The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS,

THE STRATFORD SHAKESPEARIAN
FESTIVAL

(riox oos apszus, onairroirow.)
STRAYFORDON-AVON,

The Haymarket company came, and saw, and
conquered, last night. The Pavilion, which was
indifferently well filled at the oratorio, and which
was still fuller at the concert, bad during the
representation of Twelfth Night, yesterday evening,
the largest audience assembled within its walls
since the opening banquet. And while on this
point, it is desirable to remember the vast site of
the building. An audience which would cram the
large oonoert-room in St. James's-hall to overflow-
ing, and which would cover its corridors and
approaches to Regent-strest on the one side and
Piccadilly on the other, would in this "mighty space
of our large honours" to Shakespeare, be easily
absorbed, and would moreover leave a notable
array of empty benches around it. And this is the
only fault to be found with the Stratford building.
It is too large. With its concert orchestra removed,
and seats stretching back to its walls on either side,
with no extraneous filling from either volunteers
and choir singers, as at the banquet, or from a
band and chorus of 500 performers, as at the
oratorio and concert, it was exposed last night to the
severest test it has had to undergo. The prices
of admission were high, the resorted seats (area)
being a guinea, the gallery reserved seats half-a-
guinea, and the unreserved seats, be. There was
nothing lower than this, and the guinea and be.
seats were what may be broadly described as full.
The gallery had its row of three deep, and but
for the unfortunate circumstance that the propor-
tions of the hall bears a closer affinity
to the Colosseum at Rome than to a modern en-
tertainment
room, we should have had to record its
being crammed to repletion. As it was, it looked
brilliant enough, and there was nothing wanting in
either the arrangements for the comfort of visitors i
in front of the house, or in the stage accessories be-
hind the curtain, save their uniform excellence,
to distinguish this temporary Pavilion from more
pretentious and permanent temples of the drams.
The brilliant decorations, the ornate pilasters, the
appropriate monogram and quotations, the artis-
tic proscenium, and the figures of Geuins and Im-
mortality, whereby the large stage is guarded, were
all seen to advantage. The drop-Roane is the only
point open to criticism, and this would have passed
muster very well bad it not been for the
artistic perfection of the building wherein it is
placed. he position of the audience was reversed,
and what had been the centre of attraction when
Mr. Sims Reeves, Madame Pampa, and their fel-
lows were singing, was now the furthest point from
the stage. The whole of the isoenery was lent
by Mr. Backstone, and included three or four ad-
mirable scenes painted specially for the occasion
by Mr. John O'Connor. In the oeutre of the first
row of seats sat his Excellency the Earl of Carlisle,
who wore the jewel of the order of St. Patrick,
and who was supported by Lord Leigh, the Earl of
Shrewsbury, Lord Wrottesley, the Hon. F. Byng,
Sir W. Fraser, Bart.. Sir Michael Shaw Stewart,
Bart., Sir N. N. C. Hamilton, Bart.,
K.C.8., Sir Lawrence Palk, Bart, and Lady
Palk, Sir A. Hallam Elton, Bart., the Hon.
and Rev. F. Leigh and Mrs. Cowan. At the con-
clusion of Tuvlfth Night, the Earl of Carlisle, and
other of the noblemen and gentleman named, went
behind the scenes, and warmly thanked Mr. Buck-
stone for the treat he had afforded them by his ad-
mirable impersonation of Sir Andrew Agnecheek.
After the farce of My dunes Adriee—not the
Comedy of Errors, as has been erroneously stated—
wherein Mr. &Ahern Mr. Howe, and Miss Nelly
Moore appeared, had brought. the entertainments
to a close, the Earl of Carlisle and • distinguished
party supped at the house of the Rev. G. Gran-
ville, the vicar of Stratford.
In the addition to the festival arrangements
already advertised, the committee have determined
to give four additional days, commencing on Satur-
day, which shall appeal more directly to the dunes
who may have been hitherto prevented attending
the Tercentenary through the high prices at which
admission to the various performances has been
I fixed. The following programme will be imbued to-
morrow :

