The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-12 00:00:00

DRAMA.

OLYMPIC.
Last night was relived at this theatre, compressed
into three acts, the comedy of All in the Wiono. by Arthur
Murphy, whose three other principal playa, fibe Tray to
Keep Ilisn The Grecian Daughter, and The Citizen, held
places of honour in standard editions of the British acting
drama, and ere still regarded as excellent specimens of con-
struction sad elegant dialogue. The modern theatrical
habitat, whose pampered intellectual appetite requires a
morbid French drone for hie piiee de resistance, and a epark-
ling vaudeville or broad fame for the supplementary entree,
would shrink from the infliction of witnessing a comedy the
characters in which wear powder end knee-breeches
talk the moat high-flown rhodomontade, make coati:.
dente of their Ferrante, and, fondly-attached lovers
though they be, yet "Sir" and "Madam" each
other with the meet punctilious politeness. Yet we
can scarcely remember ever to have seen an audience more
delighted at any modem production than were the good folks
who crowded the Olympic last night, with a comedy the
author of which died fun fifty years ago. Doubtless, •
great portion of the success was attributable to the excellence
of the acting; but from first to last the attention of the audi-
ence was absorbed, and as each successive knot in the story
presented itself for unravelment, there ran throughout the
pit that subdued buzz of voices which invariably betokens
interest and eatiefemion. To give in detail the plot of •
piece which has held the stage for upwards of mventy
would be ridiculous, and therefore it will lie sufficient
to say that although, even in the present reduced form, the
mainspring of the story is somewhat elaborated. yet
the construction is admirable, from the neat dove-
toiling of the incidente, and the dialogue mo thwththulis
that, making due allowance for the hyperbole of the period
there is not one dull line in all the three acts. The acting
throughout wen excellent. Mts. Stirling's performance of
Lady-Restless was slimed perfection; there is no actress on
the stage at the prevent day who could have represented the
hasty, impatient, good-hearted, wrong-heeded woman, who
in her direst transports, never forgets that she is a lady, and
whose every seen= i 9 marked with form and eloquence. Let
VA also pay a high compliment to Miss Swan ugh, •
young lady the effect of whose good looks has hitherto been
marred by the extreme iseoutiante of her acting, but who
sorb iqd us last night by her vivacity and archness, and who
premiere, should she not relax in her efforts, to become meet
our best actresses in high comedy. Nature ham behaved very
liberally to her, but art is a mistress requiring conetant atten-
tion. A. Sr John Restless Mr. Robson played—Mr. nehmen.
We n ;met to lindthat this gentlemen—perbape the most origin-
ally gifted man on the stage7ia never to be wen but in the
pourtrayal of one character—jealousy ; and hence, though his
acting is always excellent, he hes no opportunity of proving
himself the artist he really is, but must perforce resort to the
old etemps, end shrugs, and subdued whippers, and pickings
of the lips in which he has been indulging since he era made
a hit in goatees character. Daddy Ilardecre opened a new
line of action to him, and we hoped—but in this revival he
has returned to his old line again. Mr. G. Vining pie
Bevoly with great spirit, and looked, spoke, and acted Nee
a perfect gentleman.

CRYSTAL PALiCE. ONI SHILLING DAT.
Tnunsoar, Joss 11.—Admissions on payment, 6,133;
ditto by wawa tickets. 714 ; total rialtos. 3.87;
LOAN SoCIETIF.a.—By a return nutlet' yesterday
it appears that there were teat year 122,574 borrows, of
loan Focieties. The amount paid for "Interest" in that year
Ir. 27,6361. 17$. 6d. The amount circulated in the yaw
was 666,8191. For "forms of applications and for inquary"
as mush as 7,7697. 16s. 6d. was paid.