiest applause from the audience. Miss Glyn played the touching part of Belvidere in a way which reflected credit upon her judgment and skill. der melting appeals for forgiveness to her implacable lather, her generous, unchangeable, and confiding love towards Jaffier, her unbounded joy, painfully alternating with the deepest misery and despair, were all rendered in a way true to nature, though the effect was now and then marred by an infelicitous smile or movement, or a look, apparently appealing for approval to the audience. As it was, her acting frequently earned for her the plaudits of the house; and at the conclusion of the piece she and Mr. Bennett were frequently called for, and both appeared upon the stage and bowed their acknow ledgments. The acting of Mr. Graham, as Renault, was singularly happy; and Mr. H. Mellon's Priuli was equally unexceptionable. The play was followed by the production of the Christmas pantomime, en titled Harlequin and the Dragon of Wantley; or Moore of Moore hall, and Mother Shipton's Black Dog; and as soon as the first notes of the overture were struck the glee of the audience was perfectly uncontrollable. Whenever in the course of this musical medley any particular favourite air was per fortned, the whole house joyously roared forth a most vociferous, if not a most melodious accompaniment. In attempting to describe the plot of that part of the pantomime which precedes the regular harlequinade we certainly labour under great difficulty, as the merri ment of one half of the audience, and the numerous and anxious calls for " order" from the other half, rendered the dialogue almost inaudible. It was, however, very evident that a voracious dragon, who gobbled up children by scores for breakfast, and made his dinner off as many men or women (being in nowise particular), was the terror of the rustic neighbourhood of Waniley. The Baron of Wantley, while sitting down to his family dinner, is perfectly dismayed by the appearance of this dreadful visitor, who pops in quite unexpectedly, and after satisfying the immediate cravings of his inordinate appetite with the best of the Baron's viands, finishes with carrying off the Baron's daughter, whom, as a delicate morsel, he reserves for a future repast. In this intention, however, the Dragon is disappointed ; for Moore of Moore Hall, being in love with the young lady, pursues her ravisher, and, in a pugilistic encounter, gives him a blow that proves a complete " settler." Then, of course, as nothing else remains to be done, everybody is transformed, and the usual pantomimic tricks and bustle ensue. Guy the Grim, Baron of Wantley, is turned into Clown (Mr. T. Ridgway), Moore of Moore Hall into Harlequin (Mr. C. Fenton), the Baron's wife is transformed into Pantaloon (.Ir. Gramani), and the terrible Dragon, casting his skin, accompanies the party as an attendant sprite. This latter part was filled by Mr. Thorne, vaio in tumbling and leaping exhibited so much agility as frequently called forth the applause:of the company within the theatre. The pantomine is altogether well got up. The scenery is good, the changes are rapid and clever, the costumes attractive, and the allusions to passing events suffi ciently pointed. The part of Columbine was grace. fully sustained by Miss Kate Kirby. One or two hits told immensely. Compensation to the Palace Court lawyers was typified by a member of the wig and gown in the stocks, and the audience cheered as if every second man were a " Jacob Omnium," and had defended a suit before the mori bund tribunal. The Smithfield Market nuisance was the subject of a series of wooden jokes, some of which told, while others were incomprehensible ; but the strong point was that the cattle market should PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The patrons of care killing pantomime were edified to their heart's content last night at the Thespian shrine in Oxford street. The deities aloft and juve niles throughout the lower benches assisted at the preliminary performance of Don Giovanni (the opera of operas !) with commendable gravity and exem plary attention. Expectation was evidently, although (considering a boxieg•night) decorously on tipto,-, and great was the reward of the dense and anxious congregation, for King Jamie; or, Harlequin and the Magic Fiddle, was launched upon the tide of public opinion w ith eminent success. It is in fact an undeniable screamer. Honour to the author for this latest emanation of his fertile wit, worthy of the brain which generated Bluff King Hal. Honour to Flexmore, not alone for his felicitous and wondrous gamhollings as clown, but for the admirable manner in which, under his superintending auspices, the multifarious details of this jovial representation were principally developed. After a long delay, which began to draw upon the patience of the gods, the rising curtain gave to view the opening