The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-28 00:00:00

NE PANTOMIMES.

.c.
DRURY-LANE.
'light Drury-lane Theatre presented a most
at flays,
reminding one forcibly of its
,mll,aYs, when managers returned money, and
ought themselves lucky to get a peep of
gage over the shoulders of a pent-up crowd.
before the theatre opened the doors were be-
with a large multitude of holiday people,
when the curtain rose, which it did with
'4;4111g punctuality at 7 o'clock, not a single
0 any Part of the house was left vacant. The
iit! has been entirely re-decorated, and the
,and cheerfulness of the colouring one was
I,u
''',. to look upon as typical of the rising for-
°f "Old Drury." An excellent overture,',,,,,ing all the favourite negro melodies, elicited
i'i. stlimous applause of the audience, who
in the best possible humour, and not at all
(16d to be critical on the defects of the evening.
1,
itzball's version of ITitele Toil's Cabin cm-
'd the entertainments, with a caste from
:1, 011 the whole, much was not be expected,
it-comprised some two or three experienced
,4
i:Putable artistes. George Harris was allotted
'',,Renry Betty, who made his first appearance
1; uncle Tom was represented by Mr. Henry
4.4_ '
k ) who has been for some time away from
e • and Simon Legree was undertaken by
Charles
`4larles Selby. The first scene had not pro-
', far before one of those rows which generally
In a crowded house commenced in the gallery,
'1311141 not be quelled by such threats as ' Turn
`44," "Throw him over," &c. The contagion
Ito the boxes and the pit, and the noise and
104 continued, with little intermission; until
led of the drama. Of the merits and success
Piece much cannot be said ; it possibly will
c better when all parties concerned are better
their respective parts ; but, as far as last
g observation went, we can afford it but a
slender modicum of approbation. Mr. Betty
his debut in so small a part as to give little
to judge of his dramatic powers. The female
,!ters were sustained by ladies from the pro-
-1,175 who have evidently been accustomed' to
is of much smaller dimensions. Charles Selby
all he could with the Fitzball Legree, and a
' 1. Lee made a very tolerable Haley. The
Characters had nothing of importance to do,
Oemed quite conscious of the fact ; and the
(4'4111 at last fell without any demonstration either
t4,,l)Plause or approbation on the part of the audi-

2e pantomime, Harlequin Hudibras, or Old
Durden, and the droll Days of the Merry M0k1:45
k1:45 has been taken great pains with, and has
11 Points of attractions. The introductory part
13tS of representations of old and modem times,
! 'the
represented by Antiquity, and the other
',9,,genius of Improvement, and each advocates
tik different principles. The good genius of Ira-
.jeinent maintains her cause in some smart
,'l4eS and striking scenes. One was especially
i,. Yed, which shows the new Crystal Palace and
6Prdens, with innumerable fairy nymphs, dis-
g in the moonlig4. The village of Sum-
') a golden harvest scene, was very much liked,
Was
the transformation at the close of the first
Which was resplendent with colour and light.
e introductory story is partly and ingeniously
ti:ed on Hudibras and his Squire Ralph's adven-
keB, Which are connected with Charles ll.'s escape.
4tlllasks were excellent, and the burlesque idea very
kitY worked out by Mr. E. L. Blanchard, its
t`lor; and it has some sharp punning dialogue.
ru.or Veroni is a vivacious and graceful Harlequin,
,
Matthews a genuine Grimaldi clown,
J. Halford a quaint Pantaloon, and Madlle.
tietuse Blanche a clever and pleasing Columbine.
splendid figure and artistic execution appeared
admiration. She was particularly successful in
k4t3 de seul introduced in one of the comic scenes,
ke Completely secured the good graces of the im-
k 11,1'6e audience. In addition to these were added
Warlequina (Miss J. Turner), the London Gent
Deulen), and a sprite (Signor Devani), whose
ile'tortions, and involutions, and evolutions, would
thealll to manifest that he had no backbone, and
tia: his hands and feet, legs and arms, were inter-
Kllgeable. The rapidity, dexterity, impishness,
ki`l eccentricity of his feats are indescribable. In
44`1ition to these the brothers Siegrist went through
tell feats with an immense pole, that nearly
qadied the ceiling, being balanced on the stomach
kuone of them, as would certainly in the middle
ki`t, burning ages have carried them to the stake,
The
in league with the author of wicked magic.
elle topics and follies of the day are passed in re-
Itte:wz while Harlequin and Clown maltreat one
ether and everybody else, and Harlequin meets
a doom of all harlequins that ever jumped by
Zung wildly in love with Columbine. The sale of
PParilla, teetotalism, the inhabited-house duty,
woneb.ri,a forbto-‘,l_tb.o.i.t.a.2QEsers the Derby
fotection, the "Uncle Tom " mania, Chancery Re-
-o_ll3ll, the Beer-bottle question, and. tho Australian.
eA,'"'uldfields, are all punned upon with varying suc-
irs ; and to gratify all tastes, a squad of police are
{.,.,.`.?light in and assaulted by the Clowns. Harle-
,in knocks a policeman on the head ; a fight en-
,ts) and leads to a general discomfiture of the
aid which
and the frantic joy of the topmost tiers,
which the piece draws to a rapid conclusion.
The music, composed by Mr. Blewitt, is excellent
‘kroughout.

