The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-02 00:00:00

WHITSUNTIDE AMUSEMENTS.

CRENIORNE GARDENS.

Although this place of entertainment has been
for some weeks formally opened and in full operation, tho
season proper was commenced yesterday, inasmuch as all
arrangements for the year were completed and presented to
the public. In the fleet place, a very elegant little theatre,
dedicated to the performance. of the " Marionette.," was
thrown open on the occasion. It may he remembered
that Ave pen ego the navel experiment of acted
drautas, singing, and dancing, carried on by pup-
pets, was tried with great acorns at the Adelaide
Gallery, and after so long a relegation from
the metropolis, their re-appearance may be considered a
second novelty. When one talks of puppets it should be
understood that one spanks of exceedingly well-made little
ladies and gentlemen moat elegantly and elaborately dressed,
capable of expressive action, and conducting themselves with
perfect decorum, excepting perhaps that they have a ten-
dency to torn their backs on the audience, and are a little
apt to epring op from the ground without arty adequate
reason &dieing from the exigencies of their parts. except in
the caw of the dancers, who duly profit by the epringiness
of Marionette nature. In all their demeanour there is
nothing more wooden then one is often accustomed to see
on other stages; while the expreesion of their faces is quite
as mobile as that of weeny a sentient peoftweer rf the
histrionic art. The" troupe" is Sill under the direction of their
original manager, Mr. A. Brown, who delivered an address ap-
propriate to the occasion and full el points. Mr. A. Brown re-
tains his cluomteristie elegance and suavity of manner. "God
save the Queen" was then sung in excellent style by the
company, from whose mouths the words really seemed to
proceed, so that the singers at the side scenes, besides show-
ing considerable vocal powers, approached almost to ventri-
loquism. A selection of vocal tuusic followed, and the whole
concluded with the farce of Bernearta Ilerioso, one of the
numerous pieces attached to the repertoire of these droll
mimicries of humanity, es it appears on the stage.
In the other theatre (for there are three in the grenade) a
ballet of action is performed, called The Gipsy Girt; or, the
Doctor in Lore, which is produced under the direction of
Mr. Milano, and which has some very pretty *ornery, and is
enlivened by excellent dancing by Miss Louise Leclerc, Miss
Annie Cuthnie, &c. Then there are sable humourists,
dancing dogs, a learned dog that plays whist and dominoes,
en extraordinary contortionist, a Master Bond, who seems
made of vulcanised gulls pereha, dc. The cirque was opened
for the first time last night ; wren] performers of note booing
been engaged from Franconrs. The principal female artiste
engaged is Madame Adams, who has acquired great celebrity
in I'm is, andhas never appeared in this country:Unfortunately,
yesterday morning, while practising, she had a fall, and
fractured one of her arse, end therefore ie prevented appear-
ing for some days. The other performers are very far
above the general ran of equestrians, and exhibited great
still and agility. The whole of the gardens have been
renovated and re-decorated in the beet manner, and the
addition of feathers of crystal pendants glittering with light
round the dancing platform mutest the appearance of that
scene of action gayer than ever. There was a large crowd
collected yesterday from the opening at three o'clock, the
holiday-makers duly appearing at the earliest possible hour,
and remaining until after the fireworks, which are sow let off
at a conveniently early hour. The evening, however, did
not by any means and then.