The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

ADELPHI.

Number Nip and the spirit Bride, a magic spectacle in
two acts, was produced as the Christmas piece at this
theatre. The tale is founded on the relations of the spirit
kingdom with the human race, as characterised in the
magic and romantic philosophy of Paracelaus end ROPi•
*mins. King Nip is the chief of the gnomes—spirits of
earth who have power over the sylphs—spirits of the air,
who are in general friendly to poor mortal,. The Gnome
King has been overcome in former tames by one of the
barons of Wolfenstein, and has continued the obedient imp
of the descendants of the conqueror. Count Rudolph, one
of these, a gay and dissipated youth, having lost his for-
tune, and ignorant of the talisman that exists amongst the
records of his family, comes to one of his dilapidated castles
to spend the remainder of • bankrupt life. In going to
kindle a fire in his chamber, he fishes up an old book from
the family lumber for that purpose, but his fellow-student,
Baron Herman, before applying the volume to the intended
object, reads from a slip of paper contained in it a few
cabalistic words, when the Gnome King suddenly appears,
and proposes to his hie choice of ample gifts. Gold to pay
his debts, and a servant to do his bidding, are the requests
of Rudolph. The Gnome King determines to make use of
the latter to achieve his own freedom, which depends upon
the recovery of the talisman, and for this purpose sends
him Estella, a sylph, with strict injunctions to become pos-
sessed of the charm by which he is bound to the will
of Rudolph. Instead, however, of executing her
orders, she falls in love with Rudolph, and be-
friends him in every way except in that of promotiag
his love for Ida, a fellow mortal and foster sister, who has
taken possession of his whole soul. A magnificent festival
has been prepared for the celebration of the marriage be-
tween Ida and Rudolph, which is prevented by the op-
posing influences of the Gnome King and Estella, now
naked for this objoos, .Hsi im no &wall degree by We
terrific appearance of Pirate Lambro (Mr. Paul Bedford),
who takes Ida and several of the village girls to the slave
market of Tunis. In obedience I. the usual theatrical
laws in this case made sad provided, all the parties meet in
the slave market, and Ida becomes the slave of the Bey,
notwithstanding • very spirited adverse bidding by Rudolph.
All hope seems over when Estella proposes to Rudolph to
save Ida but, on the condition that he accepts betself as his
bride instead. Rudolph, la the last resort, consents,
whereupon Estella appears before the Bey, is a dazzling
dress, and acts with such inimitable grew, that he is
won at once, and resigns, as he says, " silver, which is
good, for gold, which is better." Oa going, however, to
look for Estella, he finds she has fled as 'pain of the air
only can. She goes beak to the old castle, and exacts
from Rudolph, who i• again going to be united with Ida,
the performance of his promise ; but finding that the love
of the two mortals is stronger than that between
a mortal and spirit, abs foregoes the vow and
floats away amidst a lovely concluding scene,
all blue and bright, azure and astral, to rejoin
the spirits of the upper sky, sad the Gnome King
becomes free. Such is the plot of the Adelphi Christmas
piece, and those on whom the chief burden of the perform-
ance lay did everything that could be expected to give it
effect and eclat. Miss Woolgar, as Rudolph, " made up"
for th►t part with a perfection and spirit which few bat
Mir Woolgar can ; and Mrs. Keeley, as the Gnome King,
made a most threatening demon of the earth, only, perhaps,
a little too emboinpoisi for a spirit. We must say, however,
the piece was only partially successful, and that it by no
means created that enthusiasm and excitement with which
one generally expects the Christmas piece to be accom-
panied. The machinery was by no means " free and easy,"
and the scenery, with the exception of the freak, was not
of the gorgeous description. The house was very well filled.