scene, " The Hall of Evil Spirits" tenanted by Mighty Alcohol and his hideous and unworthy Family, who dwell in monstrous pupcheons. This grisly potentate dispatches Guido Fawkes, who is in aspect, unmistakably, ". a great Guy," upon his mischievous and memorable career; and we are next introduced to the Royal Double-bedded Dormitory where King Jamie, his beautiful spouse occupying a separate couch, evinces much parental affection in feeding the squalling Prince of Wales with pap, ere he proceeds to equip himself for the merry chase. Honey, the emperor of pantomime kings, deserves a prize ox for the way in which he " made up" the worthy monarch; it was 'a capital caricature of the personal appearance of the British Solomon. Then comes a forest scene, a glade in Epping, whilome of Easter Monday fame, in which the tired and hungry King sits down beneath an umbrageous oak to enjoy a comfortable collation of sheep's head after the fatigues of the hunt, which has been chiefly devoted to the slaughter of farm yard game, a sucking-pig and gigantic turkeycock being the prominent trophies. His pleasures are, however, speedily interrupted by the unwelcome appearance of Seymour and his ladylove, who only escape the ire of his Majesty by the effects of a magic fiddle which Seymour has received from a supernatural friend, and with which he flings all, king and courtiers, into such saltatory paroxysms as to render them incapable of capturing the enamoured fugitives. The ex- treme beauty of the scenery here displayed— especially the appearance of the Naiad Queen (Miss Julia Bleaden), who shone amidst her water fairies the lovely Empress of the Naiad band, from the Magic Fountain—was most warmly applauded. The exhausted King contrives to lose his way, his tram, and purse, and strays to a lone house in Lam beth, where he encounters Guy Fawkes, gloriously ranted by Wynn, and is very near being " done for " by the conspirators, when the Magic Fiddle comes this time to his aid, and dances his enemies into fits, whilst Royalty makes an undignified escape. The following scene provoked much mirth; the grand pr ocession of King Jamie on his way to open Parlia ment, in which the masks were supremely grotesque. Our old friend Jullien was seen marshalling the state band with his brandished baton, and was forth with handsomely recognised, but when Lord John Russell appeared in attendance on the King, the likeness to the physiognomy of the Premier was so extrordinary that a simultaneous shriek of delight' 'burst from the spec tators in pit, gallery, and boxes. Guy is shortly afterwards pounced upon in the vaults, and the scene changes to the Bath of Beauty, or the Naiad's Home, an exquisite triumph of the painter's skill. The usual transformations now take place, and the real pantomime commences, full of all manner of fun. Flexmore was most heartily hailed on his appearance, and acquitted himself with his wonted superiority. His dancing as a Casino " gent" was especially delightful. He was well supported by Bologna as Harlequin, and Paulo as Pantaloon. Miss Fawcett was a spirited and graceful Columbine, and may boast the enviable possession of the prettiest foot and ankle on the stage. Some of the best incidents of the piece occur in Smithfield-market, both "as it is" and " as it ought to be," and amongst them Flexmore's imitations of favourite dansemes, that of Rosati being pre-eminent. He gave a hornpipe too as he alone can give it. Among other good hits is " everybody's game," played by Pantaloon and Clown. In part of the game the Russian bear takes Kossuth, and is in turn taken by Turkey ; this was at once caught at by the audience, and loudly appreciated. The attendant sprites were exceedingly well personated by Lebar and Wright, who performed some most agile somersaults. There is a considerable degree of pantomimic talent evidently possessed by Wright which cannot fail to render him after a very little further stage ex perience, an accomplished and favourite artist. After a flight to the Pyramidical Railway Station in the land of Ham, and a short sederunt of the Ladies' Judge and Jury Society, the palace of the Fairy Queen unfolds its portals, and even Alcohol determining to take the pledge, all ends in virtue, bliss, and " halls of dazzling light." The pantomime went off smoothly and effectively ; the scenery, which was superb, costumes (not- forgetting the masks), machinery, transformations, and dances, reflecting great credit on all parties concerned. The house was crowded in every part, and the curtain descended amidst salvos of well-merited applause. MARYLEBONE THEATRE. Last night the denizens of the north-western part of the metropolis were entertained with their "boxing day" treat in the shape of pantomimic amusement, provided for their especial recreation by Mr. Nelson Lee, the well-known caterer of the fun for the Christ mas holidays, in conjunction