The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-27 00:00:00

THE CARLSTMAS AMUSEMENTS.

When the time cornea for Macaulay 's New
Zealander to stand upon the ruins of the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway, he will find our
Christmas entertainments in the same condition as
they were hall a century so, and in the same
condition as they are now. The same fairy legends
and nursery stories provide our dramatic authors
with the plots of pantomimes and extravaganzas as
they provided the fathers of these writers before
them, and as they will doubtless provide their sons
after them. There is nothing new wider the sun-
light, except lime-light effects and political allu-
sions. What Covent-garden had in 1828, Drury-
lane has in 1866; and what Covent-garden has in
1866, the Lyceum had in 1844.
The year that will soon close has seen a few
changes in the theatrics.] world. A new theatre
Las been built opened, and, what is more nonder-
Int still, has been licensed in Holborn, and has
started in business with a very successful drama by
Mr. Boucicault. The success of Flying Send,
however, has been quite exceptional, for no year
has been more prolific in managers and authors
failures than 1866. Dramas have been tried and
found wanting; the public have actually hissed on
more than one occasion, much to the annoyance of
managers ; and even burlesques, supported as they
are by a variety of meretricious attractions, have
not always been popular or long-lived. No new
actor of any importance has struck roo*.; in London
during the past year—that rare ens, a
new low comedian, has still to be found, awl
only one dramatic author, Mr.
Robertson, has made a distinct advance in
his profession in 1866. Dramatic authors, how-
ever, if they have not made much advance in
writing, have shown an increased disposition to
become managers of theatres, and Mr. 11. J. Byron,
besides his interest in a successful little London
theatre, is the lessee and conductor of the two
oldest and largest theatres in Liverpool. There is
no reason why a dramatic author should make a
Terse manager than an actor makes, and many
reasons why he should be more able to con-
duct theatres creditably than the Jew dis-
counters and publicans who so often conduct
them. As a set-off to Mr. Byron's increase of
managerial responsibility, we have to chro-
nicle the retirement of a distinguished dra-
matic author from a share in the ma-
nagement of the Olympic, and the sale of the
lease of that theatre to Mr. B. Webster, of the
Adelphi. Mr. Webster has always had a passion
for two or more theatres. At one time he coup'ed
the Haymarket with the Adelphi, at another the
St. James's, and at another the Princess's. The
stage management of the Olympic Theatre will still
rest in the able hands of Mr. Horace Wigan.
The ATOP of theatrical entertainments becomes
every year more and more widened, even
sowshout
the building of new theatres—properly called.
The Crystal Palace is a playhouse at Christmas on
a gigantic scale ; the Polytechnic is only a lecture-
room in which the dramatic adaptability col'
certain scientific tricks is demonstrated be-
fore those tricks find their way to acknowledged
theatres ; the music-halls, in spite of the ruling
powers and the watchfulness of theatrical managers,
are all as intensely theatrical as their stage space
will allow them to be, and the ballet-girl finds he'
services in active demand everywhere, and her
salary almost doubled compared with what it used
to be. No music-hall in town or country now
opens without what is called a " divertissement"—
a drama like fty.n Scud is not considered perfect
without a " Jockey ballet ;" lkirnalry Ilutlye must
have its country dance, and nearly every play han
got an " incidental" display of this character. The
chief ingredient in burlesque and pantomime is
dancing, and if we do not represent ballet-spec-
tacles, like the Germans, which last three hours, it
is from no want of faith in the popularity of ballets.
The talent for arranging popular ballets seems to be
as rare in England as the power of constructing
popular playa, if we may judge from the fact that
111 r. Milano, like Mr. Boecicault, is employed at a
dozen theatres. The record of the Christmas en-
tertainments of 1366 will show how iew successful
authors and ballet-masters we have to provide the
amusement for the holiday-making public.

Obedient to time-honoured custom, the manage-
ment at, Old Drury has made provision for the ppecial

CRYSTAL PALACE.
