Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-26 00:00:00

ANIUSEMENTS, &c.

THEATRE ROYAL.—PROFESSOR ANDERSON.— To-night
the world-famous " Wizard" reveals the arcane of his
magic to popular eyes in the Theatre Royal. Professor
Anderson's name is too well known, and the mysteries of
his craft too marvellous in their attraction to need any
remark from us. Space in which to contain his audiences,
is the desideratum he most; frequently misses—not audi-
ences to fill the space to which he exhibits his wonders.
Tue AMPHITHEATRE.—Mn. ROB3ON.— There can be
little doubt that if the play-going public of London were
called on to name the man who has:;made himself most
remarkable and successful on the stage during the last
four or five years, the name of Mr. Robson would be the
one only answer ?given. gAlmost immediately after his
first appearance in; London, which took place at the
Olympic in 18.33. he established a reputation peculiar in
itself, unrivalled, sand even beyond cavil. During the
many years that he was distinguished as one of the most
irresistible of broad comedians at a minor theatre
in Dublin, probably no one suspected what a pecu-
liar vein of strange fantastic humour lay within
that odd, amusing exterior. It was only, we
believe, after his first appearance; in London that this
comedian exhibited the singular dramatic power which
leaves him now in his own line not only without a rival,
but without even an imitator. His style cannot, indeed,
be imitated. He is, as we have said, irresistible as a low
comedian, and even as a fern Beggs or a burlesque
Masanietlo would have a popularity equal to that of any
other comic actor. But the marvellous union of the
ludicrous and the pathetic; the grotesque mixture of
comic exterior, manner, tone, and words, with sudden
bursts and flashes of wild almost unearthly vehemence
and tragic Passion ; the laughable and the terrible so
running into each other, that the beholder at times
scarcely knows whether to explode in me Tirnent or to
start in horror ; all this forms something which ca❑ only
be seen in Mr. Robson's impersonations, and only in a
few of them, and which is worthy of deeper attention
than the passing emotions of the spectators. Per-
haps one of the: most singular features in these
astonishing diplays is that they aro rendered
with the reality of very life. Nothing can
pessib'y be more :spontaneous, authentic, and natu-
ral. No man living has more thoroughly flung away
stage fermatas and traditionary models. The source of his
power lies in the 'humour, which is wholly his own, and
the keen observation which looks at life and nature for
itself without reference to arbitrary limits and theatric
ways. The short stay which Mr. Robson can make in
Liverpool will, no doubt, be availed of eagerly by the
public. When he visited this town, about four years
ago, we do not recollect thac he had then exhibited to its
full extent the singular vein of original and bizarre
dramatic genius which has established' his fame in
London.

- PEOPLE'S CONCERTi, ST. GEORGE'S HALL,—Oa Satur-
day night, the first trial of anothe; experiment to make
St. George's Hall available for cheap popular concerts
took place. Previous failures in similar attempts, where
success might have been reasonably anticipated, render
us cautious in predicting too boldly a favourable issue to
the present undertaking ; but this inneh may at least be
said that the experiment of Saturday night exhibited.
every promise of brilliant and permanent results. The
present series of concerts is originated by Messrs.-11133e
and Son, of Church-street, and conducted under emir
_management. The scale of prices is fixed at as low a rate
as the greatest advocate of cheapness and popularity
could desire—one shilling-for each reserved,seat being the
"maximum, and sixpence the price for the gallery and
body of the hall. To avoid crowding and inconvenience,
the holders of tickets; obtained before the opening of the
concert, were admitted by a separate entrance, an
arrangement which ;was found highly satisfactory. At
eight o'clock the hall and galleries were ccrowded
in every part, even the reserved seats being
all filled, and many of the an Bence having to stand.
round the doors. The character of the perform Ince was
ono very happily adapted to the great size of the hall—
iastrucaental music ant choral songs, forming the- leading
features: -The celebrated Distin family were engaged
specially for the occasion. Miss Stabbach and the
Orpheus Glee Union were the vocalists. The Orpheus
.Glee Union consists of eight male singers—Messrs. W. J.
Fielding, W. S. Davies, Williams, E. Ball, T. Cooke, A.
E Fagan, -T. Distin, and W. Distin. 'These performers
execute music somewhat in the style which the Celogng
Choral Union made so popular in this country ; an l even
with the wonderful performances of that celebrated body:.
of singers freshly kept in mem3ry the singing
.of the
Orpheus Glee- Union, cannot be said to have suffered
disadvantage. Nothing could be more erroisitely effec-
tive than the perfect blending of sound with which the
voices in the loudest swelling tones and softest notes, fell
upon the ears of the listeners. Especial attention was,
however, sometimes attracted by the marvellous alto
voice of Mr. Fielding. Miss Stabbach sung several
pieces, among which may be mentioned the well-known
air from "Der Freischutz," popularised in English as
-"Before those Eeys beheld him," and the ballad, " There
is in -the lone, lone seas." The audience signified by
cordial applause, and demands for an encore, their full
appreciation of the-singer. Of the performances of the
Distin Family, whose name is famous everywhere, we
need not speak. The reputation those performers have
so long sustained was sever better merited than ou
Saturday
,nigh t, Land..thCiudisace.:; were enthusiastic