with Mr. Watts, the lessee of the theatre. The house was excellently attended, the pit being densely packed, the gallery most uncomfortably filled, and the boxes respectably , attended. The performances opened by the presenta tion of a new drama, entitled Clara Charette ; or, a Daughter's Sacrifice. Although the " unities" are not very closely followed in the composition of this piece, it abounds in some very excellent points, which are well calculated, in the hands of Phillips (Charles St. Remmy), from the Norwich boards, and the heroine of the piece (Mrs. Kirby, from Worcester), to " shoot folly as it flies." The drama was well received, and when the curtain fell the applause rendered by the audience was most enthusiastic. The produc tion is from the pen of Mr. William Collier. The pantomime, which succeeded, is entitled Harlequin Fairy Land; or, the Princess Zela and the Wishes Three. Thera is something peculiarly fine in the opening scene, which presents an Arcadian bower by moonlight, most beautifully presented and richly put upon the stage. The distant chorus is heard behind the scenes— " Fairies, won't you come out to. night— Come out to•night—come out to-night? Faith 5, won't you come out to-night, And dam* by the light of the moon?" The entire company of fairies trip forward in obe dience to the request, and the effect of this opening was expressive, and augured well for the interest sought to be realized in the introduction of the pan tomime. Of the opening of the piece, so far as the words went, which were written by Mr. Watts, however, it was not possible to hear a single word, nor indeed could any sentence be dis tinctly understood throughout the whole of the performance, such was the boisterous good temper of the audience. Fortunia, the Queen, arrives on earth, and having named the fact to her fairies that in the course of her journeyings she has met with a beautiful Princess whom she calls "Zela," who had refused to wed for money, who despised wealth, and longed for domestic happiness alone, a council is held, and it is decided that the fair Princess shall be received by the fairies. The proclamation is issued, after the arrival of the Princess by " special train," in the grand hall in Ratcbkill Castle, that " the hand of the Princess Zela is to be disposed of that day, at one o'clock, in the said hall." Several competitors appear : the Prince of California bids high ; the Demon of Gold bids still higher ; but the Prince of Love, though " Knight of Poverty," who offers all his store—" pure love alone," is tha favoured party. The father refuses his consent to the choice of the Princess. He said— "Convey them to the dungeon! 'tis the fittest place For those who would their family disgrace." Zela remembers that she once had a dream, which exhorted her to call to her aid, if ever she was so circumstanced, a 'magic glass, and a magic branch, on the former of which she would see three lovers. California was represented with its gold and its glitter, and its misery, to which the Prince and the Princess repair, and after some experience in the " golden regions," the Prince is convinced that all is not "gold that glitters"—that wealth does not constitute happi ness, and therefore he eventually consents to his daughter and the Knight of Poverty's being united, which takes place and happiness succeeds. At this point the Fairy Queen appears, and the transforma tion takes place. Moreland is the Harlequin, Lynch the Pantaloon, and Paul Pietro is the Clown, the Columbine being Miss S. Healey. The performances of the whole of these parties was active and highly efficient throughout. Mr. Lee's " hits" at the popular topics of the day were excellent, and astonishingly well received, as they certainly deserved to be. Their piquancy was evidently well relished by all, the gallery " gods" evidencing their approbation by " thunders" of applause. The entire amusements consisted of a multiplicity of excellent arrangements carefully made, and the whole bei ng we ll a cte d cause d the pieces to e well worth seeing, and the efforts of all parties "to please" deserving of being crowned with success. SURREY THEATRE. The Christmas festivities at this favourite place of amusement commenced last night with Colman's pretty drama the Mountaineers, Mr. T. Mead playing Octavian, and Madame Tonisi Floranthe. As far as we could judge amidst the noise that prevailed throughout the house during the performance of the piece—which, we may observe, was got through in a remarkably short space of time, for the gods were madly impatient for the pantomime—these actors sus tained these, the principal parts, very ably. Both are veryexcellent performers, and will doubtless rise in their profession. Many of the scenes were enacted in dumb show, and when the curtain fell the greater part of the audience seemed to experience a relief, and that at length they were about