POPCLAS Errearenazarra.-Betarday, Apnl 30, Oned
Promenade Cotoert. In the afternoos.—Mcesday, May 2.
Aortal of Coxwell's halloos at two o'olook from ground
adjoining the pavilion; the bead of the Soots Grey* will at-
Mod. In the evening a public ball in the prrilioe.—Tuee-
day, May 3. The tneedy of Othello, usage the Newtons&
eon of Mr. Creswisk.—Os Wednesday, May. 4, soder Mr.
Creswick'ssuperistsadesce, Muck Ado about Nothing, mod
the Trial Same (math* Merchant of Vatic& —Prices of ad-
mission to the theatrical performsocse each swamies : Lower
tier sad pit, le. ; upper tier, 2a. ; reserved seats asd area
3.. Curtain to rise at seven o'clock. Excursion
trains will run cm the Greet Wasters, West Midland, the
London and North Wester,. frost Birmingham, Wolves-
hamptoo, Worcester, Oxford, Banbury, Warwick, Loam-
*toe, Coventry, kr.

lu additiou to the above, a grand pageant is
being arranged by certain of the townsfolk. irre-
spective of the committee ; and on Ilonday next,
any one may exhibit himself or herself as one of
Shakeepeare's heroes or heroines in a procession
through the town who chooses to make applica-
tion to the promoters.

SHAKESPEARE IN GERMANY.

(nor ocra ow,

FRANKFORT, Aria trk.

The tercentenarian anniversary of Shakespeare's
birthday was celebrated here by a banquet. About
2UO German, English, and American gentlemen
attended. I was pretty certain that in the present
state of public feeling if political speeches were not
excluded something unpleasant would occur, and
therefore did not Ro. My anticipations were
fully justified. After some rambling political
speeches, in which one of the speakers bad the bad
taste to say that the English were not worthy of
such a genius as Shakespeare,the British ambea-
sador rose, and the hall having been decorated
with various pictures referring to scenes from
Shakespeare's plays, be retorted very bluntly,
pointing to the picture of Portia's judgment of
Shylock as a proof that to use a right in the ex-
treme might be quite as unjustifiable as to commit
a positive wrong. An outburst of indignation fol-
lowed these words, and the chairman an-
swered by a quotation from Beale& The
American Consul interfered by the sensible
remark that the company had come for supper
and to celebrate Shakespeane's birthday, nut to
discuss politics. An English clergyman spoke
in conciliatory tones, and the feast continued then
in a better spirit until 2 o'clock a.m. it is evident
that in the present state of the public mind in
I England and Germany political discussions betweer
natives of both countries ought to be avoided, so
that it prey be left to time to soften the ill•feeling
which unfortunately exists, and at which only the
' enemies of peace and of human progress can
rejoice.

ROYAL GENERAL DISPENSARY, BARTHOLOMEW-
CLOsII. —The bienitial festival of this iestitutime was held
List night at the Albion Hotel, Aldsrmatrotreet. The
dispensary was founded so leng ago se the year 1770 ; and
it may thus be reputed as the parent of the numerous
charities of the same elms that now adore the metro s.
During the past year it administered relief to noiett
then 15.293 pormos, at a mot of only 6091. 6s. 7cl.
an amount of god which it is suggested is almost
without a persil., consideriag the solallaess of
the azpooditure it has *staged. The chairman, Mr.
(kitchen, M.P., dwelt with great earnestesse ou this fosters
of the case, remiedieg the commuy that for every guises
they subscribed they would have the astishaticei of bght-
ening tbe suffering of neon than • more of posses is the
hour of their need. It aware from this samants that the
receipte have latterly hose scuseiwbot imilequeM and then
there wore eausteuding liabilities on the, 31.1 ef December
last amounting to %X 17s. lid. Referring to thin fast.
Mr. Grease Radom eloquent appeal to the friends of the
charity to clear away so serious an impediment to its useful.
use The bon. gentleman wee supported by Mr. Nimbi.
M.P., and maoy other iefinential teatimes. Subscription'
to a liberal amount wire annomood in the muse of tim
ovosiag.

MO RI THAN MICR AND 'arm THAN rms.—This
swum to ths lamest sad best stack at sprlag Led ass sr
s, submitted tar jeablls oppss/ lite world-Weed
frann trousees at Alfred Webb WOWre
the ortgiastees sere &HA.
Olisterset. 73. Brookcareek mmover4quarw solaria/4 um
.othrormest.

IMPERIAL E