The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-27 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL.

The first representation of, "Harlequin and the Black
Hen; or The Gift of the Golden Eggs," which is the
title of the pantomime which Mr. Copeland brings for-
ward at this theatre, took place last night before a
crowded house. The pantomime opens with a view of
Oldboy's cottage. Oldboy (Mr. Stuart) is the grand-
father of three youths, named respectively Fastboy (Mr.
F. Neville), Oddboy (Mr. Hunter), and Goodboy (Miss
Goodall). The following dialogue then takes place,
explaining the Gift of the Golden Eggs :

SCENE 1.-OLDBOY'S COTTAGE.
Oddboy—l see him, brother, now he turns the key !
The door is open, and I see, I see.
Goodboy—What ?
Oddboy—Nothing ; the door's so narrow, grand-
father's so wide,
I can see nothing but the "old outside."
Isn't it vexing, isn't it a shame ?
What can he hide there, what can be his game ?

Enter FASTBOY.
Fastboy—l have got it4brother, I have just found out
The old man's secret.
Goodboy—What is it about ?
Fastboy—Oh, wonderful ! I'll tell you how I did it;
He let the key fall—quick as thought I hid it;
And, when his back was turned, slipped in and saw
A monstrous hen, black as our old jackdaw ;
And such a lot of golden eggs, too :
Look, this is one.
Oddboy—That gold! Pooh ! pooh !
Fastboy—lsn't it, though—as good as e'er was rung;
If it's not gold, I wish I may be hung.
[He throws down the egg, and as it explodes he is
seen suspended in the air by a halter.
Enter OLDBOY.

Oldboy—What's all this row about, and why this noise?
Goodboy—Look at our brother.
Oldboy— Ah! you naughty boys.
I see what's happened, so the secret's out,
Which I have kept so long, let's see, about
Some sixty years—well listen to me now,
And I will tell you all about it, how
That ben became a treasure. Once on a time
When I was young: just married, in my prime
Of early life, a famine struck the land,
And our poor neighbours starved on every hand ;
A dismal winter 'twas as e'er I knew,
And many a rough one, boys, I have gone through.
Well, sitting round the fire to keep us warm,
Smoking my pipe, not dreaming any harm;
My dame and I sat chatting, sometimes dozing,
Until the night was fast around us closing.
No supper then had we, our cupboard bare,
Not e'en a crust was left us we might share.
The night wore on, and I the door was locking,
When all at once we heard a heavy knocking.
" Who's there ?" I cried, and then undid the door :
Two strangers entered we ne'er had seen before.
They asked for food and shelter for the night,
Which, having nothing, put me in a fright;
But my good dame, whose heart was always kind,
And to relieve the hungry still inclined,
Bade me,remember we'd an old black hen,
Whose eggs had made us spare her life till then.
I would have killed her; when, boys, guess my fright,
One stranger disappeared. and such a sight.
The other stranger, ere we scarce could gaze,
Changed to a fairy, to our great amaze.
Fastboy—Did you speak to her ?
Oldboy—l wasn't so audacious.
She spoke to me, told me she'd laid a wager
With a magician, whe, trying to enrage her,
Had staked his life, and placed it in her power
To use it as she pleased, if, by a certain hour,
She could find those who, for a stranger's good,
Would starve themselves, and give away their food.
She said: The wager's won ; within that hen
I have enclosed the wickedest of men ;
That is his punishment, and your reward shall be
A fairy gift, to make you think of me.
That hen a golden egg shall daily lay,
And thus my debt of gratitude I pay.
You've but to form a wish, an egg then take,
You'll have it quick as you the egg can break.
Fastboy—Oh, what a chance, wouldn't I have made a
smash.
Oldboy—Ah ! boy, I see, riches will make you rash.
One egg I broke to give us competence,
With that I was contented, not one since ;
For riches without prudence are an evil.
Fastboy—True, grandfather, quite right. (I must be
civil, [Aside.
'Cause the Oldboy again has got the key,
But won't I smash 'cm when I've once got free.)
Oldboy—Well, boys, to try how prudent you can be,
We'll to the hen-house, come along with me,
Twelve eggs a piece I'll give you from my store,
And, if you use them right, as many more. [Exit.