to obtain the gratification for which they had paid. After some twenty minutes or half an hour had passed away, during which time the audience seemed to roar and howl like an angry and stormy sea—after two or three fights in the pit and gallery had sub!ided, either from the pure prostration of the physical powers of the combatants, or from the sum mary and elevated ejection of the weaker, and, per haps, less offensive gladiator, and just as the band had commenced what appeared to be the overture, and the noise had slightly subdued (though a fight was in full swing in the pit), a "slight quarrel" took place before the curtain, which, to use the words of the play bill, "must be settled by the public." The affair took the audience by surprise, and as the prologue, for such it was spoken by Burlesque (Mr. Raymond) and Pantomime (Mr. Rogers), contains some smart hits at the prevailing passion of the day, we give it entire : " A scuffle heard behind the curtain. Enter Bur lesque, who attempts to prevent the entrance of Panto mime. Burlesque is dressed splendidly, but outre. Pantomime is dressed as a gentleman, his head being made up as a Clown's. He has a boot-jack in his hand. Pantomime asks— " Are you so sage that you resolve no more To laugh at that which tickled you of yore? Shakspere's neglected, Comedy's grown stale, Weighed, and found wanting, by chromatic scale. All cat•a-wauling now! that not by the natives ; The harvest's cleared by foreign operatives. Let not Burlesque, then, kick out Pantomime, Be not ungrateful, let me bide my time." B urlesque rejoins— " You ought to blush at this fool's motley crew; A sorry knave, a thief, with mischief big, All petty larceny, quite infra dig. No aspirations from the great and grand, Like we of Charing-cross and of the Strand, Who stab, in lofty verse, the people's vices, And, like Reformers, work at lofty prices! PANT.—Tbis fellow is a fool! without the rouse To know what 'cis that brings a Christmas house; 'Tis Folly's bells that sound a joyous chime, To cheer our hearts, and bid us laugh at time; He shakes his bauble on his magic staff— Makes children of us all by childhood's laugh. Not wiser than our fathers, let us fairly laugh; Care,' says the song, is but a silly call !' I wave my wand [waves a boot-jack], let it not be in rain; Beneath my spell—be children all again !" The pantomime, which shortly after began, is entitled The .Iloon Queen and King Night; or, Harlequin Twilight, and is from the pen of Alfred Crowquill. The plot is as old as the hills, and doubtless the follow ing quaint description of the different characters and the parts they respectively play will be more accept able to our readers than any attempt of eurs to epito mise the one or to apply ordinary historical rules to the other : Immortals—King Night, Mr. J. W. Collier; the Moon Queen, the inventor of moonlight walks, Miss Eleanor Bromley; Silver Ray, Miss Laporte; Silver Ripple, Miss Daly; Light-the-Lake, Miss Bloomfield; and the other little Rays, that the Moon can raise at any time, are named Sparkle, Scintillate, Silver•tinge, Tip• the clouds, Light-us-home, Guide-the•barque, Dance-the wave, Silver-drop, Sleep-on-the-Lake, Tip-tinge, Silver leaf, and a whole host of the bright, the light, and the beautiful; Electric Light, Mona. J. Lupino (his first appearance at this theatre). Mortals—Baron Blazen4f, afterwards Pantaloon, Mr. Naylor ; Kurlyvviggus (the Baron's barber, with his tongs always too hot), Mr. Rogers; Myrra, afterwards Columbine, Madlle. Luiaa; Fritz, the Lover, afterwards Harlequin, Mons. Lupino (his first appearance at this theatre) ; Grindumlyn, afterwards Clown, Mr. Dew huret (his first appearance at this theatre); Huskygrain, Mr. Rivers. The first scene to which we are introduced is the Cavern of Night, in the centre of which we behold a gigantic chamber-candlestick, surmounted by an enormous extinguisher, which rises slowly, and dis covers the King of Night upon his throne—sitting cross-legged upon the sconce. His helmet is an ex tinguisher, encircled by a bright and glittering diadem. His sceptre is a latch-key. His dress is alternate bands of black and red. lie descends from his seat with a solemn air, and waves his latch key sceptre. Ilis dark troops rise through the candlestick, and form into line. King Night and his army, who ►ear extinguishers upon their heads and on the top of their spears. Master and imps resolve to aid the Baron in his love after singing a distich, in which the following verses occur— " Gents who got very little to pay, Rather disliking the brightness of day, Go to casinos to banish ennui, Then sneak off to bed with a little latch-key. Dark! dark! dark! Very dark. " Policemen vanish from every beat, Taking up, Heaven knows, bow much cold meat— Good people snore, but the rogue aed the rake Find it much better to keep wide awake." We are next introduced to a very