The Press.
London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

Re prams.

THE CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES.

AT Christmas, Childhood holds high revelry. There
are the " breakings up"—in themselves great epochs
in the history of every school of young philosophy.
Then there are the merry gathering+, at which
boisterous boys and timid misses make friends
and eat much cake. The home gatherings
too—how pleasant are they ! Loving hearts all
combining for one high purpose—universal hap -
piness. Staid fathers aria sober matrons all
intent on one end—the pleasure of those who
are gathered round their hearths, forming a
circle which is the apt type of " the English
fireside." We have long had our national institu-
tions, " the Roast Beef of Old England," and the
Christmas pudding ; but in the march of improve-
ment we have not hesitated to borrow another from
our German neighbours. S.) the Christmas tree,
with its wild profusion of trifles and bon•bens
glittering in the light of mimic laaaps,
forms the centre of many a merry group.
Still, amongst all " the novelties of the season," the
Pantomime, which has descended from times so very
remote, that none of us, even though well versed in
history, will attempt to fix a -late, exercises its sway
over young and old. We have thought of our little
friends in this festive season, and we ask them to
put themselves under our guidance while we direct
their footsteps to the realms of Fairy-land.

COVENT GARDEN.—Who has not heard or Little
Red Riding Hood, 0119 of the favourites of our child'
hoed never to be forgotten, even if not perpetuated
in the pretty figures which occupy so prominent a
place in our ceramic manuractures ? By a happy
idea the opening seen?, in the C went-garden
pantomime suddenly shifts from the snlenlid
edifice so recently raised to the ruins of the old theatre
on the same site. The Genius of Music mourns,
and a remedy for her grief is found in a pantomime,
when our little friend with the little Red Cloak is
again ushered into a positive existence. She loves a
poor swain; but that evil genius Wealth interferes,
and favours the suit of an old Baron, who, despite
his fine clothes, turns ont to be a wolf,
and is therefore made to occupy the very
unenviable position of the Grandrar.ther, as the tale
ran in our hot youth when George the Third was
king. But our lupine friend does not succeed in the
pantomime as he did in the " True History and
Adventures of Little RA. Riding Hood, price Is.
coloured, and 61. plain." He does not devour the
trusting little lady, who after severe exposures to all
the haphazards of a harlequinade, emerges from her
new character as Columbine, and passes the remain •
der of her days in happiness with Curio, alias Hat.
lequin. Flexmore is the Clown ; Barnes, Pantaloon ;
Young Payne plays Harlequin ; and. Miss Clara
Morgan is Columbine.

Daunt' LASE.—Robin hood ; or, Harlequin and
Friar Tuck, and the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest,
is the title of the pantomime at this house, from the
pen of Mr. E. L. Blanchard. The scenery, by Mr.
Beverley, opens in th 3 Hall of Harmony, where
Music calls together her aides-de-camp, represented
by Il I'rovatore, La 'l'raviata, Italian Opera, English
Opera, Canterbury Hall, &c., and invokes their aid
fur a pantomime for Mr. E. T. Smith. So we have
the pantomime, and a very good one it promises to
be, with such a groundwork as is furnished by the
gay frolics of the great Outlaw of Sherwood. Amongst
the most gorgeous scenes is the Retreat of the Wood
Nymphs in the Fairy Regions of Blue Bells and
Wild Flowers. The harlequinade is thus cast.
Harlequin, Milano ; Clowns, Boleno and Delevanti ;
Pantaloons, Tanner and Delevanti ; Columbines,
Madame Boleno ana Miss Brown ; Harlequins, Mies
Lamb ; added to which there is a juvenile pantomime
troupe.

THE PRlNcEss's.—The loves of Prince Diamond
and the Princess Brighteyes are to be portrayed in
the fairy legend sketched by Mr. Forrester, better
known as Alfred Croninll, for representation at this
theatre, under the title of The King of the Castle,
with the usual addendum which indicates the reign
of Harlequin. Thus runs the pretty fable --At
a convocation of fairies, held, as is the wont of