The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

all existing traditions—the caricatures which Bromp-
, ton now makes of Belgravia are really a little too
ridiculous.

ADELPHI.
A SECOND revival of a Lyceum burlesque has taken
place here. Valentine and Orson has followed Open
Sesame, and will probably be played until Christmas,
when, we believe, the engagement of Mr. and Mrs.
Keeley terminates. This burlesque was one of that
capitcal series furnished to the Keeley management
by Messrs. Tom Taylor, Albert Smith, Shirley Brooks,
and Charles Dance, at a time when this class of
entertainment depended for its success upon wit and
good acting, rather than upon spectacle. Valentine
and Orson, now some twelve years old, is still attrac-
tive, from its neat construction, from its real fun,
and from the finish and spirit of its writing. Con.
siderable attention has also been paid to the getting
up, and Mr. A. Smith (one of the authors) has com-
pressed it into one act, and introduced allusions to
the topics of the day. With the exception of the
Keeleys, who act as brilliantly as ever, the cast is in
almost every respect inferior to that of the Lyceum
days ; but an Adelphi audience is easily pleased, and
accepts Mr. Paul Bedford's stolid buffoonery, and
the " forcible feebleness " of less pretentious per
sonages, with a delight which it would be unkiud to
disturb by criticism. The ladies, as usual, acquit
themselves best, and Miss Wyndham, Miss Kelly,
and Miss Laidlaw, are all entitled to honourable
mention," the first lady's name happily suggesting
a telling allusion to the hero of the Redan. A
general call followed the fall of the curtain.

VUSif.

COVENT GARDEN.
M. JULLIEN commenced his season at this theatre
on Monday, the ordinary results of his " first nights "
coming out as copiously as ever in the police reports
of next morning. The house was crowded to excess,
and all the soloists, vocal and instrumental, had to
bear the astounding plaudits of the promenaders,
every one of whom appeared to possess "the brass
lungs with steel works " which Mr. Dickens attributes
to the election mob of the borough of Eatanewill.
A rather serious "row " came off near the end of the
second part, in consequence of the obtrusive ab-
surdity of three persons in a private box, who per-
sisted, in full view of the whole audience, in keeping
' their hats on during the performance of a national
air. They were attacked by the inmates of a neigh-
bouring box, and, judging from their appearance
when they did appear, conquered, uncosered, and
contrite, rather roughly handled. Their position
was certainly far from enviable. Mme. Gassier was
loudly applauded (as who was not ?) in "Ah ! non
giunge," into which she Introduced some very
cleverly-executed ornaments. The famous "British
Army Quadrille," with its pretty stringed representa-
tion of night, its stirring trumpet-calls, cavalry gallop,
and all the regular bustle and noise of a musical
campaign ; the glorious Dead March from Beetho-
ven's great Eroica, like the death-wail of a Titan ;
the andante and allegro from Mendelssohn's Scotch
Symphony, the one full of flowing grace, peaceful
and calm, the other quick, stirring, and thoroughly
Scotch ; Weber's overture to Euryanthe ; a selection
for wind instruments from Don Giovanni (nearly
inaudible), and a great many other things (perfectly
so), made up the programme of the performances
presented by our indefatigable maestro. The new
balcony, the decorations (a little too light for our
taste and for the fair English complexions), the news
and refreshment rooms, appeared to give the most
general satisfaction.

MME. JENNY LIND GOLDSCHMIDT has just arrived
in Paris with her husband. She comes from Geneva,
where she appeared in a concert given for the benefit
of Ernst, the violinist, and in another for the poor.
She intends to remain in Paris for a fortnight, and
then proceed to England.
M. ADOLPHE FRANCONI, the well-known director of
the Equestrian Circus (now called the Cirque de
l'lmperatiice), has just died in Paris at the age of
fifty-three.
NICOLAIEFF AND KIIERSON are so little known, in
point of locale, that the small map Mr. Wylde has
lately published appears at a most opportune mo
ment. It has been compiled chiefly from the sur-
veys of an intelligent engineer, who was employed
by the Russian Government last surnmei in dredging
and deepening the passage of the Bug from Nico-
laieff to the Liman. The depth of water is carefully
marked in feet, the coast is accurately drawn, and
the positions of both Russians and allies, and the
whole nature of the late operations, can be compre-
hended at a glance. To Mr. Wylde's Globe, in
Leicester•square, we may ai,o mention here that a
great addition has been ma le of late in the shape of
a European reading-room. Every published paper
in Europe is to be found there, besides American,
Indian, and Australian papers, in abundance. It is
a great boon to the western end of London.