gorgeous moon light scene, filled with enchanting fairies in superb attire, with an immense moon in the back ground " blazing away " in a fashion to dazzle the eyes with the shivering prismatic introduced fur the first time into the magnificent orb of night. The scene was much applauded. These good and gentle creatures resolve to circumvent the nefarious practices of Night and summon "electric light," a brilliant looking sprite, to their aid. We next behold the Baron at his boudoir, who summons his vassals, who shake and tremble at his voice, and they sally forth under cover of night to carry off the miller's maid. The miller's house follows, where we become acquainted with the lovers, who encounter the usual pantomimic drawbacks to their felicity. The scene is suddenly changed by the sprite to a fairy bower and lake the most beautiful and effective scene in the piece. The lovers arrive in a shell on the lake, about which float the court of the Queen in nautilus shells. The court and the lovers are disturbed by the night, but escape under the cover of the night. In the succeed ing scene the transformations take place, and the pantomimic fun begins. Many of the leading inci dents of the year were well hit at. For instance a great Russian bear is laid hold of, and several pieces of his shaggy coat torn from him, on the back of which were " Turkey," " Poland," " Hungary," An amusing caricature of the skating scene in the opera of the Prophet caused much laughter —an indiscriminate crowd skating about the stage with a velocity perfectly alarming. Some of the tricks were good, but one or two worked stiff - 11y, and thereby lost their point, which was otherwise good. On the whole, we may say that the pantomime was very successful. No zeal on the part of all engaged in its presentation was wanting to render it so, and the managers appeared to have left nothing undone to please the audience of this season. Mr. Dewhurst was a very effective clown, and performed some feats with considerable skill and smartness. Mademoiselle Luiza is a pretty Colum bine and an excellent dancer; and Mr. Lupino proved himself a very agile and experienced Harle qt6a. The house was crowded to excess. ASTLEYS THEATRE. According to public expectation, this popular place of entertainment was unusually attractive fur the merry season. The new grand equestrian chi valric spectacle, entitled The Knight of the Eagle Crest; or, the Tourney of Love, was the first piece, and at the ♦ery commencement the curtain rose upon a crowded house, the " gods" fairly reaching to the skies. The stirring scenes of the sportive tournament, and the deadly combat, the flashing of bright weapons, and the prancing of the fierce war-horses—the career of a guilty usurper (Mr. Crowther), unscrupulous as to the means, where the desired end could be obtained, contrasted with that of the true Knight de Courcy (Mr. N. T. Hicks), real heir; the constancy of the betrothed of the De Courcy (Miss E. Loveday), and the fidelity and ingenuity of her attendant (Mrs. Beacham), elicited expressions of approbation, which promised liberal indulgence for the pantomime, which followed the incomparable routine of Batty'a fearless scenes of the circle, in which, for the first time, Mdlle. Angele, from the Hippodrome, Paris, made her appearance, introducing her highly• trained steed " Senora," with the management of which she ap peared both to surprise and delight every one. Tire pantomime is entitled Harlequin Yankee Doodle, who came to town upon his little Pony," being " the perfectly new and entirely original Transatlantic and Britannic Libretto, by Nelson Lee." It opened with a splendid scene portraying the " Bowers of Peace," the fairy inhabitant being Peace herself; in the person of Mrs. Beacham, attended by the sprites Mirth and Sport. Peace soon discovers Plenty (Miss E. Loveday), said to be a special and favourite attendant of Britannia, and in the " Halls of Plenty," a most pleasing illusion, in which the real elfin steeds are introduced, the fairy Hope (Mrs. Jackson) anchors, and a full ship's company of fairy attendants appear to greet Britannia (Miss Moreton Brooks) as she descends from her car on the wares ' and takes the command-in-chief. Young ,y.. car (Mr. W. H. Harvey), " a pert young m , ;.4 - F,T , -,,,, k regular brick," becomes acquainted with t . Odes, who promises to promote his interest wit 11egaitr.._ ~- 1 4i_ L. \`'` nigger lady, Miss Dinah, a sister of Lucy - ,lfteit -‘_'-,•?. 7, ic-T-tt )2 which she retires for a time, assuring h .flOoti,<::. , "4 .1 ... * that ‘• - ‘`•* - r ; -..