The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS lENTSRTAINMENTS.

This Christmas seems likely to be more than
usually abundant in novel and attractive entertainments.
Her Majesty's Theatre, which has hitherto never contri-
buted to the festive sesociatioas of the season. will this
year, under the lesseaship of Mr. K T. Smith, be provided
with one of those grotesque annuals that have formed such
a special feature of his management at Drury-lane. The
burlesque opening, written by Mr. E. L Blanchard, is
founded on the 41 story of Tom Thumb ; and the tradi-
tionary adventures of that miniature hero of the days of
King Arthur will be found faithfully set forth, in strict
accordance with the record of the ancient chronicler. The
representative of the amusing mannikin will be the juvenile
comitlienne Miss Übe ROBB ; the Lauri Family are the
pantoutimiite engaged ; and the scenic department is under
the immediate direction of Mr. Win. Beverley.
The Royal English Opera, Covent-garden, will energeti-
cally strive to pm a front rank in the competing race for
public favour. The familiar story of " Bluebeard has been
taken in hand by Mr. J. V. Bridgman, the author of the
pantomime last year ; and some new features have been im-
parted to the old story. The scenery by Messrs. Grieve and
Telbin, the celebrity of Mr. W. H. Payne, who embodies
the man of few scruples and many wives, and the engage-
ment of a strong corps of pantomimist', including Mr.
Merry Bolen*, Mr. Hilly* d, Mr. Barnes, Madame Bolen,
Mr. Milano, and the clever members of the Payne family,
will show that the management have good reams to be
sangnine as to the result..
Decry-lane will hereto go
boards;
that has leas pre-
viously achieved on these and, if green-ream
rumours may be trusted, the pantomime will outvie all it.
Lleassors. The burlesque opening, furnished by Mr. E.
c. bard, is devoted to an elaborate spectacular illustra-
tion of the voyage of the famous Peter Wilkins and his
weoderful adventures near the South Poll with the Flying
Islanders. The scenic effects are by Mr. William Beverley.
Mr. J. H. Tully has composed the music; the inventive
teeny of the ingenious llykwynkrti has been employed
ea the husks ; and the pantomime programme will in-
clude the names of Mears. Templeton, Cormack, T. Mat-
thews, Naylor, and the favourite down, Huline, formerly
of the Princess's.

—The Haymarket will again owe its Christmas piece to the
pnatiasd pen of Mr. Buckatone, whew thorough acquaint-
ance with the kind of treatment required in a story espe-
Malty selected for the gratification id all good little boys
and girls, will be exhibited in his new version of the nursery
legend of Ladybird, Ladybird, Fty Away Home- Mr.
F. Fenton applies the scenery, and the Leclercq Family
will be the pantomimist'.
The Prinixes's will present a pantomime from the pen of
Mr. H. J. Baron, founded on the story of Robillsolt erupt,
sad inusbrated by the aanagsreet with all thaw mole
appliances which are now so indispensable to three prodoe-
tams. Mr. Garden will be the here of Defoe's narrative,
and Friday will be represented by that extraordinary
dancer, Signor Espinosa. The Clown will be Mr. A. F.
Forrest.

The Adelphi likewise relies upon Mr. Byron, and Blue.
beard, from a novel point of view, will be the subject of
the Christmas burlesque. The hero will be personated by
Mr. J. L. Toole, and Mr. P. Phillips is the watt engaged to
give effect to the scenic deportment.
The Lyceum will have an extrampona, to be entitled
airy g&shelle, end, with the aid of Mr. W. Conceit's talents
in the production of gorgeous scenic effects, there is little
doubt that Madame Celeste will take high rank among her
competitors.
The Olympic will have an extravagacza, written by two
of our most popular dramatists, and founded on • favourite
melodrama. Mr. Robison, of mune, sustains the principal
character.

The Strand, ever a favourite bnuoe for burlesque, has
been also supplied Ly Mr. Byron, and Lis new extravaganza
on the subject of Cinderella will be found to embrace all
the members of the company, whose respective specialities
have been, of cosine, carefully regarded in the treatment.
The scenery, which, under the present management, ham
been raised to great importance at this theatre, will be more
than usually splendid, and illustrate the ingenuity with
which the artiste, Messrs. Broadfoot and Albert Callcott,
have mastered the difficulties of a small stage.
The St. James'i has been provided for by Mr. William
Though, who has chosen a m►thological subject of burlesque
rendering.
Astley's has been supplied by Mr. T. L. Greenwood, and
he has selected the story of " Graciosa and Percinet," as
best fitted for hippo•pantomimic illustration.

CHNISTMAII Tama.—During the Christmas time
it has been the great weeder of the authorities of Brighton
from whence so many Christmas trees ever come. The
matter is now no longer • secret, for, on the night of Thurs-
day last, or early on the following morning, • huckster, it is
supposed, seeing a nice young fir, in a plantation belonging
to-Ois u Itinger, near the road, with hatchet in band lm dismounted cart and cut the sapling for the forthcoming
market. Five pounds have been offered as a reward for any
=who shall give information of the amender. The
any of these hucksters is well known. For instance,
last year a gentleman had • favourite holly bush with
variegated berries, but, prizing it, had set a man to watch
it. Early one morning a huckster proceeded with his shovel
to the spot, and perceiving that he was watched, with
wanton cooks= offered re. for the tree.—Sesser 11.rprew.
&lugs tN DiRIIYAHIRE.—There are now up-
wards of 300 nalmakers on strike at Belper, in Derby-
shire, and at present there seems no probability of an
arrangement. The trade of the town is sensibly affected by
it, from the foot that a largecirculation of money is suddenly
withdeawn from the market, and 'merely locked up in the
iron chests of the masters. There can be no doubt the
muter are seriously inconvenienced, but the men most be
mare so, for a very small number have ever given evidence
of frugality or forethought, notwithstanding that their
wages have been very good ; the consequence is they are
thrown upon their own refources, and find "no effects,"
Up to Saturday lest sufficient hand' were at work to enable
• sum of Pe. per men weekly to be paid to those on strike,
but the masters, with one or two exceptions, hays declined
tout any more iron to those who would have coutri-
ed doubtless, that a want of feeds would
speedily terminate the strike. The men state they have great
expectations from the glass.blowers of Dudley, to whom, it
is said, the nailmakers contributed under similar circum-
stances some time ago.
SALMON POACHING IN THI Tay.—Notwithatand-
ing the strict watch kepi
_.over the Tay and its tributaries,
there has been a good deal of salmon poaching of late. Last
week, Mr. Robert Bald, superintendent of fishing', ob-
tained five convictions against poachers, before Sheriff
Barclay. The Tay and all its tributaries are well stocked
with "pawning fish, from the head of Glenlyon to the
Bridge of Perth, and from Earn Mouth to Leaman'. It is
calculated that there are fully five fish for one in the rivers
last year ; and should this prove • favourable imams for
spawning, a very large produce may be anticipated.—
.

A beautiful statue of a school girl has been put
spin Boater! School, fixed on a pedestal of Hollington stone.
It is the workmanship of Mr. Thomas Thornyeroft, the
sculptor, a native of Cawsworth, whose studio is seldom, if
ever, without some statue of the Royal Family. In one of
his Mite, a few months ago, the Prince Consort, admiring
this statue, suggested that it might appropriately bs gives
to a schooL BO•ley School has been the one *elected.—
Mrscelmfidd Courier.
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elect upon the nervous system. The reduction of duty enables
the directors of the European and Colonial Wine Company to
offer this truly excellent and natural wine at the wonderfully
low price of Twenty seven Millings per dozen, bottles and rases
Included—Wye' tlesisent.