Havir.g alrcadv noticed the Crystal Palace pan- I, NATIONAL SOCIETY TOE TEE PROTECTION or
YouNG GIRL'.—On Christmas-day the inmates of the
tomime, not forgetting its splendid transformation scene, ; home and school belonging to the society at Wanstead
and the various other amusements which the directors have were supplied with roast beef and plum pudding. There
provided for Christmas, there remains little to be said were 13 large puddings, and about 1001bs. of good beef,
with an abundance of potatoes. The girls were allowed
about Doling-day at Sydenhaan, beyond the gratifying
statement that, at half-past two o'clock, upwards of aopo a 4
ma:ihthaseirtle,Lecoruld weellsecereat, end
uthel thoroughly
visitors had passed the barriers, and the crowd was still enjoyed
officiated as carvers, and LrL'remwere 'l92a segravvearnr-
streaming in. The extraordinary fineness of the day After dinner the young people walked and played in
worked wonders for the Palace, there being quite as many the grounds, and were full of joy and gladness.
people wandering about the gardens as promenaded inside. After tea a beautiful Christmas-tree, dressed by the
girls, was ehibited. The WA purchased an
I Down at the bottom the swings and " merries " got full
I dressed by the matron, and affirmd to the main stem;
i employment, so much so that the time might be taken for while nearly 200 useful and ornamental articles
Easter, and the scene for Greenwich-Park. Inside, the (the gift of friends) glittered upon the branches. The
performing dogs seemed to he the most successful of the school was handsomely decorated with holly and other
morning amusements ;but it was to be observed that the evergreens The drawing een
. girl, took
place,
int it
was
a
mosticuo obtainedexerting scene. A little
prize—the
Queen
at in the
1 whole audience kept their seats after the performance was the principal p h ; while all
over, evidently intending to remain where they were until of them had several good and useful things. Several re-
-5 o'clock, the time for the commencement of the panto- wards wens given, and a bran-pie was made with holly
mime. Of this latter it may be said that the first day's leaves introduced instead of fruit. As each girl put her
sworn was undiminished, and that the performance was
hend4touuttp; pie to dzilwe
da. n?rteber for a
largedpri.zuei till uwtinfart
most perfect and satisfactory. The clouds bad been got had been previouslyau
cleared, was made the scene of a
1 under subjection and the transformation scene worked youthful game of play. At ten all retired to rest, sad
. 1 essay, producing clearly the whole of the artist's intended thus ended the festivities.

&men :s of the Christmas season, and with every probabi- chief at
lity of a repctitimi of wonted success. A " Louse "of the production of Ur. Gilbert's burlesque is postponed until ' allegoricai ~ ...,
very fullost dinteusions was present to be entertained, and Saturday next. anti employing the services of one hundred coryphies bon, stating it as tam omm. see. _
interfered Hams would have been killed.
was so more than in name. The first performance was and fifty juveuile tem/roma, has been placed upon the
Mr. Craven's little drama, Meg's Dicersiolis, and Stauffer said that he offered Hams hie fare and he would
A D.,
..1 oiler the Wedding, and this being very , stage, backed by one of those marvellously constaucted not take it.
Mr. Bermand's amusing burlesque, Black-Eyed Seals, are
abort, it was only about eight o'clock when the and brilliantly painted scenes, with novel changes, that Hams said that was not true.
I sudieient attractions at the New Royalty Theatre for
curtain drew llPf"tile( the
have won for their painter, Mr. William Calleott, Turns said that Giovanelli attacked him Ent.
trees pantomime. uhrestmas season. Giovanelli add that he had done nething of the kind. He
The atithoi, Mr. E. L. Blanchard. has taken for the basis a European reputation. This spectacular ballet is
The New Surrey Theatre celebrated its first erne- Therely saidi„."
attacked3on't i
hose the poor old man," and then
e
of his prodoction a well-known German legen and the called Thu Bulrush Fens awl the Silrer Stream ;
title trader which his piece is pre/tented is Na,ateder It , i versary last night, and the friends of Messrs. Shepherd or, The if nod, ~f Li.l.4ry. The dances and move- Dixon, 22 C, proved itilking the prisoners. who were
or, H.:e' rid Owl fir Canine King ,
.1 ihr 6 xne Hountaij,. I and Cre,wick, who assembled to bid them and their meets have been arranged by Mr. Milano, acknowledged drunk, into custody,
The Kamer characteristics of the German Ulf and the scene ChT6thuls pantomime welcome were so numerous that to be the leading ballet master of London, who has been The only answer the prisoners made to the charge was
there was scarcely standing room in boxes, pit, or gallery. specially engaged this Christmas to produce this ballet i that they had been drinking. _
o
of his n.isehievous tricks are followed m the pantomime.