- I ' .l ; " If England and America keep friend, 'tis clpar,----; 1 - _, There will be peace and plenty all the year.' f .l,l V.l ,y,'.s k • Another wooer of Miss Dinah then turns up, who is no other than Yankee Doodle (Barry), who has come to London town for the purpose of settling the business of Miss Dinah, but on his arrival, with his famous servant Sam Slick, he finds all his plans thwarted by Young Eng land. Although " tarnation cute," Brother Jona than somehow finds the Britishers of London too much for him, and at last he " calkilates " that he is only getting robbed, cheated, swindled, and de ceived on all sides. Britannia, however, resolved to give the disconsolate son of Columbia another chance, and the usual transformation having been effectcd, the chase begins. The following are the characters of the harlequinatle :—Harlequin, Mr. W. H. Harvey ; Columbine, Miss Louise Davidson ; Clown, Mr. Jackson ; Pantaloon, Mr. Craddock. The usual tricks and jokes form tha staple of the fun, which was kept up with ui,flaggiog spirit and viva city. The new art of graphio!ogy, or discerning characters from handwriting, the cheap excursion scheme on the Continent, the early-closing movement, the opening of the Coal Exchange, the Row Polka, and other follies of the day were successively brought forward, and excited considerable merriment. Some negro melodies were introduced, and a nigger dance was executed with some spirit, and a couple of comic songs from a special favourite at Astley's was impe ratively demanded and obtained. The machinery all worked most smoothlyfor a first night, and everything went off well. VICTORIA THEATRE. This house last night was crowded to suffocation, the first piece being the drama of the White Slave. Next came the fun of the evening, the pantomime, named, Harlequin Wat Tyer ; or, Jack Straw's Rebel lion and the Fairies of the Land of Flowers. The first scene represents the abode of the Fairy Loda while summoning Cupid, and she is informed by that wicked little god that Sir Watkyn Dudley has fallen in love with Wat Tyler's daughter. The next scene is Greenwich-park, where the King is discovered hunting. He is told of a poll-tax having bsen levied on his people, when he ejaculates— " Levy a tax, what will my people say." To which the tax-gatherer replies— " They grumble, Sire, as usual, but still they pay." The tax-gatherer and Wat Tyler both die, and then the transformations take place, Maude, Wat Tyler's daughter, into Columbine, Wat Tyler into Clown, and Sir Watkyn Dudley into Pantaloon. Both Harlequin and Columbine danced very neatly ; Herr Dearie made a capital sprite, twisting about as if he had no bones in his Cody. There were several smart hits in the course of the evening ; one was the Sultan of Turkey feeding two Hungarians, which brought down thunders of applause. The Clown got a box made of pieces of wcod laid on straw, from which he made some very pretty music. Altogether, we may say that Mr. Osbaldiston has made a most successful hit, and we have uo doubt it will have a long run. WEDNESDAY CONCERTS. The Wednesday evening concerts at Exeter-hall continue to attract crowded audiences. The tenth concert, of a series of fifteen, was given last night, and nothing could better test the popularity of these concerts than the fact that on " Boxing-night," and notwithstanding the opposition of the all-attractive pantomime, a numerous and highly-respectable as semblage filled the hall, and repeatedly throughout the evening testified their delight and gratification by the most enthusiastic cheering. The vocal performers were Mrs. Alexander Newton, Miss Eyles, and Miss Poole, Mr. Bridge Frodsham, Mr. Land, Herr Formes, and Mr. Smythson. Mr. Leffler was an nounced, but an apology was made for his absence on the ground of illness ; and posting bills were placed in the hall, containing a copy of the surgeon's certificate to the fact. The instrumental performers were M. Thalberg (his first appearance this season), Herr Ernst, and Master Ward, brother to Mrs. Alexander Newton. M. Thalberg received a most warm and hearty greet- ing. The recollection of the enjoyment which the peformance of this accomplished pianist afforded at last year's concerts, led the audience to anticipate a rich treat en his re-appearance this season, and, in a grand pianoforte fantasia (Les Huguenots) he proved to them that they had not calculated in vain. He was loudly and enthusiastically cheered, and en encore being generally called for, he gave, instead, an air (from Don Pasquale) with variations brilliantly executed. Herr Ernst played a fantasia on the violin, introducing Hungarian airs. Ile was loudly ap plauded and encored. In the second part of the concert M. Thalberg played another grand fantasia on the pianoforte_(La Sonnambula), which it is needless to say was loudly cheered, and an encore having been insisted Ili en, he returned and played the celebrated buffo air fi m Figaro with variations. Herr Formes sang the " Lay of Biscay," and was honoured with an encore. The concert terminated with Bishop's glee of " When the wind blows," and an instrumental finale. BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.) A respectably attired man, who gave the name of Page, was charged with felony. An omnibus conductor observed him, last night, come out of the Ship hotel, Charing-cross, with two coats under his arm, and accompanied by another man; scarcely had he emerged from the house when out ran a gentleman without his hat, and a newspaper in his hand, and no sooner did the prisoner and his companion perceive him than away they scampered, throwing the coats down. The prisoner, however, was pursued and overtaken, but his friend escaped. Mr. HENRY asked if he was known?