PRINCESS'S.
ilarlequin Cherry and Fair Star, or the Green
;'lrd, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Silver
ne, is the euphonious title of the pantomime pro-
o'1!lood this season for the delectation of the visitors
tj this most delightful theatre. It is the composi-
ore% and production of the stage-manager, Mr.
eorge Ellis, and in all respects does him exceeding
Z'odit. The opening portion is singularly rich in
effects ; and the comic scenes, in which Mr.
There
has lent an assisting hand, are capital.
•ore is nothing complex or mistifying in the plot.
,o-
the Princess Fair Star being spirited away by
Sling, the enamoured chief of the Evil Genii,
pence Cherry, who is a dreadful roysterer among
411 innumerable and riotous fraternity in the royal
Nursery of Cyprus, starts in pursuit of the Green
ird, the capture whereof is pronounced by Eve-
-leweriana, the Queen of the Penis, to be the first
~,
requisite to the restoration of the abducted
Hassel. The beneficent fairy has meantime con-
Nreyed the Princess from the vile ravisher to her
°Nrii. realms, where, despite the visible interposition
°1 attendant spirits, her curiosity gets the better of
her discretion, and, prying into a forbidden vase,
Nle falls again into the hands of the Evil One.
cherry by this time, attended by his faithful squire,
'4OB captured the magic bird on the icy summits of
,
ork-Assus, and after his terribly hard ride re-
Finis to Cyprus, his task achieved. But malignant
lidluence shunbers not, and the "dancing waters"
and " singing silver tree" are yet to be won before
his happiness can be irrevocably sealed ; and a pro-
bation ensues thereupon—the royal lovers being
Changed into Harlequin and Columbine • and
-ujinn. Sling andj the squire, Al Widdi, into blown

and Pantaloon.
It is impossible to attribute too high praise
to the scenery, dresses, and appointments
la this opening. The gradual filling of the
stage by the fairies in the scene of " The
Peril Retreat," excited unbounded admiration,
and vehement was the encore that befell their
dazzling evolutions in a subsequent dance. The
apparently endless succession of mischievous
tumbling imps obstructing the gallant adventurer
and his trusty companion in their career up the
fountain was laughably effective, but when the
Splendours of the transformation. scene " The Peri
Palace of Peacocks," in multiform brillancy rose
to view, the delight and wonderment of the spec-
tators became uncontrollable. In the way of spec-
tacle nothing has appeared more beautiful at any
theatre, and no one should omit a visit to Cherry
and Fair Star, if it were but to enjoy the refined
magnificence by which the opening scenes are dis-
tinguished. The Queen of the Penis was per-
sonated by that clever little favourite, Miss Kate
Terry, the hero by Mr. F. Cooke, who always
Plays excellently in burlesque, and the Fair Prin-
eess by Mr. Daly. Great commendation is due to
41, r• Oscar Byrne for his arrangement of the ballet
,(.I.,epartment, and to Miss Desborough and the
',°rYphees for the grace and precision of their per-
40rmance.
Some of the scenes, consequent on the transfor-
Ination were got up very cleverly : a windmill
Changing into the interior of a gigantic bakery is
*worthy of special mention. The tricks, changes,
and incidents of the ultra-comic nature follow in
rapid profusion, and we like this portion of the
pantomime all the better for being quite free of
the broad vulgarities commonly presented.
,The harlequinade was admirably, it may be
Ba,lfi incomparably, conducted. Mr. Huline,
wne has succeeded Flexmore, after a seven
)Tears' campaign at the Princess's, alike aston-
?hed and delighted the spectators in his new
umae, and established himself per saltum a tran-
scendent favourite. For lightness, activity, and
extraordinary feats on chairs, stilts, and poles, done
with consummate ease, as well as accuracy, the
town has seen nothing like him, and he will " draw"
Most powerfully. His small, slight figure admir-
ably adapts him for these feats. He has a corn-
pardon, a dear little poodle, who figured to eminent
advantage in one of the displays, and shared the
applauses which were lavished on him from all parts
"Z:the house. A rustic dance received with great
'°ollr, demonstrated his proficiency in the terpsi-
kl_no,r,anine
e l,
e so that altogether "the little strap-
r (by which appellation he was happily welcomebd
J Paulo on his first appearance—a welcome con-
urmea ky a most cozdial reception in iron% is