The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-20 00:00:00

DRAMA.

"MUMBO JUMBO" AT SOUTH KENSINGTON.

A grand fete and bazaar, in aid of the building
_ . _

ad of the Female School of Art, will be held in the Hor-
ticultural Gardens and Exhibition Amadei on Thursday,
ridgy, and Saturday next, sad part of the entertainments
will consist of a ne► burlesque, called Mumbo Jumbo, or
the Mountains the Moms near the Gaboom, which has been
" invented and produced," according to the prospectus, " by
few well wisher. "of the institution. As the whole the
will be under the immediate patronage of her Majesty and
the Princess of Wales, to say nothing of a whole airing of
titled ladies, and as the Prince and Princess of Wales have
signified their intention of being present at the first per-
formance of this burlesque, the manager. of the fete
are naturally anxious that everything should go off as
smoothly as possible, and to forward this end they bad a
dross rehearsal of Mumbo Jumbo on Saturday afternoon.
The audience were chiefly composed of the friends of the
amateur actors and the South Kensington managers, but as
"the press" were specially invited to attend, we presume
that some critical notice of Mambo Jumbo is sought for.
After making every allowance for the half-charitable chi.
nectar of the performance, and for the fashionable follies of
fancy fairs in general, we must say that Mambo Jumbo is
the most remarkable production we have over witnessed.
It is wonderful that any one has been found to write it ;
more wonderful that a company, out of Colney Hatch, has
been got to appear is it; and moot wonderful that the great
Science and An Department seems to smile with ap-
proval upon it, unless the rumours be true that Mr.
Cole takes a family interest in it. Though eked out by a
comic ballet—got up by Mr. F. Payne, and therefore gcod-
-21,,,nbv Jumbo will only play about ten minutes, and this
may be a reason for not analysing it very severely, bat in
the name of wholesome nonsense—the back•boo, of all
sound recreation—we must ask whether the production of
such a piece will be respectful to a royal sod distinguished
audience '.' Let us give a quotation from the dialogue
(The Moon appears, in tears.)
Enter the Mood, alone (chants).

I.am the Mom, with my silver sheen—

Shaw, not shorn, I meta—and my spoon.

Enter liager Oger (speaks from his cheeks)—Ah ! paha!!
♦s !! (I.kioces and prances with ferocious glances).
Hum . mum! (Puts his rube to his nte). Ho! So!!
No!!!

(Intones with groan.)
Why am I hers?—oh dear!
When an you! there? or where?
W Len are the men! Oh when?
What is the mama! and who—who is my hatter ?
Wawa again with savage disdain.)
Tu, m, lu; tu, ru, lu;
Tu, ru, lu ; tu, ru, lu.
(The Bee comes forward.)

The Bee brings the pea! Boger Oger fat. OD his knee!
(Tbe Bee can't sing, but flaps his wing.)
Air.--•• Where the Bee sucks."
Mine's the money, where the honey,
Fill, the dower after shower,
There with swag I till my bag.
On a thorn I rest forlorn,
Nor wag. nor lag, with my rag and tag.

This Bee, like Boger Oger, the Moon, the King, and three
Princesses, who form the rad of the characters, playa such
an uaintalligibie part in the drama, that we fancy he must
Lan been the original bee who was in the bourne of the
author. Fortunately his utterances, like shove of the rest
of the characters, are short ; for the human mind is very
weak, and lunacy like this is catching. Muntho Jumto, we
may add, has been published with a profusion of mock.
pedantic notes, and several very excellent modern-antique
illustrations by Kens ofjthe art students.
The fancy-fair will doubtless be well arranged, and we
give an outline of the programme :

L Each stall will be under the superintendence of a lady
patroness, assisted by students of the school, who will under.
take all the business arrangements. 2. At the opening of
the hisser, her Royal Highoese the Princess of Wales will
be received by each lady patroness at her respective stall.
Z. Each stall will hare only one description of articles. 4.
The objects to be sold will principally consist of works
of art and all kinds of artist's materials, paintings in
oil and water colours, sculptural, drawings is chalk, pen and
Ink S:c., engravings. lithographs, and chromolithographs,
etchings, photolithographs, photographs, wood engra-
vings; also of laoe, embroidery of all kinds,
needlework, clothes for the poor, toys, dm. 5.
A stall will consist of curiosities and objects of vertu,
for which donations are solicited. 6. Other stalls will be
appropriated to art manufactures of all kinds, such as
pottery, porcelain, majolica, glass, leather, carvings, fre.., to
which manufacturers and others are solicited to oontribote.
7. One or more stalls will be for lam, needlework, and em-
broidery of all kinds, to which ladies are specially invited
to contribute. 8. Ono stall for the best toys of all nations.
9. Some musical amateurs and others will give their assist-
ance. 10. A military band will be in attendance.
In addition to this there will be a " Richardson's Show,"
sustained by amateurs, and Be. Toole and Yr. Paul Bedford
assist with some plessaat lannunery.