and the }weal of Mr. William Beverley has done every- Nevsr were time capabilities of a building for ventilationMhr. Twyzhitt comet r
remarkingthe prlsoners for two months
anal another romantic ballet of action, called The Moen- I hard
awl game's: comfort more severely tested than was the ' taia Germ ; ilr, Me andri Strilnghold, which is part of that such assaults
thing tla.t could be desired in the way of effective iwould never be passed over.
illustration. New Surrey last night, and in this respect at least it can the new programme, is full of the mat striking ' Alfred Sins, cab proprietor, of Savoy.wharf, Strand,
Although pantomime of course formed the main
boast of supe: levity almost to every other theatre in Lon- evolutions and dances, executed by one hundred female appeared to answer the complaint of the Royal Society for
don, excepting perhaps the two great houses. Of course therethe Prevention of Cruslty to Animals, of causing a horse
attraction at Cventmanlen last night, it was not the dancers anal pantomimists. The scenery for this second I
only nos Ate ef the evening, having been :`receded by a I was &goal dealer crushing in getting in ,bu t once in and cons- ballet has also been painted by Mr. William Calleott. No I totre tortureds
former b4beaing worn
ked
ew
i, while
an
siifiet stl.te.
1 fortebly settled there was no cause of complaint, notwith-
new operetta, in one net, called Terr Ale ;lumen, which .care nor expense has been spared to make the costumes in . fined 20s. for driving a horse which was in a mositniPwZowhe7l
served to all up the preliminary hour before the specialty ' 6""aiug the extremely crowded state of the house. both these ballets worthy of the scenery. To give proper ! condition, having several sores on it, and which it ap-
of the eecosion ; and to maintain jelthough but in a very The introduction to the pantomime was the old and effect to the dances the managemeet have engaged Mdlle. I Peared eras only brought out at night time.
well-linown play of First Lore ; or, the Slaw Brother, Anode Tourneur, principal daneense of the Theatre Lupe. I Sell, officer of the society, said that, on asking the do
gfight dmrev) the associations of the house with
newt of which was played in dumb show, and served only real du Chstelet, Paris, and Mille. Estea, of the English flealuiideanltivat-htly..ht ehewooantedwtohrt,hioriete, he sail e knew it was
musical pm Name The operetta is a mere trifle,
I to beguile the time while the vast audience were comfort' :
both dramatically and inneically ; in the former and continental theatres. A large and effective company Mr. Tyrwhitt said ihat, having seen occasionally.
endition of the
. ably settling themselves. Noboay seemed to pay much
respect apparently an adaptation from some Frenchof the hest iontomitnists. including MM. D'Auban and horse, he considered it a bad case, and fined the defendant
vaudeville, while tae music also has som„pioity to the I attention to it, but as soon as the first few bars of the I Warde, from the Porte St. Martin Theatre, Paris, have Wm and eeeti.
1 overture to the pantomime were played, the popular sirs • lIARYLEBONE.
same school in its lightest aspect. The pantomime is also been engaged for a pantomimic ballet, appropriate to J . . . i
based on a gulaect from that most fruitful source the I were taken 01, by the audience, who, in full choir, sawn- the season, called Where's th-• 'Vier I in which some and begging.