—Mr. Inspector Martin said he was not, but he understood he was a singer at a concert room. By a theatrical bill, which was found in the prisoner's possession, it appeared that he had been a performer at the Richmond Theatre. The prisoner said that was not so. Mr. lIENRY—What are you then ? Prisoner—A desk. Mr. HENRY—Where are you employed. PliSoller--. I am not in a situation at press nt. Mr. HENRY—Here is a bill of the Ramsgate Theatre with your name on it. Is this name Page intended for you?—Yes, it is, rir. Mr. HENRY—And by this letter I collect that you were engaged there at 1/. per week. Prisoner—Yes that is so. Mr. HENRY —Have you anything to say in answer to ;he charge? Prisoner—No, sir. Mr. HENRY—You must be committed for trial then. The prisoacr was then commuted. 3IARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.) ASSAULT AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.—John Bassett was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with assault ing Thomas Daley, ono of the cheque-takers at the Queen's Theatro, 'l'ottenham•street. The complainant, who►o taco was very much swollen from the blows he had received, stated, that last night, very shortly after half-price had commenced, the prisoner came up the gallery stairs, and presented witness with a spurious cheque. %Val:less immedi ately detected the attempted imposition, and refused to allow him to pass. The prisoner then pushed him on one side, and bolted into the gallery, followed by witness, who took him by the shoulders and put him out. On arriving in the hubby at the bottom of the stairs, the prisoner suddenly turned round, and struck complainant a tremendous blow between the eyes, and knocked him down. Witness called for assistance, and managed to hold the prisoner until a constable came and took him into custody. On their way to the station the prisoner struck and kicked the constable with great force. Polica•constable 127 E having proved the assault upon himself by the prisoner, Mr. BINGHAM fined him (prisoner) 205., or ten days, for the assault upon the cheque taker, and ten days, without fine, Er the assault upon the constable. John Bean!" was charged before Mr. Bingham with being drunk and riotous, and assaulting Police-constable 137 C, who stated that on the previous night he was on duty in Grosvenor-square, wht n he was informed that a pair of horses had ran away with a carriage, and that the former had ran against the area railings of a house in the square, and had been precipitated to the bottom of the area. Witness ran to the spot to render what assistance he could, and found that some persons had strewn straw in the area, ar.d were trying to get the horses up by means of ropes. The prisoner, who was running about in a state of intoxication, with a lighted candle in his hand, caused so much obstruction to the persons w ho were raising the horses that witness desired him to leave the place, and on his refusing he (com plainant) ejected him from the area. Ho no sooner got to the top of the steps than he laid hold of witness by the collar of his coat, tripped him up, and rolled him in the mud. In the emit() the prisoner tore the front of his (witness's) coat entirely otl; and it would cost him 14s. to have it put in repair. Mr. 131Nanaitt fined the prisoner ss, for being drunk, and ordered him to pay in addition 146., for the damage dune to the coat. The money was immediately paid. MONEY MARKET.—The premium on gold at Paris is 14 per milli-, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.50; and the exchange at Paris en London at short being 25 45, it fol:ows that gold is 0.20 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Liam burgh the price of gold is 436 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 1011. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.101; and the ex change at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.104, it fullows that gold is 0.11 per cent. dearer in Lon don than in Ilamburgh. The course of exchange at New York on London fur bills at 60 days' sight is 108 k per cent., and the par of exchange between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is nominally LOS per eta. against Eng land. But, after making allowance for difference of interest and charges of transport, the present rate does not admit of gold being exported to the tJuited States.