SOLDIERS' DAUGHTERS' HON E. —The eighth an-
neal general meeting of the subscribers and friends to the
&Idiom' Daughters' Home, Hampstead, was held oe Satur-
day afternoon in the theatre of the Upheld Service Institu-
tion, Great Scotland-yard ; the Duke of Wellington, K.G.,
presided. The children had been brought from the Home
at Hampstead in vans, and were accommodated with seats
round the theatre of the institution, and in their bright
scarlet dresses and black mantles presented • moat interest-
ing appearance, and excited the deep sympathy of the cola-
paay assembled. The report stated that the general modi-
fies of thu Home during the past year afforded ground for
thankfulesse The almost perfect immunity from sickness
which it had sejoyed when surrounded by epidemic disease,
and the support it continued to receive, called for grateful
acknowledgment. The financial condition was, on the whole,
one of progress, altheugh it was to be regretted there was •
diminution in the amount of sonnal sulmeriptioas. Coe-
tributions from regiments were on the increase, and had
this year been largely promoted by an assault of arms
given by the Royal Brigade of Household Cavalry, node,
the patronage of the Priem of Wales, which produced more
thee 2271. The eon:unities bad decided on greeting to regi-
ments contributing • requisite sum the privilege of limi-
est/a' regimental scholars. Mn, Westcott's legacy of 400/.
Lad been realised, and two other bequests bad been made
during the year, aggregating 3,000/. The sum of 1.352/. 2s. Sd.
bedlam been transferred to deposit from the reseipts daring
the year, making the total amountof this account 2,0021. 14e.
Daring the past year the amino slumber of girls is the
Home bad been 162, and an election of 13 girls on the
foundation took place on May 2, 1864. Them were still.
however, more than one hundred applications against whom
the doors of the Home are closed for want of. funds.
Gemini! Boileau having addressed the meeting oe some
alterations which bad been made in the roles of the insti-
tution, the Chaplain-General moved the first resolution,
electing General Boileau as president of the managing com-
mittee for the ensuing year. Colonel Hogg, in secoodieg
the motion, dwelt upon the necessity of an Moreau of
annual subscribers to maintain the iestitntion in proper
efEciencr. The resolution was carried. On the motion of
Dr. Dickson, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Langmead. the OHM.
hers of the council, 11101, reelected for the earning
year, and General Boileau acknowledged the comph-
meat. The chairman then diatriboted the good conduct
prizes to the young women who had left the school and
were in service (a sum of 21. each), with kind and appro-
priate remarks. The Duke of Wellington expressed the
gratification be fell in presiding on such au interesting
occasion. sod admitted the propriety of energetic measures
being taken with a view to increase the amount of the
annual subscription. to the chanty, and as example
was better than. precept. he hoped the ladies and gentlemen
would follow his example by placing their name, dome
on paper for increased aeons' subscriptions. (Load ap-
plause.) His grace then placed his name on a list for 5/.
additional annually, mid a great many geotleinea present
followed the example, a considerable additional annual sum
being thus added to the funds of the charity.

- .
THE MIDLAND COCNTIIOI. —Up to the present
time the prospects of harvest in the agricultural districts
of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire are
altogether favourable. The long drought hoe rather preci-
pitated the hay harvest, which in early situation is soy
progressing, and some few ricks have been mede. In
other places it will be delayed until the effects of the
nine in the last few days shall have beep felt. The corn
Is looking well almost universally—wheat, barley, beans,
and oats. The wheel is coming iota ear, and the critical
time of blossoming is at hand, during which fine calm
weather is very desirable. At present the weather is
rather unsettled. Beans are promising, although
the winter been* were destroyed by the frost is many
places, and had to be minted. The hope in Wereseter-
shire and Herefordshire are is • very forward and pro-
mising state. and, ascertain as this crop is. at present the
chances are in favour of • good relent. Potatoes and peas
me early sad prolific. The fruit crops promise to be the
most abundant ever known. The snuffer fruits—game-
lorries, currants, Ac.--are remarkably prolific, plums are
shasdeet, sad tipples sad peen—especially the former—
ling thickly on the trees, and promise a rare produce of
perry and cider. Altther the season promises to be on
the whole • more abundant we them the bountiful season
of 1863.

eNT AL PALMY). —FIVN SHILLING DAY.—SATUR-
DAY, JCNE B.—Admission, oft payment, 4,479; dine by
same tickets, 4,893 ; total, 9,371
MOIL TIIAN IVAN AND 1111,21 THAN TlM—This
410Paies to tbe largest and beet stock of spring and antamer
patters* ever submitted for public approval. The world-Dined
lea trousers at Alfred Webb WSW the originator's only lOW
lollatirsent, 73, Drookolseet. ilanoverostaare. Netabliebed 11141.
•—(AdvertteeessoLl