The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

THE AMATEUR PANTOMIME.

WE are at least half inclined to think that the
amateur mimes had better have reposed upon their
last year's laurels. A patito.nime by gentlemen was
a very good jrke, and it was let off very smartly, but
the repetition of a joke is not, usually, conducive to
amusement. In this case the ordinary rule has held
goad, and the general verdict of society is that society
was bored at the Lyceum on Monday night.
Yet the performers may indignantly retort that
society is what Mr. Bumble itreverently called the
law—namely, "an ass." They had got a smart
burlesque opening, and a pantomime which had been
rehearsed with a care that did them the utmost credit.
Indeed, in the article of correctness they set an ex-
cellent example to professionals, many of whom
habitually insult an audience by never knowing their
parts on a first night. Everybody did his best, and
the ladies did admirably. We must leave the
question to the parties on each side the footlights.
Perhaps both indulged in undue expectations, think-
ing that they should amuse and b: amused as much
as before, though the. one great element of fun was
omitted—namely, novelty.

This being said, we have only to mention that the
subject of the pantomime was William Tell. A
prologue, written by Mr. Tom Taylor and Mr. Albert
Smith, brought up, alter the fashion of the old
Lyceum burlesques, a series of characters from past
history, each of whom was dismissed with a smart
allusion, and then a veil of clouds was drawn, and
discovered a Swiss landscape. A comic version 41f
William Tell's history was then presented. The
.litferent charactets were personated by Mr. Thomas
Knox Holmes, Mr. C. Wray, Mr. Luard, Mr.
Albert Smith, Mr. M. W. Hallett, Lir. Edmund H.
Yates, Mr. G. L. Hall, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Andrew
Arcedeekne, Miss M. Oliver, and Miss Rosins Wright.

JUNE 7, 1856.

The hero thus describes himself, in answer to
Gesler :

Ges Who are you, ruffian, thus to speak to me ?
TeU. My name is TeU—lel que je suis je auis.
An old Swiss tamily known very well;
Mv sisters keep the Rigi Kulm Hotel;
My nieces sing the Ranz des Vaches when coll'd,
Up to the table d'hotes at Grindelwald.
Div nephews carve in wood, and make those things
Which every tourist hack to England brings,
And gives as souvenirs to those relations
From whom he thinks he's any expectations.
My uncles are all guides—ne'er at a loss
Tu climb the Jungtrau or the Grimsel cross.

in chamois-hunting some their time employ,
And this (pointing to Albert) is the original Swiss boy.
Some smart writing and good singing, especially
by Mr. Holmes, some capital acting by Miss Rosina
Wright, who proved her powers for something beyond
pantomime, an amusing pas between her and Gesler,
and a terrific combat between Gesler and William
Tell, helped on the introduction, and at a fitting
period the transformation took place, Mr. Lane
coming as Harlequin, Miss Rosina Wright as Colum
bine, Mr. Robins as Clown, arid Mr. Arthur Smith as
Pantaloon. The " comic business" then commenced,
and though cleverly enough performed as far as it
went, it was neither very novel nor very comic. if
this were the " old style of fun," as some of the daily
journals have characterised it, all that we can say is,
that to have been amused with such fun augured
our grandfathers and grandmothers greater fools
than we usually rate them. We do not find fault
with the individual efforts of any of the amateurs
engaged, bat the "comic (?) business " they had to get
through was too stale and heavy. The only chance
of a little Inn and novelty lay in the "Fair scene,"
and that chance, for some unaccountable reason,
was thrown aside to exhibit feats by acrobats and
dancing dogs, much more tiresome than entertaining.
The whole affair was terminated by a "finale," written
by Mr. Shirley Brooks, and spoken by Miss Oliver as
the Spirit of Pantomime, and Mr. Charles Cole, the
latter made up as Shakspeare, to whose portrait he
bears a singular resemblance. The bard of Avon
approves the efforts of the performers, though he
could give them no assistance :

I could not help you. Ariel ne'et did try
The magic '• in yon (points at HARLEQUIN) Bat's back "
that doth lie.
" 'Twas meat and drink to me to see a Clown,"
But not a (points at CLows) fat one, always tumbling
flown.
I wrote not of that (points at COLUMBINE) lady in my line,
" I am that 9 ,wer—that mint—that Columbine."

Nor bid sad Jacques drone his solemn tune,
Tone!dog (point 4 at PANTALOON) this lean and slippery
Pantaloon.

He attributes their success to their having worked
for it in earnest :
And those who'd win their best account will find,
In keeping what Charles Dickens says, in mind :
" If you've but got a plank to swab, this do,
Swab it as if Old Scratch ' was after yon."
Spi. I hope we've swabbed these planks (points to stage)
to your content.
Sha. Much was well done, and all things were well
meant.
And Pantom,..is at every folly catches—
It is, in fact," a thing of shreds—
Spi (points to HARLEQUIN) and Petchey's."
And the audience are dismissed with thanks.

The Amateur Pantomime will be performed a
second time this year in about a fortnight
at Drury - lane Theatre. Already the applica-
tions for seats are most numerous, and, as the prices
will be lower than on the previous occasion, a
crowded house is anticipated. We believe that !he
proceeds of this and any subsequent performances
(some of which, at large provincial towns, are in con
temptation) will be devoted to the foundation of a
charitable fund, to be called " The Fielding Fund,"
for the immediate relief of. destitute literary men.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE, it is very currently re•
ported, and we believe with great show of truth, will
by next season he rebuilt and completed. The
building is very far less injured by the recent fire
than is generally supposed; the external shell will
need vet), little renovation, and the basement vaults,
of great extent and utility, are almost unharmed.
ITALIAN OPERA AT THE SURREY THEATRE Will next
week be added to the list of our operatic perform
ances. The series of operas announced for perform.
ance give so much promise of excellence in regard
t) the artistic arrangements, that the undertaking
bids fair to be successful. The season will commence
on Monday, and the following operas are already in-
cluded in the repertoire :—II Barbiere di Siviglia,
Norma, Lucrezia Borgia, La Sonnambala, and an
Italian vers on of the Bohemian Girl ; whilst the list
of artistes comprises the names of Mme. Gassier,
Mme. Rudersdorff, Mme. Lnrini, 111 me. Caradori,
Sedlatzek, Mlle. Rudersdorff, Mile. Bregazzi,
Signor Luchesi, M. du Laurens, Signor Lorini, Mr.
Swift, Signor Fortini, Signor Pierini, M. Gassier, &c.
The director of the music is to be Mr. Alfred Mellon,
and there is to be a ballet on each evening after the