T;intosto, a cnpp e, was charged with being drunk
" Arab:.:n Nights' Entertainments— a work dear to all minied the banal with fine effect, and more than once in extraordinary illusions and novel dances are introduced, Sergiagntgisaacson, 2D, said on Monday night he saw the
tasted ou the repetition of their favourite choruses. At
juveniM spopathies, and frmh in older recollections, and inwhich Master Tommy Dot and Master Perks, the I prisoner in
Asl'mnd-treet very drunk and begging. He
There cam be no doubt that Al. Baba will prove a length, after a good deal of patience had been math. , cleverest children on the stage in their peculiar way, take ', moved him on. short thee afterwards he saw him on
Mated, the curtain drew up for the performance of A. 1 the hums app in a fit, with a crowd round him.
long source of attraction to the public, anal of profit a prominent part. To give proper effect to the theatrical
Apple Pi.., am.,l Harlequin Jack in the Box and Um ' IHe raised hirimup anal took him into custody. The p_risoner
to the mmogement which has placed it on the stage in and intermeniete music, the band, conducted by M. Ri- comes from Witechapel, and makes up Ito fits. He puts
Little Boy Blue.
no lavish and c .stly a style. I viere, has been permanently increased to sixty instru- • small piece of soap in his mouth, and after sucking it
Notwithstanding the abo..mce of the ordinary Very prudently the manager of Astley's Theatre in . mentaliats, who are provided with all the best and latest i for a time, he throws himself down, and begins to foam
stock thri..toiss piece—the expe..t.'d pantomime or extra- making out hie Christmas bill of fare has had regazd to the • musical novelties. This band, with the exception of that I alecefr
.111:inatatthehtriuttohi.t. If
jeul:taLafri rtLf bagpipe with
'imam . tha Haymarket pregame Was yesterday natural impatience of his holiday patrons by placing of the Opera houses, is now the most complete in Lon- ' P
self down, he shakes this, and then pleacts tltiehrgs hniller
diversified c :en beyond them oracious animtite of a Boxing. before them as the prelude to the time honoured panto- , don, and it plays every evening two classical overtures* , his head. The passers.by have compassion upon hit:, and
day public. Yet, in the idst of all it, diversity, the mime the very short but clever drama Ihlieute Ground. two grand operatic selections, with numerous efficient ihe gets a good deal of money.
Haymaiket sotarpreserved the almloatieunities and Retitle lint brief as it is, the good-humouredly boisterous and solos, six or seven choice pieces of dance music, and a I Mr. d'Eynoourt inquired if the prisoner bad been
to recognition as the theatre of comedy par arernenee as to I crowded audience of Boxing-night found it quite long I comic fantasia. This is almost as much orchestral music serhed•
saidn he bad not.
Mate the con
element the flavouring ingredient in the 1 enough to exhaust the stock of self-denying tolerance as the public get at Mr. Mellon's promenade concert& The Mr. d'Eyncou How is teat!
preparation of its holislay novelties. To begin with, there , which tie y had laid in for the occasion, and the I vocal and comic departments have been strengthened, the maaesommwe have order, not to search beggars.
was a morning performance by a troupe of Lilliputian I anxiously lookea.tor pantomime came not one moment principal object of the management being to exclude de Mr. d'Eyncourt--From whom ?
testa, consisting of 27 actors and actresses. varying in i too soon, although it commenced aa nearly as possible trusive vulgarity from the latter ; and the gyinnostic en- Isaacson—From the Commissioners of Police.
ash% from .la tr.) 50 inches. Most personal would be apt . Pullout:Ml at the hoer announced, via., a quarter to eight. I tertainments, which always have formed, and always will seMcrisel:iEyncootaasaiand hem thoughtu nail
thembelmetsought to be
smilamit tha him of a comedy performed under such 1 Hush-a-Ly Ld'e WI Car Tree Tog : or, Harliquin Fortunio, I form, a strikingfeature at this establishment, are chiefly ordered to go towards ytheior leteeoylowhdilust"inn p' ilobs-
oondition,, where the little actors muse he supposed to con Prince Hegdiddle, Princess Olieehraneil, Kiag Frog of ', supported by the Flying Fannie, father and son. The , ever, it was not for him to intoner° with the order of the
heir parts and fill their " humorous stage' very much 1 Frilg Ida sad, ,tad M.. Ma9te Toys of Lowther Amsdia, is auditorium has been redecorated, remarpeted, and en. I commissioners.
A parrots might be supposed to do. But a visit to the elaborate title of the novelty, which has been written 1 larged .ant its comfort, size, and brilliancy are now tin- • Isaacson —The prisener sent Is. fol. to pay for his food
whilst he was locked up.
