The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-02 00:00:00

Dranta.

With the opening of September the theatrical
season, which flags during the month of August, generally
revives, and managers put forth their programmes and
prospective announcements. The Adelphi Theatre will be
closed for one month or more, and Mr. Webster, if he
listens to good advice, will have it cleaned down, and the
stock, scenery, dresses, and properties put in order. The
Olympic is announced to be let to any enterprising person ;
the New Queen's Theatre in Long•acre (late Si. Martin's-
hall) is progressing favourably, and Mr. Alfred Wigan, the
lessee, has engager.: Mr. J. L. Toole to appear at or before
Christmas. The New Royalty still enjoys its extraordi-
nary career of prosperity, the little drama of Meg's
Dircraion having been performed one year all
but six weeks, and the burlesque of Black-Eyed
Susan having entered on its thirty-ninth week.
The Victoria Theatre has been taken by Mr. J.
Arnold Cave, lessee of the Marylebone Theatre, who knows
how to manage such a house with advantage to himself and
the public better than any man in London. The Marylr
bone is announced to be let. Sadler's Wells will re-open
on Saturday, Sept- 14, with a strong dramatic company,
and •revivalof.dzaa ftheProdiged. The principal performers
will be Miss Marriott and Mr. H. Loraine. The Surrey
Theatre will re-open on the Name night with a new drama
by Mr. Watts Phillips called Ifolody's Chad, with scenery
by Mr. William Cancan. Mr. Cheswick will perform the
principal character. Mr. Andrew Halliday's Drury-
lane drama, the Great City, has gone to the
Grecian Theatre. The Royal Amphitheatre and
Circus has added to its many and varied
ring attractions a new monkey ballet. The Lyceum will
re-open for a short season under Mr. Pechter's management
on Saturday, September 14, when the Lady of Lyons
will be revived, with Mr. Pechter as Claude Melnotte, and
we believe Miss Carlotta Leclercq as Pauline.
To-night (Monday) the Princess's will re-open with a
temporary revival of the Streets of London, in which Mr.
Vining will play his original character of Badger, and on
Saturday, Sept. 14, Mr. and Mrs. Boneicault will reappear
at this house in a revival of Arrah-na•Pogue. To-night,
also, Mrs. Scott fliddons will return to the Haymarket,
and appear as Rosalind in As You Like It. To-night,
also, Mr. Maacabe will appear in his deservedly popular
entertainment, a la Mathews, at the Egyptian-hall ; and
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul will open the Strand Theatre
for a fortnight with their equally popular vocal and
comic entertainment, which includes some of Mrs.
Howard Paul's most striking impersonations and much of
her remarkable singing. Amongst the rest she will give
her well-known imitation of Mr. Sims Reeves, and her not
so well-known, but quite as extraordinary imitations of
Mdlle. Theresa, the late idol of Perla.

We cannot close this brief summary without drawing
attention to Mr. Anson's well-deserved benefit, which will
take place at the Adelphi this week, as announced, with a
host of special and legitimate ettractiocs, and to a propo-
sition that his just been brought before the public to build
a joint-stock amateur theatre on the site of part of the
Strand Hotel property. The site is good, but we believe
the crown have some idea of taking the whole of this block
of buildings under parliamentary powers, in which case
the projectors of this scheme will have to look out for
another locality.

• 1
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN • CHITECH.—eIII,
extraordinary service was held on Friday night, at the
Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Shore'litch. It was
" within the octave of the Dedication Festival," and the
preacher was Dr. Gray, Bishop of Capetowu, or, as the
announcement issued by the parochial clergy styled him,
" his Grace the Metropolitan of Capetown.' There were
at least fifty lighted wax candles upon the altar, two large
candelabra, one on the north, the other on the south
aide, in addition to • long row of lighted candles
on the rood screen, and an abundance of gas jets.:
There were flowers also. The hour appointed for per.
vice was eight o'clock. It was commenced with • pro-
cessional hymn, at the first note of which there came from
the vestry at the north-east corner of the church a youth
habitat' in a bright red cassock, having over it what ap-
ware(' to be two slips of cambric, one in front and one
behind. He held on high • large golden cross. He was
followed by a long train of surpliced choristers, two
abreast, men and boys, bearing banners containing various
emblems, other youths dressed in red and cambric, three
or four clergymen whose hoods showed them to be
Bachelors of Arts of the University of Oxford, one a
D.C.L., who wore • crimson and scarlet hood, and one
who bad • simple black hood, who appeared to act
as chaplain to the bishop. The bishop came last but
one, followed by a deacon who bore a white flag, on
which there was a representation of the cross. The
procession moved from east to west along the north
aisle, and then west to east down the nave
to the altar, where all took their places according to their
I rank. Before the bishop's sermon began, an extraordinary
incident occurred. " Father lgnatium," after service in
the church of St. Bartholomew's, Moor•lane, and a prayer
meeting in the schoolroom, told the congregation that he
should like them, as Bishop Gray was preaching at St.
Michael's. to show their admiration of the bishop for his
bold defence of the truth against the errors of Dr. Colenso
by going in a body to think bin) for it, and to ask his
blessing ; those who were in favour of doing so were to
hold up their hands. All consenting, Mr. Lynn sent word
to the bishop of their intention, and then they went in
procession to the church, men walking two sod
two first, the women following, to the number
of over two hundred. They arrived at the church
about the middle of evening prayer, and greatly
i frightened the churchwarden, who took them for a body of
rioters come to attack the church. However, his fears
were moon dispelled. At the conclusion of the prayers the
Bishop of Capetown entered the pulpit, and informed
the congregation what had taken place, expressing his
pleasure at the demonstration and williognes to give them
his episcopal blessing. As these people bad already attended
service, and could not remain to bear his sermon, many of
them having a long distance to go, he should give his
blessing at once. The regular congregation, who would
receive his blessing after the sermon, he desired to stand
up, while Ignatius and has people were to kneel down.
This being done, the bishop, who appeared greatly moved,
then solemnly gave hie blessing. After • few minutes'
silence, Father Ignatius and his congregation retired from
the church, and the sermon proceeded.
CRYSTAL PALACE. HALT-A-CROWN DAY.—
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31.—Admissions on payment, 1,883;
ditto by season debits, 4,513: total visitors. 6,396,