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

STRAND.

A German tale by Dr. Hoffman, cast by Mr. Manche
into the skimp' of a pantomime entitled Harkquin and King
Nutcracker ; or, the World of Top, was the Christmas
piece produced at this theatre. The very limited dimen-
sions of the stage rendered it a task of some difficulty to
complete an entertainment of this description ; but the
engagement of Flexmore as Clown was considered amply
sufficient to compensate for any defects there might
be in the mechanical arrangements. Mr. Flex-
more was. iadeed, the great attraction of the evening,
and the performers in the opening scenes are all fresh from
the nursery, with the exception of a Brobdignag King (of
Toy's land), who!. voice, however, is so peculiarly small
that it might well have been borrowed from one of his
juvenile subjects. The standing army of this mighty
monarch are all picked men from the best toy boxes in the
Lowther Arcade, and other equally celebrated military
I depots, and the dwelling-houses in his dominions are
painted and decorated in those peculiar tints of
white, green, and vermillion with which our childhood
made us familiar. This part of the exhibition lacked the
important ingredient —" fun," and it was not until the
harlequinatle commenced that the risible faculties of
the audience began to be excited. The business of the scene
moves pleasantly enough, and the merriment was never
allowed to flag. The absurdities and popular movements
of the day were, of course, exposed and ridiculed after the
usual fashion. Mr. Flexmore was well supported by Mr.
Bologna as Harlequin, Mr. Griffiths as Pantaloon, and Misr
Coward as Columbine, and the g I performance afforded
ample ground for believing that the pantomime of King
Nutcracker—though this style of entertainment is unusual
at this little house—will prove a source of attraction and
aranmentent for many nights to come.

Every avenue to this favourite plate of amusement wee
Crowded at an early hour, and as soon as the doors were
opened, the rush was tremendous. We never remember to
have seen so overflowing an audience, even on a boxing
night. During the performance of the first piece, The
Elephants of the East, in which the wonderful feats of those
sagacious animals surprised and delighted the sightseer;
the circus was filled by that part of the audience coristita-
ling the pit. Upon the commencement of the stens, of
the circle," they were transferred to the stage, every pin
of which was crowded, and presented an animated and ult.
usual spectacle. The equestrian performances were good;
' Barry was missing, but his comic duties were, however,
well sustained by Mr. C. Adams. Widdicomb
was as witty and dignified as ever, and showed, that
although there may be two clowns, there can be ►ut °es
Widdicomb. The pantomime, which was from the pen of
Mr. Nelson Lee, was entitled Billy Button's Journey
Brantford, a subject well known to the numerous little
folks whose merry faces were radiant with delight. The
curtain rose and discovered the abode of the Demon Chief
Steekap, Guardian of the Magic Needle. Gold Eye, Silver
Eye, Short Stump, Whiteehapel, Knitting, Farling, and
Darning, nine sprites, are occupied in making the magic
needle, and singing a chorus. The demon Steelcap makes
his appearance, and Informs the sprites that the fairy Queen
Industry, of whom he is the enemy, is about to invent a
pantomime. To thwart her design, Steeleap sends the
needle to earth, d ' ' g Gold Eye to follow it, with a view
to discover the hero chosen for the proposed pantomime.
He employs his rusty needles to base the designs of the
Fairy Queen. When the sprites depart on their several
missions, we are introduced to the Romantic Garden of
Industry in the Land of Perseverance," with in
bumming bees, golden windmill, fairy court,
Day-dawn appear., and a dance ensues. The
sports are interrupted by the transformation of the
beehive into a fairy car, and the Fairy Queen Industry
(the friend of labour, but not the enemy of mirth) ls die.
covered. Miss Fashion, the younger, next appears; and
the Queen announces that she intends to have a Christmas
pantomime. Young Fashion is asked to name a hero,
when Dane Fashion comes forth, and declares that the old
pantomimes were the best. The shade of John Gilpin is
thereupon made to appear; but he is refused by the Queen,
who states that be—

" has pined much pelf,
But with due honoun, must stay upon the shelf."

Dame Fashion's wand then calls up Billy Button, who is
accepted, and we are introduced to the hero's spartm•at.
His servant Timothy has been discharged, and is succeeded
by Btitch'em ; Billy receises a letter enclosing a 101. note,
and asking for his vote at the Brantford election. Our hero
makes many vain attempts t..) get a quiet nag ; and at last
he starts, followed by Stitch's= on a donkey. We ars
next introduced to a tailor's shop, into which Billy dashes,
to the dismay of the wretched tailors and himself,
Who little thought, when he set out,
Of running such a rig."
We next meet our hero on the Brentford-road, which is
thronged by people going to the election. Billy dashes on,
and we then find ourselves at the hustings, where head-
breaking and speechifying are the order of the day. Billy
presently appears, clinging to the neck of his frightened
steed, who deposits his bur !en in the mud. The Fairy
Queen hers transforms Billy, a maid servant of Billy's, and
Timothy, the predecessor of Stitch'em, who had gone off
with her to be married, and who had been partly the object
of Billy's pursuit, into Harlequin and Columbine ; Stitch'em
becomes Pantaloon, and Billy Button is the Clown. The
pantomime was received with the loudest demonstrations of
applause, and is likely to be very successful.