Littletop'i Christmas l'ortv, anal tbo burlesque ;by Mr.Cleil les Millward and another gentleman,who wishes 1 equalled by any similar establishment in the world. Mr. d'Eyneourt sentenced him to one month's hard
'if
Seams, which follows, in the morning per- to remain :is one of the illustrious unknown. The Oxford and Canterbury, Weston's, Phil- labour.
wmance at the Haymarket, will disabine the a The pantomime at Sadler's Wells inn ounded on I harmonic, Islington, London Pavilion Regent, weitm. . Darid Lloyd, highly respectable looking, residing in
In Bramley.road, Notting-hill, was charged with being drunk
pemr; thinking public of an, each idem Any. I one of the countless D'Aubrey's fairy tales, d its title is ' star,
Metropolitan, Cambridge, Mary' Ibo e ne, the South and incapable.
thing more natural, and at the same time so artistic as , The t.l.ilden Cask, the Princess, the Page,, and the Pageant ; London, Deacon's, and the smaller outlying halls, have all Police-constable Head, ID, said be found the
Iprisoner
the execution of the various rMe assigned to this jams- ' or, /Lir/omin and Queen Grumble. a pup attractions suitable for the season, the cues of very drunk in the Merylebone-road. He was bleeding from
Wile troupe cannot well be coneeived. The ease, the , rheas being operatic selections, and comic singing and wound the t
a by Bide o his bead. He locked him up.
._ ---_
saroir i•iirr and saroir plain displayed were of the ENTERTAINMENTS. dancing. Prisoner said he had been out on Christmas Eva What
highest order, and could only be attained as the result of the officer sail was quite correct.
Mr. d'Eynoourt fined him 5a., which was paid,
long-continued and collective training. We shall not Thomas Late, about 17, was charged with stealing a
attempt to describe the lively scene of the reception in piec-e of meat weighing _near upon half a hundredweight
Littletop's drawing-room, or to unravel the plot of the from the shop of Mr. Holton, butcher, at 105, Drummond.
burlesque, but we can promise a feast of delght to
all who pay a visit to the morning performance
at the Haymarket, and witness the grace of /dime Louisa
Littletop, the satiric discontent of Mr. Grumble-gudgeon
Mite, and his resignation under the undeserved conjugal
indignities put upon him by his better half ; the extremely
clever acting of Mr. Leonid* and Dame Fatty, the sweet
singing of their son Sylvius, and the infantile but charm-
ing dancing of Pearl and Amaryllis. At the con-
elusion of the pieces Sylvias bespoke the kind indul-
gence of the audience on behalf of their youthful perform-
ance, anal the warm applause which greeted his request
is only the precursor of the more general approbation
which it will receive when its excellence becomes more
known to the public. By no entertainment could an
audience in teens be more delighted, or an audience be-
yond that period of life be more excited to laughter,
The evening entertainment commenced with a comedietta
in one net, entitled A Mere Child, by Mr. Westland
Manton, Miss Rebecca Powell performing the part of the
"Child." The " Child" is seventeen, and her aunt, Mrs.

street.
The prisoner was seen to take the meat from the shop-
board, place it on his shoulder, and walk off. He was stopped
with it in his possession.
Remanded for • week.
LAMBETH.
Thomas Clements was charged before Mr. Elliott with
being drunk, and violently assaulting Thomas Wright, his
father-in-law.
The complainant, whose countenance bore evident marks
of serious violence, said that on the morning before the pri-
soner was abusing his wife, and on his requesting him to
desist, he turned on him and struck him several severe
1 blows on the face, and conducted himself in a very out-
rageousr. ot ,i manner.
Was be drunk or sober at the time!
Witness—He was very drunk, your worship.
Police-constable 217 P said that on the morning before
he was called in to a house on the Surrey Canal bank, and
there found the prisoner mad drank and smashing all the
things in the place, and the last witness, who was present
and bleeding copiously from the face and nose, gave him
into custody for assaulting him.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said that be had
been engaged on Christmas morning at the fire in Shoe.

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