The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-27 00:00:00

STRAN D.

A new burlesque, by Mr. Byron, of the old
Adelphi drama of the " Grua Bushes" was produced at
this house last night, under the title of the " Grin Bushes,
seethe Mrs. Brown of the Misais-ippi." If we are not mis-
takes this piece was prepared as so autumnal treat, but was
DA 'wide for the revival of " Mamma."
In working out this parody of • deservedly popular
drams, Mr. Byron has shown his usual command of story-
telling. There is nothing obscure in the piece from first to
Let, but we question whether he has nude a judicious
.election of • subject. No burlesque writer is more happy
in ridiculing such false or strained sentiment as the "Lady
el Lyon 3" c ,ntains, or the conventional absurdities of the
stage ; but the " Green Bushes" is singularly free from
thew blemishes. We may fairly call it a melodramatic
assic. and it presents few or no points which th.
lusicaque writer no ridicule without violating good
taste and sound feeling. No modern drama is so full
of what we may term the domestic affections, and
Yr. Byron's faithful adherence to the story instead of being
• merit in this cue becomes • rave fault. So practised a
writer and so dry and original • 'tamarisk could hardly
arrange a burlesque of six scenes ou any subject without
swing much genuine laughter, but very little of the mirth
seised by the " Grin Bashes" is raised legitimately. Unless
el" are to adopt the heartless philosophy which teaches us
that there is nothing new, nothing true, and it is not of
much importance that there should be, we canot applaud
when realty pathetic dramas life this are treated with the
sootempt only due to counterfeit..

Mr. Byron has put some cf his best writing into this,
production, and two or three of the songs are more than
ordinarily clever. Mr. MLISITITO bas fitted the author's
words with mua:c in his natal skilful way ; cad Mr. Fen.
Um has paktel most brilliant and erfsetive scenery. The
lonsoos were tasteful, as they always are at this house, sad
the stage managem-n: of Mr. Parselle—eansidering how
small the rugs ieaily it, and what is dons and shown upon
11—won as wonderful as ever.
ST. JAMES'S.

The new manageress, Miss Herbert, opens this
theatre with Mr. Cheltoan,'s amusing and successful
weniady, " A Lesson io 1,,ve," in which Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews, Mr. F.
Babinec'', and Miss Wentworth played the leading paste.
We noticed this comedy fully last week.
The Christmas piece, prr r.-.•,.11ine,. is a classical extran-
rain by Mr. W. Waugh, entitled " Hercules and r kupbale."
he story is treated with at least the usual license, but •
sulLciently close adherence is maiote;ned to the legend,
as it is preserved is the authentic pages of Lempriere to
seeder rccapitulation necessary. On the whole, the piece
went oft with considerable spirit, but the mishaps with
She machinery, which as a regular tradition of au opening
night, were not entirely wanting. iir. Wallorstein'e ad.
nimbly gal music and excellent baud were of immense
berme to the performance.
The farce of " Forty Winks,* in which Mr. Felix 'twos.
gesgehia first appearance, concluded the entertainnionte.