SCENE 11.-A FLORAL FAIRY BOWER.
With the usual accompaniment of a fairy ballet.
Graziella—Fairies, you'r summoned from your leafy
bowers,
On matters touching both your care and ours.
The sons of that old man, who aided me
To imprison in the hen our enemy
The secret of the golden eggs. have found,
Therefore, to watch them strictly we are bound, •
For they are "fast youn men," dear will you go?
Glance—Oh, pray excuse me—'tis so very slow
To dwell with mortals caged in crinoline.
I'm for the air, and forests green.
Graziella—Will you go then ? What ! no one here
In times like these, become a volunteer.
A thought has struck me—listen, you all know
Our enemy's old servant, nic-named Cocorico,
Who, when his master to a hen was changed,
As an old cock, amongst the poultry ranged.
Now that the magic eggs have been discovered
His human form he has in part recovered;
Still, he's but half a bird and half a man,
And to become a whole one will do all he can,
Therefore into my service will I take him,
Promise a perfect change in time to make him,
If he will watch those three young men
Who've got the secret of the magic hen;
Now, then, resume your sports, whilst I'll away,
And, like good fairies, from your homes don't stray.
Scene 11. represents a Floral Fairy Bower, as above, the
painting of which reflects great credit upon Messrs.
Dawson and Penn. A fairy ballet is here introduced, and
the name of Miss M'Ginty, the leader, will be a sufficient
guarantee of its excellence. The groupings are pretty
and ingenious, some of them original, all of them effec-
tive and tasteful. In Scene 111. the boys are conducted
by their grandfather to the Hen-house, where the fol-
lowing colloquy ensues :

SCENE 111.-THE HEN HOUSE.
Enter Grandfather and the three boys.

Oldboy.—There sits our treasure, here's her store,
my boys,
Of golden eggs, be careful make no noise,
Knowing the magic hen is " wide awake,"
Let's be respectful whilst her eges we take.
[He approaches the centre basket, when acorico
appears from behind the lien.
Coc—Rash man, take heed, what are you going. to do ?
Fastboy—Oh! what a funny figure ! Pray, sir, who
are you ?
Coc—The guardian cock, till lately, of this hen roost,
Now forced by fairy power to quit my post,
And 'stead of watching "fowls," my late employment,
Must now watch "fools;" beg pardon, no offence meant.
• Oldboy—Take now your eggs, and with them take
this warning,
" Waste not and want not," so, my boys, good morning.
Exeunt.
Coc—You heard your grandfather, the good old man,
'Be wise, be virtuous, and prudent if you can.
Fastboy—Prudent I rather am, and I'll engage
You'll not find many wiser at my age. •
Oldboy—l must dispute that point; remember, too,
I am the elder by a year or two.
Goodboy—Well, I'm the youngest, all I want is this
To pass my life with one in wedded bliss.
Coc—lf I had but an egg !
Goodboy— What would you then ?
Coo—Return to feathers and my much-loved hen.
Goodboy—Well, I'm not covetous, I'll give you one:
Now name your wish, as soon as asked 'tis done.
Here is an egg, break it, why do you pause ?
Coc—You're very kind. I hesitate because,
In fact, my 'pinion's somewhat changed, and perhaps
I should be slighted by more feathery chaps.
Goodboy—Well, then, good bye, I hasten to my love,
And with these eggs my fond affection prove. [Exit.
Oddboy—l wish—
Coc— Take care.
Oddboy—Oh, no fear, 'tis but a simple one
And very modest, as you'll say when done.
I wished to be a king, with robes and crown, [changes.
Attended by a court (courtiers appear), now all kneel
down,
And let me hear how loudly you can sing,
The praises of your loved and new founeking.
(Chorus.)
Hail! all hail to our mighty king !
From fairy realms we tribute bring,
And loudly thus his praises sing,
Long live the King.

Cocorico—Cocorico!
Fastboy—Well, did you ever! he's made himself a
king.
Coc.—An-every day occurrence, quite :a common
thing
As the world goes, 'twont be very long
Before there's one "unmade" for doing wrong.
But why with envy thus your bosom wrack ?
There are still higher titles, pride to back:
An Emperor, a Czar, might sure ambition lull,
Fastboy—No, I'll be something higher still, Grea
Mogul.

(cuomus.)
The Great Mogul is a happy man,