The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-14 00:00:00

DRAMA.

ST. JAMES'S.

M. Offenbach's operatic burlesque, La Belle
11,line, which, partly on account of its musical merits, but
more, perhaps, on accountof its very highly flavoured story,
has been more popular throughout Europe than any of his
earlier works, was produced at this house last night as a
substitute for the Grande Buchner, with Mdlle. Schneider
in the principal character. French burlesque differs from
English burlesque or extravaganza in many important par-
ticulars. In the first place, it is more full of
character, and, in the second place, it is rarely
made an excuse for that transposition of parts
under which men are represented by women, and women
by men, as on the English stage. In La Belk "Mene
there is no scantiness of attire to please the male portion
of the audience, and whatever impropriety there may be
in the story is atoned for by its classical origin. Mdlle.
Schneider made a great reputation in Paris by the per.
formance of the wife of Menelaus, and it is very easy to
see the reason why her impudence— for impudence it is—
has just that taking quality which used to make the
burlesque acting of Miss Marie Wilton so endurable, andthe
vices of her style are only comic exaggerations of that habit
of performing to the audience which is as common at the
Theatre Francais as at the lowest playhouse beyond the
barriers. She has the rare merit of being able to make
every look, word, and gesture effective, and her singing is
very pleasing and very cultivated. She resembles no one
on the English stage in manner and appearance except
Mrs. Charles Mathews, with this difference, that Mrs.
Mathews is not a vocalist. The general performance of
the burlesque was a little too extravagant in parts,
with the exception of the Agamemnon of M. Backers, the
Paris of M. Duplan, and the Wales of M. Fraisant. M.
Ravel represented the rascally old priest, Calchas, withgreat
artistic power, but he isnot an actortotonedownanyinhe.
rent vulgarity that may exist in any character that falls to
his share. The performance, advertised to commence at
half-past 8, did not begin until nearly 9 o'clock, and did
not terminate until after midnight. An English version
of this operatic burlesque was given a few years ago at
the Adelphi Theatre.

MR. BECKSTONE'S ANNUAL BENEFIT.
llnckstone's benefit will take place at the Haymarket
Theatre on Thursday night, when, in addition to the
revival of Colley Libber's comedy, She would and she would
not, a new farce will be produced in which Mr. Buckstone's
son, Mr. Frederick Buckstone, will make his first appear-
ance at this theatre as a comedian. The beneliciare' a
speech will, of course, form one of the feature' of the
evening.

CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS AT ROME.—A public
meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Hanover-
square Rom', for the purpose of taking steps to promote the
collection in England of funds for the completion of the
church of St. Thomas, in connexion with the English
college in Rome. Archbishop Manning presided, and was
supported by many catholic bishops and clergymen, the
Marchioness of Londonderry, Lady Herbert of Lea, the
Countess Dowager of Buchan, the Earl of Denbigh, the
Count de Torre Max, Sir George Bowyer, M.P., Sir Paul
Molesworth, Sir Robert Gerard, Mr. Baptism:, Q.C.,
Mr. Weld, of Lulworth, and many other well-known
catholics. The object of the meeting was explained by
the archbishop, who said that it was felt to be
most painful that whilst France, Spain, Scot-
land, Ireland, and many other nations bad special
churches in Rome, the English nation had not completed
are restoration of their church, an ancient building
which bad been destroyed in revolutionary times. The
archbishop said it was doubly' tniportan;, b9ucko St.
Thomas now, as he bad been a martyr to the principle of
the liberation of the church from state contra arches
were made by MOteignore Talbot, Bishop 'fiord,
Bishop Grant, Bishop Morris, Earl Denbigh, Sir George
Bowyer, and others. An appeal, written by Lady Her-
bert of Lea, was circulated-through the room, and seve-
ral persons baring been announced as subscribers, the pro-
ernegs closed with the usual vote of thanks.
Tin LIVERPOOL AND VALPARAISO MAIL LINE.
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(Captain jiori; N. Coniu;), the first steamer of the new
mail line formed by the Pacific Steam Navigation Com-
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contract with the Chilian government, sailed from Liver-
pool at one o'clock yesterday, with 60 passengers, a fair
cargo, and room reserved for a considerable quantity of
goods to be taken on )card at her first port of call,
St. Nazaire. Her other ports of call are Lisbon (where
she is expected to arrive on the 19th), the The Verde, Rio
de Janeiro, Monte Video, and the new Chilian colony in
the Straits of Magellan. It may be of interest to com-
mercial men to know that telegrams for the Plate and
Vidparaivo may be sent to Messrs. Pinto, Baste, and Co.,
the company's agents at Lisbon.
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—Visitors during
the week ending July 11, 1868 :—On Monday. Tuesday,
and Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 29,302; on
Wednistlay, Thursday, and Friday (admission faL), from
10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 3,248; national portrait exhibition, by
payment., 1,936; total, 34,43.5; average of corresponding
week in former years, 12,028; total from the opening of
the Museum, 7,630.038.
BREA START.— BITS'S COPOA.—Prepared
Ti ewe Eri and Ote, the honsompathio cliondeM tint
&
in Wan and Kadin .lle and Mt packets, lined with sheet
Union, keensa.-6a.6%.6.ti