The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-01 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

IN compliance with inveterate, and far from reprehensible
usage, all our theatres have made vigorous efforts for aug:
-menting the general stream of Christmas enjoyments ; Har-
lequin and Columbine, Clown and Pantaloon, forming
prominent characters ia the merry array.
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL the pantomime for the present
year is founded on a tradition of local interest and connexion.
Its name is " Harlequin Steam, or the Old Swan and the
Knotty Ash." The story as set forth in the bill rests on the
following legend :—" Once upon a time, a long time ago, be-
fore Leverpoole' was anything but a poor fishing village,
there was a wicked-destroying monster, who, with a company"
of spirits as bad as' himself, took up his abode in a wild part of
the county, near to the said village of Leverpoole.' It was a
place shunned on account of its evil repute. In the
• midst of this wilderness stood a tree, known at that
time as a monstrous ugly tree, and called The Knotty
Ash.' Now, on the border of this wilderness, Nature,
who is ever bountiful, had placed a most beautiful lake,
Which was the abode of a fairy, who seldom appeared to
• mortal eyes but in the shape of a swan, and this swan having
been seen for hundreds of years, by successive generations,
was, notwithstanding her exceeding beauty, naturally called
' The Old Swan.' " The.progress of the pantomime, rounded
on the.preceding traditiOn, involiei the annexed programme
of events :—" Phosphorus, the Fire King, wages war with, and
tries to overcome Crystalline, the Water Queen, who, being
suddenly surprised by him, after having, as she thought, ex-
tinguished his flame, by throwing cold water on it, is released
from his fiery embrace by the appearance. of Steam, to whom
in return she promises aid and protection. Steam is in love
with Sweetsmile, daughter of Baron Blunderhead, who is the
proprietor of an important domain, inhabited by. the ' Some,
bodies;' but the baron being a great enemy to scientific pro-
gress, and withal very ambitious, refuses to match his daughter;
with any but a king. In this dilemina, Steam, with the ad-.
vice of the Water Queen, and taking Science and Labour, his
companions, with him, visits the .aunciente fishing village of
Leverpole,' inhabited by the ' Nobodies,' and which is on the
verge of destruction and decay. Here the poor fishermen are
almost starving, when Steam arrives in a lucky moment, and,
to gain their aid in obtaining the object of his affections,
changes with his irresistible power the poor, paltry village, to
the first commercial city in the world. The Fire King is so
enraged at the change effected by Steam, that he seeks to
deprive him of his power, by capturing the AVater Queen,
and for this purpose, takes advantage of a hard winter to
invade the ice-bound dominions of her majesty. But here
his rage overcomes his prudence, for, forgetful of the effect
of fire among ice, a rapid
unidttl:,astv hteakwes,atpelracQe,uielei
nwileficrhelensFierde
is overwhelmed and ,
from her prison of ice, and Steam, united to his beloved
Sweetsmile, sets the pantomime going at high pressure."
The whirlie wohf he
apnadn tuodidniitmi
else,
theeve nfutsnleads
fbryo
eneefatsiyi
egtrild: -
tio;
l to t
and these, by the aid of stage mechanism and scenic skill,
are made happy monitors and sharp reprovers of our besetting
follies. The scenery is cleverly drawn and well painted, and
the spirited exertions of Miss Mansell as Columbine, and of
the Laurie family as Harlequin, Clown, and Pantaloon,
contribute greatly to the success of a highly interesting -
local exhibition. The pantomime has been eminently suc-
cessful in attracting gratified crowds of spectators.
AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE crowds have been nightly
collected to witness the elegance of equitation and the won-
derful feats of dexterity displayed by a highly accomplished
troupe of ladies and gentlemen, of horses and dogs, who, by
their united efforts, rouse theltudience to mirth. Besides the
horsemanship there are, also beautiful displays of tight-rope
dancing, and feats of leaping and balancing. The company
as a whole is eminently deserving of patronage.
AT THE ROYAL PARK THEATRE the pantomime is entitled
" The spirit of the Mersey ; or, Harlequin Jack and the
Beanstalk." It is the production of Mr. C. Milward, and is,
we believe, his fourth contribution in the same way, to our
Christmas festivities. &Vend of the. scenes are laid in
Liverpool; and they are generally worked out with good effect.