Marian MUSEUM.—On no former occasion has
this immense establishment been visited in so short a space
of time by such a concourse of visitors as on yesterday.
Every room and lobby leading to the several departments
was crowded with moving thousands of well-dressed per-
sons, curiously inspecting the immense collection of spe-
cimens from all the kingdoms of nature and realms of art
which abound throughout t►e establishment. It is
calculated that not lees than 40,000 persons visited the
Museum.

NATIONAL GALLERY.—Soon after the doors were
opened, and during the entire morning, thousands upon
thousands of well-dressed persons continued to crowd every
room throughout this truly national establishment; and
notwithstanding there could sot have been less than 2,000
persons in various rooms at one time, the strictest order and
regularity were observed.

THY VERNON COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS, THE
Muezuel or ORNAMENTAL ART, and the Wat.t.veoene
FUNERAL CAR, at Msrlborough.house, Pall-mall, had
during the day 27,430 visitors. The Museum of Ornamental
Art will be open to the public free every day this week,
Saturday excepted.
BURFORD'S PANORAMA OF CONSTANTINOPLE.—
This recently opened picture (which is exhibited so appro-
priately at the present juncture of affairs) was visited by a
large number of persons. The painting is worth seeing u
a work of art alone ; but the interest which attends an
authentic representation of a spot on which the public mind
is now so much fixed, rendered it one of the most popular
exhibitions of the day.
THE GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.—The addition
of the Illustrated Lecture on the North-west Passage to the
existing attractions of this Gallery, is another proof
of the tact of the management. The Arctic Re-
gions, St. Petenburgb, and Constantinople, are
the topics of the day ; and when they are brought together
visibly before the eye as in this beautiful series of pictures,
in the short space of time which they embrace as a prelude
to the diorama of the Ocean Mail, it can hardly be woa-
dared at that space at the gallery is becoming a question of
Interest, and the anxiety to secure seats decided. The
most recent addition to the exhibition has been lately fully
described in the Daily News, and it will suffice here to say
that the holiday of yesterday was duly honoured in this
place.
WYLD'S GLOBE, LEICESTER-BQUARE. The re.
cent additions te Mr. Wyld's geographical exhibition
appeared to be appreciated by the public. The " Great
Globe" was yesterday visited by a great number of sight-
seers.

COLOSSEUM, REGENT'S PARK.— The Coloateum,
where one may see adumbrated the nascent glories of the
Crystal Palace, attracted many hundred vi.iton. The varied
objects of interest had each its circle of admirers ; but the
great " lions " were, of course, the panorama of London
and the cyclorama representation of the Earthquake at
Lisbon. These old favourites wan to have lost none of
their charms, and they certainly well deserve the popularity
they have achieved; for who would be at the trouble of
climbing St. Paul's or the Monument to obtain a view of
the great metropolis, or who would run the risk of being
present at an earthquake, when he may see both so vividly
portrayed, and at the cost of so little inconvenience and
danger in Regent's-park ?

MADAME TUSSAI/D'B.—This exhibition, which is
almost as old as the street in which it stands, and which its
presence has made famous, seems to lose nothing of its
attraction for the holiday public. Yesterday it was
thronged to excess, and much interest was exhibited about
a melancholy addition made since last year—the Great
Hake as he lay in state at Widmer Castle. The group of
tke royal family had also crowds of loyal admirers, and
truth compels us to add that the " Chamber of Horrors'
was "second to none" in the number of its visitants. The
whole exhibition is highly instructive as well as amusing,
and being a day as well as night spectacle, has peculiar re-
commendations for the more juvenile holiday makers.

POLYTECHNIC.—Bueinesa began at the Polytechnic
yesterday at II a.m., sad from that time until 11 p.m. the
public poured steadily in to see magnified photographic
pictures, or go down in the diving bell, or bear a courageous
lecturer disproving the fact of Krook's death by sponty
neon, combustion, the authorities quoted by Mr. Dickens
notwithstanding. There was also a musical lecture which
was well worth hearing, and the usual variety of scientific
and philosophical experiments. A similar bill of fare will
be presented all through the holidays.

HATCH'S IRISH TOURIST TICKET.—This place of

amusement was well attended yesterday, and to time who
have travelled from Euston.square to the Lakes of Kil-
larney—and thanks to railroads and kinder feelings their
name is now legion—many striking scenes will be brought
to their recollection. Two new scenes, representing Con-
stantinople and St. Petersburg, have been introduced, end
Miss Julia Blesden continues to sing some of her pleasant
Irish songs.

STAGE ACCIDENT.—An accident, a hich WBB for-
tunately not attended with sty serious consequences, oc-
curred the evening before last at the Gaii6 during the re•
presentation of the Cosaques. A trap-door on the stage mud-
dent, gave way, and bait a dozen of the combatants
suddenly disappeared. After some moments of confusion,
they assisted each other in scrambling up to their original
position to the great satisfaction of the audience, who were
fearful of unpleasant consequences from their tall.